Global green turtle population rebounds thanks to conservation efforts

WWF welcomes the reclassification of green sea turtles from ‘endangered’ to ‘least concern’ on the IUCN global list of threatened species as a win for turtle conservation. 

The good news was revealed in the latest IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™ update, released at the IUCN World Conservation Congress in Abu Dhabi.  

Responding to the turtle reclassification Christine Madden, WWF Global Marine Turtle Conservation Lead, said: “This is a major win for turtle conservation and proof that coordinated action can reverse populations at risk of extinction. The turtle conservation community and WWF have worked for decades with fisheries to cut turtle bycatch by adopting turtle-friendly fishing practices, and with communities protecting and restoring critical nesting beaches. 

“This is a major milestone globally, but it’s not a time to be complacent. Conservation efforts must continue for green turtle populations to continue to thrive and recover in areas where they remain threatened by fishing gear entanglement, overfishing and loss of habitats.” 

The green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) is found in tropical and subtropical waters worldwide. Its population has increased by approximately 28% since the 1970s, despite persistent threats to some subpopulations. 

WWF encourages the use of innovative DNA-based tools like Shellbank and Blue Corridors for Turtles to better track populations and identify those most at risk, particularly along migratory pathways in the high seas and the oceanic habitats where turtles spend most of their lives. 

While the turtle recovery offers hope, the IUCN update also highlights worrying declines elsewhere. Deforestation is driving bird population declines, with 61% of species now in decline. Three species of Arctic seal were also found to be increasingly threatened by habitat loss from climate change. The hooded seal (Cystophora cristata) has declined from ‘vulnerable’ to ‘endangered’, while the bearded seal (Erignathus barbatus) and harp seal (Pagophilus groenlandicus) have moved from ’least concern’ to ‘near threatened’. 

The IUCN Red List now includes 172,620 species of which 48,646 are threatened with extinction. 

ENDS