‘Beach teepees’ helping to control coastal erosion in Fiji and the results are positive

A line of teepees made from tree branches on a Fijian beach trail off into the distance, but they’re not bonfires, they’re helping to fight coastal erosion and act as a natural sea wall.

The traditional method of helping to stabilise sand is being used in Sigatoka, on the south-west coast of Fiji’s main island.

Sigatoka sand dunes park senior ranger Ifereimi Roroira explains how the structures work. 

“The sand actually builds up on the beach teepee and then the vegetation actually grows over it, so that’s a natural way of building a seawall,” Mr Roroira said.

“It’s been working, so we want to make sure we maintain that and then to increase those methods here at the sand dunes.”