WWF-Pakistan calls for urgent, coordinated research and monitoring to fill gaps including tracking and genetic studies, expanded community-led conservation, and integration of turtle habitats into marine spatial planning, ensuring that Pakistan’s seas remain living ecosystems where these ancient mariners can continue their journey across the Indian Ocean.  

While WWF-Pakistan acknowledges the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) recent decision to reclassify the Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia mydas) from Endangered to Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, a reflection of sustained global conservation progress, the organization cautions that this downlisting must not lead to complacency. Across the Northern Indian Ocean, Green Turtle populations remain vulnerable, facing persistent threats from unregulated coastal development, bycatch accidents, and the unknown impacts of climate change. 

In Pakistan, Green Turtles nest along the coasts of Sindh and Balochistan, including Sandspit–Hawksbay, Ormara, Pasni, and Astola Island. Yet they continue to face threats from coastal development, fisheries bycatch, illegal harvesting, feral dog predation, and the growing impacts of climate change. WWF-Pakistan has worked for over three decades with the Government of Pakistan and local communities to protect green turtles through nest patrols, fisher training on safe handling and releases, and awareness campaigns. The organisation also supported the designation of Astola Island (a key nesting site) in 2017 and Churna Island (an important foraging area) in 2023 as Marine Protected Areas. However, the country still lacks a scientific population baseline to determine nesting trends and survival rates, leaving critical data gaps in understanding their status. 

“This is not a celebration but a call to action,” said Rab Nawaz, Senior Director Biodiversity, WWF-Pakistan. “The Green Turtle’s global recovery shows what’s possible through long-term conservation. Our next step is to ensure Pakistan’s populations benefit from the same level of protection and monitoring so that this global progress truly becomes regional progress.” The downlisting of Chelonia mydas serves as a reminder that while conservation efforts can succeed, their lasting impact depends on local commitment and continued vigilance, leading to coordinated regional action for these shared resources.