| Samoa is a beautiful country known to all by its | | | | the verge of extinction. Furthermore, invasive vines |
| diverse natural environment. According to Samoa's | | | | also cause the production of flowers and fruits to |
| Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan 2001, Samoa's | | | | dramatically decrease, affecting the species which |
| species biodiversity is among the richest and most | | | | depend on these fruits for food. For example; |
| varied of the Polynesian islands. It contains | | | | pigeons and fruit-bats. |
| approximately 500 native vascular plant species of | | | | Such impacts on the environment can also affect the |
| which 30% are found nowhere else in the world. | | | | people living in Samoa by creating "enormous costs |
| There are also 21 butterfly species, over 20 species | | | | to our islands development, food security, and human |
| of land snails, 14 reptile species and 43 resident bird | | | | livelihoods through the damage and ruin caused to |
| species, which 8 are found only in Samoa (Samoa's | | | | our agriculture, fisheries, and forestry industries" |
| Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan 2001). | | | | (Mark Bonin thesis). Moreover, Invasive species are |
| This displays that Samoa has numerous kinds of | | | | also known to be disease carriers, thus directly |
| different flora and fauna established in her islands, | | | | harming humans and their health (Dovey 2003) |
| however nowadays, the number of these species | | | | Solutions |
| are declining rapidly due to one of the key reasons | | | | It is generally recognized that once invasive species |
| being; the bringing in of foreign plants and animals | | | | become established, they are extremely difficult to |
| from other nations either accidentally or intentionally. | | | | eradicate, therefore prevention is the first and best |
| These organisms are known as invasive species and | | | | line of defense, and also the most cost-effective. |
| they have become a major threat to Samoa's | | | | Invasive species have become threatening and |
| biodiversity. | | | | aggressive thus many different strategies should be |
| What are invasive species? | | | | implemented to control the widespread of these |
| Invasive species aren't aliens from outer space but | | | | species. One method and is currently the best |
| are any plant, animal or virus which is not often | | | | method used nowadays; is the quarantine system |
| originally from Samoa and is spreading beyond its | | | | which has been set up to prevent any invasive |
| normal occurrence rate causing a menace to | | | | specie from further spreading in the country when it |
| agriculture or personal resources by damaging it. | | | | arrives. |
| (Dovey 2003) Some examples of these would be | | | | However, with the invasives already present in our |
| the giant African snail, meremia vine, ivy gourd and | | | | country, the best thing to do is to control its growing |
| so forth. | | | | rate by trying out different methods of eradication. |
| The impacts of these invasive species on our local | | | | These may include aerial spraying in certain areas |
| environment | | | | because such chemicals can be made specifically to |
| Invasive species are recognized as highly adaptive | | | | destroy that kind of specie, weeding and bagging of |
| and fast breeding organisms. They are able spread | | | | fruits for invasive vines and so forth. Overall, this can |
| freely in any particular environment, and due to their | | | | be an effective way to eradicate the continuing |
| ability to breed uncontrollably; invasive species have | | | | breeding these species. Another possible solution for |
| an adverse influence on both humans and the | | | | the obliteration of invasive organisms is through |
| environment. | | | | biological control. Biological control is the natural means |
| Their interference with the environment has resulted | | | | of eradication. This process involves introducing |
| in serious destruction and is a case that should be | | | | another type of specie that will feed on that pest |
| taken seriously in Samoa. Invasive vines such as | | | | and eventually leading to its extinction. Nevertheless, |
| merremia overwhelm vast areas of the native | | | | care must be taken so that the new specie will not |
| forests in Samoa driving many of our local plants to | | | | become another pest in the long run. |