The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) released its updated Red List during the World Conservation Congress held in Abu Dhabi in October. According to the update, the IUCN Red List now covers 172,620 species, 48,646 of which are facing extinction risk at various levels.

One of the species whose status changed with the update is the green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas). Thanks to decades of conservation efforts, the global population of green sea turtles found in tropical and subtropical waters has increased by about 28 percent since the 1970s, despite ongoing threats to some subpopulations.

As a result of this increase, the status of the green sea turtle on the IUCN Red List has been downlisted from the “endangered” category to the “least concern” category.

Green sea turtles, considered a keystone species in marine ecosystems, contribute to the carbon cycle by protecting the health of seagrass meadows. They also play an important role in the balance of coral reefs.

Climate change accelerates the increase in risks

WWF-Türkiye (World Wide Fund for Nature) Marine, Biodiversity and Forest Programs Group Manager Ayse Oruc told Anadolu that sea turtles are among the species with long lifespans, and they live in marine habitats during different stages of their lives and in coastal habitats during nesting seasons.

Describing sea turtles as an exemplary species in biodiversity conservation efforts, Oruc said: “Since the mid-20th century globally, and since the 1970s in the Mediterranean basin, significant progress has been achieved with the participation of public institutions, academia, civil society, coastal communities and the private sector. With rising awareness, sea turtles have become the focus of conservation efforts, but threats to biodiversity still continue.”

Highlighting that long-term monitoring programs and active participation of local communities are crucial in the success of sea turtle conservation programs, Oruc listed the key factors behind the improvement in the species’ status: “Developing regional, international and national legal regulations and collaborations for the protection of the species and its habitats; preparing and implementing long-term species conservation plans. Within the scope of these plans, ensuring continuity of long-term research, monitoring and conservation efforts, and evaluating changes in subpopulations through regular data collection. In addition, continuous implementation of conservation measures on beaches increases nesting and hatchling success, the development of selective fishing gear in fishing technology, and increased public awareness.”

Oruc noted that research began in the 1950s in Ascension Island in the South Atlantic revealed that green sea turtles migrate to Brazil, documenting the first long-distance migrations. Thanks to conservation efforts in Ascension and community-based projects carried out in Brazil since the 1980s have turned this population into a globally recognized conservation success story, she said.

Emphasizing that continuous close collaboration among all parties is necessary to maintain improvements in the species, Oruc said: “Today, global climate change increases the risks faced by species and their habitats. Infrastructure and expanding construction along coasts and beaches that overlook biodiversity, the global growth of the fishing sector and plastic pollution continue to increase these risks. Including biodiversity values in development and investment planning is of great importance.”

Referring to the “Action Plan for the Conservation of Marine Turtles in the Mediterranean” prepared under the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) Mediterranean Action Plan (MAP) within the framework of the Barcelona Convention, Oruc said that the countries party to the convention have developed their own national species conservation plans based on this action plan.

Oruc explained that Türkiye’s national species conservation plan was prepared in 2009 by the Scientific Committee for Sea Turtles under the coordination of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry’s General Directorate of Nature Conservation and National Parks, with the participation of relevant institutions and organizations.

She emphasized the importance of cooperation among all stakeholders in research and conservation efforts.

“Since 2006, we have been carrying out green sea turtle monitoring and conservation activities in Adana Akyatan Wildlife Development Area in cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry’s 7th Regional Directorate and WWF-Türkiye. This year marks our 20th anniversary. This collaboration is one of the longest-running and most successful examples of species conservation in the Mediterranean basin. Green sea turtles nest intensively along the Eastern Mediterranean coasts. From 15 May to 15 September, it is very crucial that local authorities, coastal residents, business owners and all stakeholders support monitoring activities along Mersin, Adana and Hatay shores. With the citizen science approach, thousands of volunteers around the world work alongside experts, civil society organizations and public institutions to protect species and their habitats. We must strengthen a similar culture of collaboration in our country as well,” Oruc concluded.