A workshop was held with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE) in Apia, Samoa in April 2012 to develop the initial stage of assessment for Samoa's State of Environment (SoE), which is currently underway. Key experts from MNRE and SPREP defined six key habitats in Samoa: cloud forest and uplands, lowlands, coastal strand, nearshore marine, offshore marine, and rivers and streams. The health of each of these habitats (as determined by key indicators) will then be combined to describe the overall condition of Samoa’s environment and culturally important natural resources. Samoa is leading the Pacific in the use of this habitat-based assessment, which will be important in the development of common regional approaches. It will also contribute to the development of a regional framework that will simplify and reduce regional and international reporting requirements for Samoa and other Pacific island countries.