SAMOA – Placing the once thought extinct tooth-billed pigeon on the national pedestal as Samoa’s national bird, may have worked.

Two recent sightings of the bird, known in Samoa as the manumea (Didunculus strigirostris) have been described as “exhilarating”.

It is the only living species of genus Didunculus. A related extinct species, the Tongan tooth-billed pigeon (Didunculus placopedetes), is only known from subfossil remains in several archeological sites in Tonga.

The sightings are part of the preliminary findings of the Samoa 2016 Biodiversity Rapid Assessment Programme (BIORAP) that has left locals excited with the findings which were presented in the team’s wrap up last week.

The three-week-long survey focused on Samoa’s Key Biodiversity Areas (KBA) – specifically the central upland and cloud forests of Savai’i as well as the Falealupo peninsula coastal rainforest in Savaii.

In Upolu, the team focused on the Uafato coastal rainforest along Fagaloa Bay which provided some new and exciting findings of plants, reptiles, insects and birds.

One of the most exhilarating findings was the two confirmed sightings of the native Manumea bird at Uafato.

Previous surveys suggest numbers are critical and that 70 to 380 individuals survive in the wild.

At A’opo a new species of red orchid was found and the survey group made the first recorded sighting of the Friendly Grounded Dove at Falealupo, making it only the third site known in Samoa for this bird.

In terms of insects, new species of moths and micro-snails were found that are new to science and waiting to be named.

A significant find at Taga in Savai’i is what might possibly be a previously unknown gecko species native to Samoa

The recent findings are a small part of the extensive BIORAP survey hat was documented by international and local experts that led a team of more than 60 people consisting of scientists, university interns from the National University of Samoa and the National University of Singapore, conservation agencies, MNRE technical staff and people with traditional and hunting knowledge from the local communities around Samoa.

The Samoa 2016 BIORAP is an integral part of a larger project which aims to ensure Samoa’s productive landscapes are protected and sustainably managed.

Scientific expertise was provided through a team of experienced researchers from America, Fiji and New Zealand which carried out the field surveys with the help of locals.

Their findings will establish the baseline biodiversity information needed for the revision and establishment of effective multi-sectoral conservation and management plans at each of the KBA sites.

A key element to the success of the programme has been the strong engagement of the local communities to ensure their understanding of the value of these efforts and their support of these activities to protect the environment they live in and the nature that they depend upon.

The scientists and technical team members have passed on to the villagers survey techniques and skills as well as training in scientific surveying techniques

The local communities in turn have shared with the survey team their own local and traditional knowledge.

The findings will now be analysed, researched further and confirmed in the Samoa 2016 BIORAP Final Technical and Scientific Reports that will be submitted to Samoa by the end of this year. These reports will include findings, lessons learnt and recommendations from the surveys providing a way forward in conserving and managing the KBAs. - PNC