Thirteen years ago a strong environmental campaign saved the St Lucia dunes from being mined. The same cannot be said for this time round.

One of Africa's biggest and most endangered wetland areas is battling to find the fine balance between saving its unique ecosystem and saving its impoverished human inhabitants. Swamplands and vegetation in the Greater St Lucia Wetlands Park in eastern South Africa are being battered by local communities dependent on the 260 000ha protected area to survive.