Solevu Village - Sandbags Protect Homefront
In 2017, Maika Nasilasila of Solevu, Mamanuca noticed how the rise in sea level was affecting the village grounds.
Tuesday 09 August 2022 | 18:00
Maika Nasilasila at his homefront in Solevu Village, Malolo. Photo: Kelera Sovasiga-Tuisawau
Erosion of beaches, sea inundation as well as flooding in low lying areas are major physical impacts of sea level rise. Located just off the west coast of Viti Levu and a 30-minute boat ride from Port Denarau Marina in Nadi, lies breathtaking beaches of the Mamanuca group.
Despite the diversity and pristine lagoons, parts of the two main villages of Yaro and Solevu are also prone to the rise in sea level, coastal erosion, and saltwater intrusion.
But the impacts of climate change will not deter 60-year-old Mr. Nasilasila from being resilient and taking action no matter what. And just as military personnel would use sandbags in trenches to protect soldiers from enemy rifle fire, Mr. Nasilasila also faced the enemy of sea level rise.
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Walking along the beaches of Solevu Village, one will notice the beautifully stacked sandbags in front of Mr. Nasilasila’s villa-looking home.
The piles of sandbags are the only ones that can be seen on the village beachfront.
Maika Nasilasila in Solevu, Mamanuca. Photo: Kelera Sovasiga-Tuisawau
He has placed another four stacks on top.
“We should not sit around and expect help to come. The resources around us are the greatest available help,” he said.
“We just have to open our eyes, take the first step of action and strategise a way that will work for us to be able to adapt to these changing weather patterns.”
Since its establishment, there have been more than 100 bags of sand placed on the forefront of Mr Nasilasila’s home.
SCIENCE BEHIND IT
According to Fiji’s National Climate Change Policy, the global sea level changes will more than double by the end of the century. Since 1993, Fiji has recorded a 6 millimetre (0.2 inch) increase in its sea level per year, larger than the global average.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change stated that rising seas will also erode coastal areas causing shorelines to retreat and forcing small island states to invest in reconstruction actions and preventive climate change adaptation.
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