The iconic moai statues of Easter Island, known locally as Rapa Nui, are crumbling under the pressure of climate change and the passage of centuries (BBC).
Many of the monolithic figures, carved between 1100 AD and 1600 AD, now stand along the island’s coastline on ceremonial platforms known as ahu.
The soft volcanic tuff used by the ancient carvers was supposed to absorb wind, rain and salt spray. But over time, the stone has weathered and local communities are racing to protect their heritage.
In 2022 a wildfire swept through Rano Raraku quarry, scorching more than 80 statues and prompting UNESCO to provide emergency funding.
Since then, the Ma’u Henua Indigenous community, which manages the Rapa Nui National Park, has begun restoring five of the most damaged moai.
Work includes installing protective canopies, applying specially developed chemical treatments to strengthen the stone and conducting 3D surveys with drones.
Funding remains limited, while views differ on how best to proceed. Some residents accept that the statues may return to the earth over time. But others emphasise the importance of preservation for cultural identity and the tourism sector, which benefits from the statues’ more than 100 000 visitors each year.
Plans to create a formal conservation protocol are in motion. This blueprint will guide future restorations and train younger artisans in traditional carving methods. The moai embody ancestral memory and serve as a living link between past and present.
Ariki Tepano Martin, president of Ma’u Henua, said that preserving the figures went deeper than the stone itself and that it safeguards both their heritage and the future of their people.
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Picture: Amy Toensing / Gallo Images
