Enhancing Knowledge and Understanding of the Biodiversity of Upland Central Savaii

BIORAP SURVEY DE-BRIEFING

Presented by Bruce Jefferies (SPREP)James Atherton (consultant) &Suemalo Talie Foliga (MNRE)

Aug 2, 2012MNRE Conference Room, Apia

Presentation Outline

1. Project Introduction: Bruce

2. Project Methods: James

3. Project Results, Recommendations and Next Steps: Suemalo Talie

Project goal: Improve the understanding of the biodiversity of upland Savaii and threats to it and identify follow up actions needed to conserve the forest

Project focus: surveys of fauna and flora in particular birds, plants, reptiles, land snails, arthopods

Donor: Critical Ecosystems Partnership Fund (CEPF) via CI Pacific

Partners:• Savaii Village Communities• Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE)• Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP)

Project Dates: From January to December 2012; Survey May 20-31, 2012

Funding Amount: $USD 169,400

1. Project Introduction

Project Area

Map of Key Sites for Conservation in Samoa(CI/SPREP/MNRE 2010)

Conservation Priority: Samoa BSAP and a number of ecological surveys have identified the upland forests of Savaii as a conservation priority

Globally unique: Upland Savaii is the largest continuous area of intact native forest (<65,000 ha) left in Samoa and in tropical Polynesia and contains the highest levels of biodiversity, density of birds and other forest species in Samoa

Poor knowledge: large areas of the forest have not been surveyed and may contain species new to science or significant populations of threatened species

Ecosystem services and values: strong linkages exist between conservation of the biodiversity of the upland forests and other benefits and ecosystem services- eg carbon sinks, village ecotourism, provision of clean water and also clear linkages with related projects (eg GEF-PAS FPAM, JICS Samoa Forest Conservation and GEF ICCRIFS)

Project Justification

Theme 2: Ecosystem Management Objective 1: Research and Monitoring

1.2 Undertake biological surveys of key upland sites not visited in the National Upland Ecological Survey of 1998, e.g. Sili Upland forest, Itu Salega and Gataivai Upland forest.

Objective 2: Conservation Areas 2.3 Establish large conservation areas which include more than one ecosystem, in high priority sites identified in lowland and upland ecological surveys such as Aopo, Sili, Salailua, and Eastern Upolu, utilizing community management approaches.

Theme 3: Species Management Objective 2: Research and Monitoring

2.2 Undertake a research programme to complete the collection and identification of Samoa's fauna and flora. 2.3 Develop a project to search for the Punae.

Objective 5: Capacity Building 5.1 Develop and implement local capacity building programmes on biological surveys, monitoring techniques and species management.

Fit with NBSAP Objectives

Component 1. Design Planning and survey preparations, in consultations with key stakeholders, particularly local communities, are completed.

Component 2. Survey and Fieldwork completed by teams composed of MNRE, local villagers, SPREP staff, and regional experts

Component 3. Community awareness and education program is completed that utilizes participatory video production, a film screening, and community discussions.

Project Components

Technical reports: Status of bird species surveyed particularly the puna'e, manumea,

maomao and others Status of endangered plants including possible species new to

Samoa Priority habitats/areas, based on the endangered fauna and flora they

support, are identified, mapped, and provided with GPS coordinates. Presence, or absence, of Samoan swallowtail butterfly is assessed Status of invasive species and other threats is assessed Key management issues and conservation options to support

immediate and long term management of the KBA

Conservation advocacy and awareness raising products: An educational film in Samoan with English sub-titles is produced,

involving participatory filmmaking Technical report produced to document the outcomes of village

seminars and awareness raising activities Publicity and promotional materials produced

Project Deliverables

Community Consultations (April- May 2012)

• District consultations in Northern Savaii on April 18 (Manase to Aopo)

• District consultation for Southern Savaii on April 19 (Sili to Salailua)

• Ava ceremony at Aopo on April 18 May

Survey (May 21-31 2012)

Taxa: birds, reptiles, land snails, insects and plants

Standard methods employed: 5 min bird counts, sound recorders, pitfall trapping and light traps, transects, sticky traps, hand collection

Specimens exported for final identification to a number of overseas institutions

2. Project Methods

Survey sites

Logistically complex operation- military style!

Large, rugged and remote area to survey (>100km2), no rivers but lots of rain…

30 scientists and MNRE staff involved, >15 porters

New foot trails cut and marked prior to survey 3km to east of Silisili

Access to forest via helicopter transport and on foot

Tons of gear moved to mountain camp and then removed

Mess tent frame and water tanks left at Mata o Le Afi

Survey Logistics

Area of Expertise/Team (numbers in survey)

NameArea of main responsibility

Avifauna David Butler Bird Team LeaderRebecca Stirnemann  Becky HarrisFialelei Enoka (DEC)Mark O’Brian (BL)Kirsty Swinnerton (IC) Vilikesa Masibalavu (CI)

Plants Art Whistler Flora and vegetation Team Leader

Suemalo Talie (DEC) Mountain Camp ManagerMartha Suter Plant pressing at Asau Sue Mulvany Survey logistical support

Terrestrial Fauna Eric Edwards (DOC) Terrestrial Fauna Team LeaderRobert Fisher (USGS) Reptiles leadFred Brook Land snailsWarren Chin (DOC) BeetlesMoeumu Uili (DEC) Reptiles assistant

Biodiversity conservation values and sites of particular significance

Bruce Jefferies Project CoordinatorJames Atherton Assistant Project Coordinator

Chef Frank Fidow

SFD participants (MNRE) Elisala IlaoaSiaumau UalesiVaetoe Meki TauaiPenisula LealaTanielu TipaFinau MasoeAfano Lologa  Sooalo Tito Alatimu Asau Base camp managerVailega Timoteo MoresiTrail cutters and porters  OthersFilm Crew

Survey Participants

ChallengesCommunications…

Weather…….

Community awareness raised Scientific knowledge- new species

found, status of other species revised, new data on elevation ranges of many species obtained

New trail cut to the correct summit of Savaii (Mt Silisili)

Campsite established at Mata o le Afi for possible ecotourism development

Documentary of survey work First ava ceremony at 1650m in

Samoa!

3. Project Results and Next Steps

Some Findings…

• 11 lizards recorded

• No lizards above 1325m

• 27 new landsnails

• No introduced land snails >1000m

• No Punae• Only 1

observation of Manumea• Tahiti petrel

found at 1300m

• 2 new orchid species

• Very few introduced

weeds >1000m

• No introd. ants >560m

• Where YCA very few

native lizards and fewer land snails

• No Pepe ae• >120 moths

sampled, many new

species

X

Recommendations from science teams

• Further surveys needed in areas not visited- eg Lake Mataulano

• Protection of montane & cloud forest• Awareness raising with local

communities on values of forest• Managing threats – eg new roads• Special attention needed for

Manumea (threatened bird recovery group?)

Next Steps• Debrief Savaii communities on the results of the

survey and next steps as soon as practically possible (Week of Sept 24 ?)

• Explore ecotourism development options- eg fix water tanks, trail development, marketing, partnership with STA?

• Decide on appropriate actions re illegal road to Mata o le Afi

• Consider installing an automatic weather station at Mata o le Afi to gather weather data for this area?

• Explore World Heritage/Biosphere reserve Options?• Finalise Biorap report by end of October?

Acknowledgements

• CEPF• CI Pacific• Birdlife Pacific• USGS• Island Conservation• APTC• NZ Defence Forces/ NZ High Commission• NZ Department of Conservation• Samoa Airport Authority• Bluebird Hardware• Savaii Communities

Questions/Fesili