Page 1 

 

1

 

Samoa Tsunami Rapid Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Recommendations  
(October 3

rd

 to 7

th 

2009)  

 
Contributors: Government of Samoa, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment; Pacific Islands Programme Conservation International; 
Secretariat for the Pacific Regional Environment Programme; UNESCO; UNDP; UNEP 
 

Cluster: Early Recovery (Head Georgina Bonin, UNDP Apia, Samoa) 

 

Context 

The environment sub-cluster was tasked by the Prime Minister to carry out a rapid environmental impact and needs assessment to be 
included in the assessment for the Rapid Recovery Cluster.  Nearly all coastlines that were affected by the tsunami were visited and 
systematically assessed with an expert team between October 3

rd

 to 7

th 

2009 – hence starting four days after the Tsunami itself.  

Assessments for remaining small sections of coastline without road access had to rely on aerial photographs.  Agriculture (including 
horticulture) is being  assessed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries in collaboration with FAO and reported on separately.  A detailed 
account of the EIA is appended to the Summary Framework and available from the Apia office of UNEP (contact Dr Greg Sherley care of 
UNDP). 
 

General Observations 

•

  Significant environmental damage was sustained on the south and east coast of Upolu and Manono island including coastal erosion, 

salinisation of coastal areas, damage from building debris and pollution from solid waste and sewage in village areas 

•

  Sensitive marine habitats including coral reefs and seagrass beds are expected to have sustained significant damage 

•

  Environmental damage was greatest at the far eastern and southern coast of Aleipata and generally diminished westwards 

•

  Bathymetry and coastal morphology and topography, including distance of reef from shore and the location of channels had a major 

influence on the damage sustained 

•

  More detailed environmental assessments are needed especially for sensitive marine habitats such as coral reefs and seagrass beds 

and terrestrial ecosystems such as coastal marshes, mangrove areas and near shore islands. 

 
 

 Initial Marine Assessment 

Impact/Vulnerability Recommendation 

Submerged marine habitat  (coral reefs, 
lagoons, sea-grass) -expected high impact  
(physical damage) in Aleipata and Falealili 
districts.  Impact becomes patchy but still 
significant  further west (e.g.Tafitoala).  
 

Plan and resource a comprehensive and safe in-water marine assessment.  Include focus on 
damaged areas where previous information exists e.g. Aleipata and Safata MPAs and fish reserves. 
 
 
 
 

Page 2 

 

2

Physical damage to the corals will 
predispose them to disease (bacterial, 
fungal) and further loss of reef biodiversity. 
 
 
 
Ava/channels - clear that ava (channels) 
funneled the wave inland causing greater 
damage in these areas 
 
Beaches and foreshore – heavily 
impacted, significant removal of sand and 
adjacent land based sediment. 

Natural recovery should be monitored and additional stressors be minimized (e.g. reclamation sand 
mining, commercial fishing harvest). 
 
 
 
 
Channel impact patterns need to be considered in terms of rebuilding settlements because they 
indicate permanent higher hazard zones. 
 
 
Requires stabilization in the short term to prevent further sand/sediment loss especially in advance 
of rainy season and restoration in the longer term.  New impacts e.g. reclamations, and mining 
should not be allowed in impacted areas. Multi-disciplinary approach to restoration required. 
Increased use or repair of seawalls needs to be carefully considered because their use can be 
negative e.g. by giving the wave “teeth” 
 
 

 Debris and solid waste in lagoon and 
reef -significant debris from land in lagoon, 
possible debris on outer reefs. Some 
debris will pose health risk. 

Manual clean-up (not dredging) of lagoon areas is necessary. Reusable and recyclable material will 
need to be sorted. 

 
 Debris/rubbish in mangroves and on 
beaches -significant debris eg housing 
material 

 
Clean-up & remove debris after useful material has been salvaged by owners and villagers. 

Sedimentation -high expected impact of 
sediment including scouring by sand and 
expected smothering of coral from 
sediments (sand and earth). Likely cause 
major changes in habitat/species 
composition and reduced ability to support 
food resources. 

Sedimentation impact must be considered in marine assessment of reef and fisheries impact. 
 
Beaches/foreshore/land based sources e.g. streams need to be stabilized to reduce ongoing impact 
especially with advent of rainy season. 

Pollution - Potential contamination from 
sewage, hydrocarbons, possible 
agricultural chemicals, organic waste, 
pesticides 

In heavily impacted areas, communities should be warned against harvesting lagoon food resources 
(particularly shellfish) until assessments have proved them safe to eat. 

Marine Protected Areas and Fisheries 
Reserves -high impact. 

Must be considered in marine assessment: many reserve areas compromised in terms of ongoing 
ability to support regeneration of marine food sources outside of these zones.  
 

Page 3 

 

3

Early remarking of fish reserves and MPA no-take zones and assessment of these areas to be able 
to recover and still be functional (some may need to be relocated). 
 
Pre-impact information from these sites is available and valuable to assess true impact (short and 
longer term) – should be a key focus of marine assessment. 
 
 

Marine Food Sources compromised in 
impacted areas – The combined affect of 
the aforementioned impacts may influence 
marine food resources with respect to 
volume, quality and safety. 
 

