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Western Samoa-Parks and Reserves
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Description Introduction by Rex Mossman
Activity in the present National Park and Reserves system started during the 1960's. In 1979 with assistance from the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN), the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and New Zealand, a project aimed at establishing a National Park system with an emphasis on establishing facilities, training, and preparing interpretive material commenced.
In 1978 the Lands and Survey department agreed to assist the Western Samoan Government with the establishment of its first National Park by sending an experienced Ranger to act as an advisor. I was fortunate to be selected and in March 1979 my wife Robin, and myself headed up to Samoa. For the first few months we lived in a house in Apia while the house they were building for us on the other side of the island in the Park was being completed.
The 0 Le Pupu Pu'e National Park is a 7000 acre long strip of land running from the top of the island down to the volcanic cliffs into the sea. Our house was situated in an old quarry which they were still using up until shortly after we moved into the house.
The project was set up as a 3-way cooperative deal between the Western Samoan Government; the IUCN-WWF, who financed the travel expenses and equipment; and the New Zealand Department of Lands and Survey, who provided myself as an advisor. The original project was for a 12 month period, later this was extended by a further 9 months, making a total of 21 months.
The aims of the project were to: establish and develop examples of each type of reservation; carry out surveys of the flora and fauna; prepare information centres, interpretation materials and literature to increase public awareness and for educational purposes; Acquire and prepare literature for training purposes; and train local staff
Prior to my arrival in Western Samoa quite a lot of work had been done on the various reserves, but unfortunately most of the facilities appeared to have been built without much thought and using poor quality materials and subsequently they were deteriorating rapidly. The staff were mixed in with another section of the Forestry division; they had no clear duties and had little awareness of conservation or landscape values.
Having assessed the situation I then set out to: implement a staff training programme; reorganise the administration; upgrade the existing facilities to a higher standard, many needed rebuilding; expand facilities; promote public awareness and prepare educational material on the National Park and Reserves system and on Conservation in general.
Activity in the present National Park and Reserves system started during the 1960's. In 1979 with assistance from the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN), the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and New Zealand, a project aimed at establishing a National Park system with an emphasis on establishing facilities, training, and preparing interpretive material commenced.
In 1978 the Lands and Survey department agreed to assist the Western Samoan Government with the establishment of its first National Park by sending an experienced Ranger to act as an advisor. I was fortunate to be selected and in March 1979 my wife Robin, and myself headed up to Samoa. For the first few months we lived in a house in Apia while the house they were building for us on the other side of the island in the Park was being completed.
The 0 Le Pupu Pu'e National Park is a 7000 acre long strip of land running from the top of the island down to the volcanic cliffs into the sea. Our house was situated in an old quarry which they were still using up until shortly after we moved into the house.
The project was set up as a 3-way cooperative deal between the Western Samoan Government; the IUCN-WWF, who financed the travel expenses and equipment; and the New Zealand Department of Lands and Survey, who provided myself as an advisor. The original project was for a 12 month period, later this was extended by a further 9 months, making a total of 21 months.
The aims of the project were to: establish and develop examples of each type of reservation; carry out surveys of the flora and fauna; prepare information centres, interpretation materials and literature to increase public awareness and for educational purposes; Acquire and prepare literature for training purposes; and train local staff
Prior to my arrival in Western Samoa quite a lot of work had been done on the various reserves, but unfortunately most of the facilities appeared to have been built without much thought and using poor quality materials and subsequently they were deteriorating rapidly. The staff were mixed in with another section of the Forestry division; they had no clear duties and had little awareness of conservation or landscape values.
Having assessed the situation I then set out to: implement a staff training programme; reorganise the administration; upgrade the existing facilities to a higher standard, many needed rebuilding; expand facilities; promote public awareness and prepare educational material on the National Park and Reserves system and on Conservation in general.
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Western Samoa-Parks and Reserves. National Parks and Reserves Rangers Archive, accessed 21/03/2026, https://parkrangersnz.recollectcms.com/nodes/view/506