APIA — Samoa has intensified efforts to protect its natural ecosystems and food-production systems by placing local communities at the centre of a new programme targeting invasive species.

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, working with the United Nations Development Programme’s Small Grants Programme, launched a community-focused call for proposals in Upolu on September 1. The initiative is designed to support locally led projects that protect ecosystems and agricultural resources from invasive species.

The programme aims to give community groups and faith-based organisations an opportunity to develop practical projects addressing invasive species in their local areas.

Authorities say community participation is essential because residents possess valuable local knowledge and are directly connected to the land and natural resources being protected.

Invasive species can damage native ecosystems, reduce agricultural productivity and threaten biodiversity. Their effects can also extend to food security and the livelihoods of communities that depend on natural resources.

Through the new initiative, participating organisations are being provided with information on how to prepare and submit proposals for community-based projects.

The government and its development partners are encouraging collective action rather than relying solely on central authorities to manage environmental threats.

The programme also supports Samoa’s wider environmental priorities, which include protecting biodiversity, strengthening food systems and improving resilience to environmental pressures.

Officials emphasised that successful conservation requires cooperation between government agencies, communities, civil-society organisations and other stakeholders.

The initiative is expected to help communities develop practical solutions suited to local environmental conditions while strengthening public awareness about invasive species.

By placing communities at the heart of environmental decision-making, Samoa is seeking to build a more sustainable approach to protecting its natural resources.