Communities will need to have the ability to replace or substitute traditional marine subsistence food 
sources with other food sources e.g. access to fish from outside of the district. 
 
Safety of marine  food sources needs to be assessed (e.g. shellfish from contamination) in impacted 
and vulnerable areas. 
 
Boat capacity should focus initially on helping impacted villages get access to offshore fish 
resources e.g. replacement of Alias.  Consider a possible ban on commercial access to offshore 
resources in these areas.  
 
Restore inshore boat capacity (e.g. Alia’s and pao pao need extensive rebuilding). 

Aleipata Wharf - Serious damage has 
been incurred on the wharf and there has 
been significant impact on the only large 
seagrass bed in the district. 
Pollution has probably occurred (e.g. oils 
and fuel). 
 
There is high concern about the continued 
vulnerability of the area with regard to the 
wharf rebuild 

Recovery of oil drums that were washed away (approximately 40 x 44 gallon drums are 
unaccounted for) and any other loss of chemicals/fuels assessed. Area must be safety certified. 
 
Significant debris clean up and stabilization of wharf are required.  There is a high risk of increased 
sedimentation of the surrounding marine environment with advent of the rainy season washing 
unstabilised sediments into the sea. 
 
Local people should be warned against harvesting lagoon food resources from the wharf area until 
samples have been taken, assessments done and safety certification notified. 
 
An in depth environmental risk assessment is required before a decision to rebuild is taken. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Page 4 

 

4

Initial Terrestrial Assessment 
 

Impact Recommendations 

Solid Waste - Large volumes of solid 
waste (including vehicles). Some waste 
aggregation has begun but clearing and 
disposal is still a significant issue 

Solid waste management plan including sorting waste into disposable, hazardous and recyclable. 
Note the Japanese International Cooperation Agency has started a clean up project. 

Illegal/improper dumps exposed by wave 
action with consequent solid waste 
pollution issues (e.g. Tuialemu, Lalomanu) 

Cleanup of dumps and proper disposal of waste – has implications for human health, hygiene, 
vermin etc  
Review and write a new plan for local waste collection process. 
There are implications around this issue regarding revival of tourism in these areas. 

Coastal Impacts - Patterns of high wave 
impact clearly observed with implications 
for future land use. 

Implement CIMP (Coastal Infrastructure Management Plans) for coastal areas 
Ensure that findings from incoming geo-science teams are fed into planning processes including 
revision of CIMP plans as required 

 
Observed damage to sensitive coastal 
ecosystems eg. Marshlands and river 
habitats. This may have impacted some 
fish nurseries and some of these sites 
include unique ecosystems. 

 
Clean-up of trash and debris required. 
All sensitive areas need to be assessed. Identify potential restoration activities 
  

Salinisation of coastal lowland areas. 
Some coastal trees are stressed and 
losing leaves but observations showed that 
others are resilient.  

Replanting in these areas should focus on native salt tolerant species and species that are able to 
hold the coastline together. In addition, ability to withstand wave damage is important for replanting 
near settlements as shallow rooting trees can be uprooted. 

Evidence of seawall rocks displaced by the 
Tsunami causing significant damage up to 
50 metres inland  

Rebuild to proper standards according to codes of environmental practice as appropriate – in some 
areas natural alternatives may be preferable  

Waterways - Riverine systems were 
heavily impacted along the coasts up to I 
km inland, due to funneling affect of valley 
systems 

Formal and detailed assessment of impacts. 
Plan activities to mitigate potential future impacts  

Sewerage - Septic tanks were displaced/ 
emptied/ uncovered with obvious negative 
environmental and human health impacts 

Pump clean at risk tanks.  
Replace with septic tanks that meet appropriate health and environmental standards as per 
resettlement protocols  

Agriculture and horticulture - Noted 
impacts on agricultural crops eg. Taro, 
bananas, breadfruit etc 

MAF and FAO have surveyed this and will provide recommendations 

 

Page 5 

 

5

Results of the Environmental Impact Assessment with implications and relevant information for Disaster Risk Reduction will be 
included in the final report. 
 
Many of the impacts of the tsunami may have been mitigated if the CIMPs had been fully implemented. Preparation of a tsunami hazard zone 
map for the Samoa archipelago is required. In addition a review of the national coastal hazard zone mapping assessment is required together 
with a review of the content of the CIMPs and implementation requirements. 
 
Available capacity to meet identified needs (notes - this list is not comprehensive; potential partners highlighted) 
Marine related – University of the South Pacific (USP) and South Pacific Geoscience Commission (SOPAC) scientists are ready and willing 
to travel to Samoa.  CI has funds ear-marked to support further EIA work and are prepared to assist a Samoan Government led.  SPREP has 
marine pollution expertise which could be available upon request. 
 
Solid waste (on land) – Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has started assessing the quantity of the solid waste and have 
plans to fund a clean up programme.  SPREP has solid waste expertise which could be available upon request. 
 
Coastal Infrastructure Management Plan -  Samoan Government agencies have capacity, as do local consultants, such as the Pacific 
Environmental Consultants (PECL). 
 
Marine protected area management – Conservation International (CI), SPREP.