The Caribbean island of St Lucia is home to sea turtles and other marine species that are rapidly vanishing. Poaching of turtle eggs remains a huge problem as does the dumping of waste in the ocean. Mass tourism and large cruise ships have destroyed coral reefs. An initiative by the German development aid organization, GIZ, is working with locals to patrol and protect turtle habitats. The group works closely with communities and the government to improve sewage infrastructure, raise awareness through workshops and seminars and develop measures to better protect the island’s threatened flora and fauna.