Government of Samoa first national report to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)

Abstract

Samoa is an independent small island developing state located in the South Pacific region, with a total land area of approximately 2935sq. km., a total area of 120,000sq.km. inhabited by a population of approximately 165,000 people. The country is geologically young in origin compared to other Pacific Island countries, thus its biodiversity is not as diverse. Nevertheless, the geographical isolation of the island from major continental landmasses contributes to the very high species endemism of over 30% of its total biodiversity. This factor makes the conservation of Samoa's biodiversity vital to the survival of the global biodiversity. Additionally, the high dependence of the local populations on subsistence livelihood augurs well with the need to develop sustainable use mechanisms for the future of Samoa.