Â鶹ÒùÔº

Green turtles are officially out of danger, according to , the definitive authority on the conservation status of the world's species. Global populations of this iconic marine reptile have increased by around 28% in the past 50 years. As a result, the species has been downlisted dramatically—from Endangered to Least Concern.

With global biodiversity in such steep decline, it's gratifying to see that some species are bucking the downward trend. And it vindicates the tireless efforts of Fauna & Flora and our local partners to tackle the threats to green turtles at key project sites worldwide. The green turtle has long been on our priority list—and was one of ten species featured in .

Our global efforts to save green turtles

Cambodia

Several years ago, in partnership with Wildlife Alliance, Fauna & Flora conducted well over 100 surveys at markets and landing sites in Phnom Penh and Cambodia's four coastal provinces to gather data on illegal trade in sea turtles. We have continued to work with government agencies to strengthen monitoring and law enforcement and develop crime prevention strategies. After an alarmingly long wait, during which no turtle nesting beaches were identified in nearly a decade, we witnessed a remarkable turnaround in 2022 and 2023, with the discovery of multiple green turtle nests.

Cabo Verde

The remote archipelago nation of Cabo Verde is arguably among the least well-known of the world's marine biodiversity hotspots. Five of the world's most threatened sea turtle species, including the green turtle, forage in its coastal waters. This wildlife has faced increasing pressure from boat traffic and coastal habitat destruction, as well as unsustainable and illegal fishing activities. Thanks to the efforts of Fundação Maio Biodiversidade (FMB), with whom Fauna & Flora has partnered since 2012, the island of Maio—a crucial turtle haven—was officially designated as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. The additional protection afforded to sea turtles and the rest of Maio's unique biodiversity has helped safeguard them against the growing threats to their survival.

Fauna & Flora engages with Cambodian naval personnel stationed on a remote island, training volunteers in turtle identification and explaining the importance and rarity of these marine reptiles. The volunteers conduct daily patrols, searching for signs of turtles and their nests. In late 2023, they found nine sea turtle nests within just a few days.

Myanmar

Fauna & Flora's sea turtle team in Myanmar carries out regular nest monitoring, beach cleanups and hatchling releases, as well as conducting surveys on accidental by-catch and organizing other community awareness activities, all to support the establishment of a sea turtle conservation zone. In August 2025, we reached an important milestone with the establishment and inaugural meeting of Myanmar's first community-led sea turtle conservation zone committee—including a youth conservation group—in Kyarkan Village. Together with community members, volunteers, students and the youth group, our turtle team removed over 75 kilos of potentially harmful marine debris, helping to create cleaner and safer nesting beaches for sea turtles. Since 2018, the team has safely released well over 40,000 turtle hatchlings into the sea and removed over two tons of marine debris from turtle nesting beaches in the project area.

Kenya

In Kenya, increased patrolling has resulted in the highest number of sea turtles ever recorded in a single location by Fauna & Flora's local partner in Kenya, with very few incidences of poaching recorded.

A sign of hope for sea turtles

All these green turtle conservation initiatives are finally paying dividends. —t³ó±ð and are both still critically endangered—but the improvement in fortunes for at least one of their kind is a tremendous boost for turtle conservation efforts everywhere and demonstrates what can be achieved when people come together for nature.