But Taufa’asisinas death was marred with the injury of his son Ulu, a Police Officer involved in a car accident in the Solomon Islands over the weekend, resulting in the death of a Solomon Islands woman.

The Taufaasisina family in Samoa were awaiting the arrival of young Ulu to Samoa before the High Chief was to be laid to rest, however since the incident it is not known what the plans are for the funeral of the environment hero.

Taufaasisina shot to fame back in the 1990s when he courageously honored a pledge made on his father's deathbed to protect the rainforest of his home, the Tafua village.

He resisted the loggers for over a decade, despite the village's need for revenue.

Chief Ulu has also stood for the rights of Tafua villagers to make their own decisions and control their own destinies. He is cofounder of Fa'asao Savai'i, an indigenous conservation organization working to protect the environment and culture of the island of Savai'i.

In 1992 Taufasisina was awarded the Seacology Environment Prize, perhaps the most esteemed environment prize outside of the Nobel, to be awarded to international activists.

Taufasisina is close friend to Botanist and Author Nafanua Paul Cox.

In his book, Nafanua, Cox regularly refers to Taufasisina as one of the saviours of Samoas forests.

Taufaasisina is most famous for his approach to conservation, one that is traditional and spiritual.

In a letter to the Swedish Forest Foundation Taufaasisina said: “My forefathers had a dream. They had a dream that one day the land and the rain forest would be saved for eternity. They had a dream that the land and the sea would forever be well looked after, and not destroyed and distributed to other people. I share that dream. I believe that we can become masters of our destiny if we take care of our environment.”

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written by ioe, June 26, 2008

tasi lea poutu o samoa ua maliu atu nei. talofa se..ua amia na o tagata lelei ae tuu tagata leaga i lenei malo.
faafetai lava Ulu Taufaasisina mo lau tautua ma lou faalauiloaina ma faataua le aoga o le siosiomaga.
Tafimala lau malaga

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