On Thursday 21 April the British High Commission, along with the Ministry of Natural
Resources and Environment hosted a tree planting ceremony in memory of the late HRH
Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, to commemorate World Earth Day. One thousand
native trees were planted at The Queen’s Commonwealth Canopy, O le Pūpū Puē
National Park, contributing to the ongoing ‘2 Million Trees Campaign’.
The ceremony was dedicated to the memory of the late HRH Duke of Edinburgh, who died
on 9 April and for whom protection of the environment was a cause close to his heart. High
Commissioner His Excellency David Ward said that planting one thousand trees as part of
Samoa’s 2 Million Trees Campaign at the Queen’s Commonwealth Canopy was a “fitting
tribute to a man who had devoted much of his life to environmental causes”.
The theme for Earth Day 2021 is Restore Our Earth, which focuses on natural processes,
emerging green technologies, and innovative thinking that can restore the world’s
ecosystems. The climate crisis is the greatest challenge that we face and it is entirely
within our power to address it.
The caretaker Minister of the Ministry of Women, Community and Social Development,
Tuitama Dr Talalelei Tuitama said, “Today is an opportunity to remind ourselves once
again of the fast deteriorating state of the earth’s natural environment and a significantly
reduced ecological carrying capacity to support a healthy global population, particularly in
the face of persistent climate change and a raging global pandemic.”

Contacts
MNRE: Moafanua Afuvai Tolusina Pouli – tolusina.pouli@mnre.gov.ws
British High Commission Apia: Tise Fauolo-Siaosi – Tise.Fauolo@fcdo.gov.uk
Local environmental groups assisted in the planting of the one thousand native trees,
including the Samoa Conservation Society, the Lanulauava Students Association and the
Responsible Seasonal Employment (RES) workers from Falealili District, to name a few.
As hosts of COP26, the United Kingdom is committed to bringing countries and partners
together to deliver on the spirit and the letter of the Paris Agreement. US Chargé d’Affaires
Jonathan Lee Yoo was in attendance, recognising the collective efforts being made in this
vital year for climate action in the lead up to COP26 in Glasgow. World Earth Day marks
the beginning of the Leaders’ Climate Summit hosted by the US.
Climate change is the most important issue of our time and this Earth Day reminds us that
the stakes could not be higher. We know there are many challenges involved but also
great opportunities as we look to build back greener.