Samoa Conversation Society was one of the six organisations nominated for the inaugural Pacific Regional Invasive Species Management Support Service (PRISMSS) Restoring Island Resilience Awards.

The organisation was recognised for the fight against invasive species to protect biodiversity and strengthen the climate resilience of island ecosystems and communities.

The special awards ceremony was held in Fiji in late March as part of the PRISMSS symposium, Empowering Pacific Narratives: Gender Equality, Disability and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) and Traditional Knowledge (TK) in Invasive Species Communications Capacity Building.

As part of Air New Zealand’s sponsorship, all six nominated NGOs received NZ$5,000 grants to support immediate on-the-ground conservation actions, to protect biodiversity, increase ecosystem resilience, and improve livelihoods.

The Vava’u Environmental Protection Association (VEPA) based in Vava’u, Tonga, was awarded the overall winner and received an additional NZ$15,000 grant to further scale up their invasive species management work.

The award nominees included frontline organisations from across the Pacific from NatureFiji-MareqetiViti, Niue Ocean Wide Trust, Samoa Conservation Society / Sosaiete Faasao o Samoa, Société d’Ornithologie de Polynésie (SOP Manu-French Polynesia), Te Ipukarea Society (Cook Islands) and the Vava'u Environmental Protection Association (Tonga).

Rachel Bennett, Development Counsellor from the New Zealand High Commission in Fiji, shared that, “the six organisations nominated are tackling some of the biggest challenges facing the Pacific, climate change, the impacts of invasive species and ecosystem degradation.”

“For many communities, ecosystems form the frontline defences against the impacts of climate change and disasters. These organisations’ dedication, persistence, and deep community roots are essential to safeguarding the environments and ecosystems that sustain us all.”

Speaking after the win, Talita Morley from VEPA said, “The impact is already being felt on the ground, particularly in food production and we’re planning to expand to reach out to other island groups in Tonga, not only our island groups, but the main islands.”

“We’ve already expanded to Ha’apai, because our agriculture has been harmed by these invasive plants, so we need to get rid of it,” she said.

The initiative is not only ecological but also social. Thirteen Ambassadors are employed, gaining income, skills, and pride as environmental stewards. Their work has sparked new ecotourism opportunities, with visitors eager to join guided bird tours and witness the recovery of species once thought to be disappearing.

The prize funding will go directly into tools like acoustic recorders to monitor bird populations and materials to maintain the Mt Talau fence, ensuring that conservation remains practical and effective.

The PRISMSS Restoring Island Resilience awards event not only recognised outstanding conservation achievements but also showcased how locally driven action, rooted in traditional knowledge and community leadership, can deliver global impact by weaving together biodiversity protection, climate resilience, and sustainable livelihoods with an exhibition display.