Photo by Wexor Tmg on Unsplash (illustrative)
On 10 October 2025, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) announced that the green sea turtle had improved from Endangered to Least Concern on its Red List of Threatened Species. The change, unveiled during the IUCN World Conservation Congress in Abu Dhabi, reflects a global recovery built over more than 40 years.
Key facts
The global green turtle population has grown by roughly 28% since the 1970s, according to the IUCN.
The species had been listed as Endangered since 1982.
Strong recoveries were recorded at nesting sites on Ascension Island and in Brazil, Mexico and Hawai'i.
Key measures included guarding nesting females and eggs, community programs to curb harvesting, trade restrictions and Turtle Excluder Devices on fishing nets.
Why it matters
Green turtles are long-lived and slow to breed, so a global recovery of this size shows that patient, coordinated conservation across many countries can turn a species around. Healthy turtle populations also help keep seagrass meadows, which store carbon and shelter young fish, in good condition.
Worth noting
Some regional populations are still in trouble: the Central South Pacific group is listed as Endangered, the North Indian Ocean group as Vulnerable, and hatchling production at Australia's Raine Island, the world's largest rookery, has fallen for several years. Scientists warn that numbers could drop quickly if protection stopped.