AccLab's first testing plan revolved around photojournaling as a means to capture photographic evidence of invasive alien species and their locations.

The plan included participant selection, training, field testing, data collection, analysis, evaluation, and documentation. The Samoa community, like other Pacific Island communities, possesses its own unique qualities. One prominent aspect of Samoa's culture is the emphasis on 'respect,' which plays a vital role in fostering community. Recognizing the invaluable knowledge held by the local youth, we collaborated with them to gain insights into their community, as they possess a deep understanding of its intricacies. With their guidance, we were able to navigate the villages while adhering to the cultural protocols specific to each location 01.0

The testing phase was an opportunity for the youth participants from the Samoa National Youth Council to contribute to biodiversity monitoring actively. Through their photographs, the participants were able to document invasive alien species encountered in the villages of Lufilufi, Fagaloa, Toamua, Satapuala and Magiagi. The process involved training the participants in basic photography techniques and educating them about invasive species identification.

The collected photographs served as valuable evidence of the presence and impacts of invasive species. By analyzing the photographs and cross-referencing with expert resources, AccLab validated the identification of invasive alien species. The testing plan also allowed for participant feedback, enabling AccLab to gather valuable insights into the effectiveness of photojournaling as a biodiversity monitoring tool.