Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment Corporate Plan 2022-2026.

The Corporate Plan of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment is a national policy with a cross-sectoral approach. The timeframe of the plan is 5 years, covering the period from 2022 to 2026. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment has seven overarching goals that unify its divisions, as follows: (I) policy development, (II) program planning, (III) scientific and technological information transfer, (IV) mainstreaming of climate change adaptation and disaster risk management, (V) compliance and enforcement, (VI) organizational support, and (VII) resource management. The first five goals focus on sustainable development and environmental management, emphasizing the need for resources and information to enhance quality of life and support decision-making. The final two goals highlight the importance of effective organizational standards and resources to implement programs that benefit communities, ensuring a structured approach to optimizing environmental and socio-economic resources.
The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment gives priority on enhancing integrated land-use planning, mapping to integrate all existing developments or land use, enforcing Environmental Compliance, Monitoring and Enforcement, encouraging community engagement, promoting tree planting, rasing institutional awareness of Key Biodiversity Areas, increasing protected areas, promoting low carbon economy and greater use of renewable energy sources, managing and using resources sustainably, and managing waste as a resource. The Plan addresses challenges in managing Samoa’s environment and natural resources, including increasing demand for natural resources, climate change, building community and cross-sector collaboration, best use of knowledge, empowered workforce, and lack of compliance to environmental legislation.
The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment aims to achieve enhanced environmental sustainability and improved climate and disaster resilience, while supporting the Government’s drive for economic and sustainable green growth. With the implementation of this Plan, the Ministry intends to accomplish sustainable management of water and land resources, forests, oceans and waste; sound management of chemicals and hazardous waste; low carbon developments through energy efficiency and renewable energy; sustainable development planning and environmental monitoring; integration of climate change across all sectors; public leadership, coordination, development and implementation of activities for disaster risk management; improved meteorological, atmospheric and geo scientific information and data; and strengthened sector governance and cross‐sectoral coordination.