Panel 8. Paper 8.3: Address flood threats to protect rural landscape heritage and enhance cultural tourism

Apia has repeatedly been hit by floods exacerbated by climate change. Apia is the capital of the small island nation of Samoa, in the Pacific. The floods from three watersheds start high in the steep rural areas through which the streams traverse. The streams become rushing torrents, destroying the subsistence farms, soils, homes, crops and properties upstream. Downstream flooding impacts buildings, businesses and tourism in the small city as well as the ecology of the harbour, through repeated silt deposits. A flood management project, which binds Fa’a Samoa, (Samoan cultural practices) to technical landscape management practice, can also lead to enhanced tourism opportunities by conserving crops, crafting and sharing the cultural narratives. The stories about the steep lush countryside, plants, people’s customs and deep understanding of their landscapes are for telling as part of traditional practice. The historic home of Robert Louis Stevenson, known locally as Tusitala, (the story teller) in this watershed, is an inspiration for building on his and Samoan legends through traditional narrative. While flood mitigation is the driver for this Masters of Landscape Architecture study, the cultural wisdom obtained through meetings and interviews are also a basis for enhanced cultural tourism. This may include the sales of tapa and other traditional rural products, walkways to villages, hospitality and cultural demonstrations such as weaving, tatau (Samoan tattooing) and cocoa making. In the course of addressing the threat of flooding, and building new knowledge and landscape management ideas, a better economic future based on cultural heritage and tourism may also result