Tafua Conservation Project
Seacology has made a grant to the Tafua chiefs' council to fund the replanting of coconut trees destroyed in the recent hurricane. Seacology also supplied emergency relief funds and supplies to the villagers.
Tafua village has made a major commitment to protect their entire rainforest. This pledge, however, reduces both the possible income from logging and the amount of food crops that can be grown. Seacology scientists Dr. Paul Cox, Dr. Thomas Elmquist, Dr. Dixie Pierson, and Dr. William Rainey have identified the Tafua peninsula as critical habitat for the endangered Samoan flying fox, Pteropus Samoensis. It also harbors one of the few remaining populations of the rare Samoan tooth-billed pigeon, Didunculus Strigosus.
Due to the heroic leadership of Tafua Chief Ulu Taufa'asisina, the Tafua rainforest preserve was created with Seacology assistance. Seacology has made a major commitment to support Tafua village in protecting their rainforest. Seacology scientists have written an illustrated guide to the flora and fauna of the Tafua peninsula, which the villages sell to ecotourists to raise funds for rainforest construction.
Seacology thanks the World Wild Fund for Nature, Sweden, for support of printing expenses. Seacology has also paid for printing costs of a full-color poster of the Samoan Flying Fox by noted New York Artist Michael Rothman, who graciously donated his work. Tafua village and the indigenous conservation organization Fa'asao Savai'i led by Moelagi Jackson sell the posters to tourists to raise funds for conservation.
