Samoa Conservation Society joins as BirdLife’s 125th Partner

Located in the heart of Polynesia, Samoa is home to exceptional biodiversity including nine endemic bird species, globally significant seabird populations, and ecosystems that support both wildlife and local communities. Yet, like many Pacific island nations, Samoa faces growing environmental challenges, including habitat degradation, invasive alien species, climate change and biodiversity loss.

Adding Sosaiete Fa’asao o Samoa/Samoa Conservation Society (SCS) to our Partnership represents an important step in strengthening national conservation leadership and advancing collaborative action to protect the country’s biodiversity for future generations.

Leadership in conservation

Since 2013, SCS has become Samoa’s leading national grassroots environment organization, working alongside communities, government agencies, traditional leaders, and regional partners.

Today, the organisation’s work spans a wide range of conservation priorities, including invasive species management, seabird work, protected areas, environmental education, community-based conservation, and climate resilience.
At the heart of what they do, they are always seeking collaborative action, scientific research and environmental education, ensuring that both people and nature can thrive together.

Header image: The endemic Samoan Flycatcher © Bradley Hacker

Protecting Samoa’s unique biodiversity

SCS has contributed to various conservation initiatives, including efforts to safeguard the Critically Endangered Tooth-billed Pigeon. Known locally as the Manumea, it’s Samoa’s national bird and one of the world’s rarest pigeons.

Through species monitoring, community engagement, awareness campaigns, and implementation of the national recovery plan, SCS has been at the forefront of efforts to prevent the species’ extinction. BirdLife International has been proud to support and collaborate with SCS on Manumea conservation, recognising the organisation’s leadership, expertise and long-standing commitment to securing a future for one of the Pacific’s most threatened birds.

More recently, SCS has also played a key role in the INvasive SPecIes Management for Resilient Ecosystems and Communities (INSPIRE) project. Working with us and regional partners, they to reduce the impacts of invasive species and strengthen ecosystem resilience and climate adaptation in Samoa’s Gasegase Catchment. Through these efforts, SCS has helped strengthen conservation outcomes across Samoa while building local capacity and fostering long-term stewardship of natural resources.

Advancing conservation across the Pacific

Joining BirdLife International marks an exciting new chapter for Samoa Conservation Society and the country. It further strengthens BirdLife’s presence in the Pacific, where island ecosystems face some of the most acute pressures from biodiversity loss, invasive species and climate change.

“The Sosaiete Fa’asao o Samoa/Samoa Conservation Society and its members are incredibly excited to be joining BirdLife International as its newest partner,” explains Tupuola Savave Sapolu, current president of SCS. “It is the culmination of a relationship that has been built over a number of years of successful collaboration. It is my sincere hope that this partnership will continue to add value to both organisations for years to come.”

James Atherton, former president of SCS added: “Formalising our partnership with Birdlife International is extremely important and timely for the Sosaiete Fa’asao o Samoa/Samoa Conservation Society as we try to secure longer term and sustainable relationships with our conservation partners and donors. Joining Birdlife International also means joining a huge global network of like-minded organisations to share best practices and lessons learned and to pursue deeper collaboration to sustain and build our conservation mission.”

By connecting local action with global collaboration, this partnership will help strengthen efforts to protect Samoa’s unique biodiversity, support resilient communities, and ensure that birds and all life continue to thrive across the Pacific. And it demonstrates the importance of strong national organisations working together to deliver lasting conservation impact.

Welcome to the flock, Samoa Conservation Society!