The Apai marine reserve (as it was initially called) faced many challenges since its establishment. Key among them were the following:

1. Lack of financial support to enable the implementation of MPA activities;
2. Devastation of marine environment caused by natural disasters in 1990, 1991, 2009 and 2012.
3. Loss of interest by some members of the community due to lack of tangible benefits from MPA activities.
To help address the above problems, the MPA will have the following key objectives:
The first key objective of the Apai MPA proposal is to improve village livelihoods through the effective conservation. management and sustainable utilisation of its marine resources.

The second key objective of the MPA is to protect the village community and infrastructure from the adverse impacts of climate change and other natural disasters.

The secondary but closely related objectives include:

a) Building the capacity of the Steering Committee to effectively manage the MPA; and
b) Effective MPA management and administration

To achieve the objectives of the MPA as outlined above, it is expected that the following activities will be supported and implemented.

1. Reaffirm and demarcate the MPA boundaries as agreed by the village council and the SC. (Note: The village council had expressed the desire to locate the MPA boundaries closer to shore to facilitate easy monitoring and execution of project activities).

2. Build the capacity of the village to sustainably manage the MPA now and in future;

3. Review the current management plan and by-laws to take into account recent experiences and developments.

4. Build effective partnerships between the project and other interested stakeholders for the effective management and implementation of project activities; and

5. Enhance the economic value of the MPA through the identification and implementation of appropriate income generatiing activities for the long term sustainability of the project following the end of GEF support.

The detailed description of project activities are provided in section 1.3 below.

The project rationale

If effectively managed and supported, the Apai proposed MPA will ensure the sustainable conservation and management of the village's marine environment. The villagers are committed to the conservation of its marine environment especially for the economic benefits it could potentially generate in future through more productive fishing grounds and other income generating activities as well as for the contribution the MPA could make towards reducing the impacts of climate change related events on their low-lying coastal village.

The project specifically targets one of the most vulnerable sites on the island of Manono (i.e. the Apai village) and has the potential to create jobs for the local people in the tourism and hospitality sector. It could also encourage the development of other sectors such as in transport, agriculture and fisheries in support of the expected increase in visitors to the village and the island as a whole. The cumulative effect of this increase in local activity will be a significant contribution by the project to the improved standard of living for the village and people of Apai in particular and of Manono island in general.

Because of the innovative nature of activities such as coral gardeining to be carried out within the MPA, there is potential to attract local and international attention to the area, and hence, the Apai MPA could easily serve as another "flagship" project for the GEF SGP and UNDP. Its community-based management approach has been proven effective in other GEF-funded projects in Samoa (eg Savaia MPA) and this proposed MPA could therefore serve as further proof of what has been a highly successful SGP approach to managing local resources in the Pacific.

The Apai MPA supports and complements national and international efforts of the GEF to protect the biological diversity of small island developing states in the Pacific and the world. In this regard, the project will ensure that its activities are closely linked to those of other local agencies such as the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNRE), the FD, the SPREP Action Strategy on Nature Conservation in the Pacific Islands, the International Union on Nature Conservation (IUCN), the Conservation International. and others.

Expected Outcomes:
At the end of four years of project implementation, the following results/outcomes should be achieved.
1. At least 9 acres of the coastal area of the village is accorded permanent protection through the MPA.
2. The MPA Management Plan together with a set of by-laws governing the operation of the MPA is reviewed, revised and endorsed by the village council and approved by the Attorney General's Office.

3. There is a marked improvement in village livelihood evidenced through sustainable income from the sale of marine resources and other marine related activities of the MPA.

4. MOUs effecting partnerships with the project will have been agreed and signed with at least three interested partners:

5. At least five members of the Steering Committee will have received training in project management

6. The Project Coordinator would have received specific training from GEF in report writing and book keeping

7. A feasibility study of eco-tourism and sustianble agriculture in the village is completed before the end of year 4
8. A series of publications (leaflets, brochures, reports, etc) would have been published to raise awareness about the project results