Report on the Conservation Status of the Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas) and Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

1.0 Executive Summary: Conservation Reclassification

A recent assessment by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has reclassified the global population of the green turtle (Chelonia mydas) from ‘Endangered’ to ‘Least Concern’. This change reflects a significant recovery following decades of conservation initiatives, marking a major success in marine biodiversity preservation. This achievement directly contributes to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 14 (Life Below Water).

2.0 Historical Pressures and Conservation Interventions

The species faced severe decline due to a range of anthropogenic pressures. The recovery demonstrates the efficacy of targeted conservation strategies that align with global sustainability objectives.

• Historical Threats: Populations were decimated by unsustainable hunting for meat and eggs, a practice contrary to the principles of SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production).
• Ongoing Threats: The species continues to face risks from pollution, degradation of nesting habitats, entanglement in fishing gear, and climate change, which are key challenges addressed by SDG 14 and SDG 15 (Life on Land).
• Successful Interventions: The global population has increased by approximately 28% since the 1970s due to concerted efforts.

1. Legal protections against international trade and direct hunting.
2. Conservation programs focused on protecting critical nesting beaches, supporting SDG 15.5 (halt biodiversity loss).
3. Widespread implementation of Turtle Excluder Devices (TEDs) in fishing gear, directly addressing SDG 14.4 (end overfishing and destructive fishing practices).

3.0 Contribution to Sustainable Development Goal 14: Life Below Water

The recovery of the green turtle is a tangible outcome of actions supporting SDG 14. The sustained conservation efforts provide a model for achieving marine and coastal ecosystem protection.

• Target 14.2: The protection of nesting beaches and marine habitats contributes directly to the sustainable management and protection of marine and coastal ecosystems.
• Target 14.5: By focusing on a keystone species, conservation efforts contribute to the broader goal of conserving at least 10 per cent of coastal and marine areas.
• Target 14.a: The scientific monitoring and research underpinning the IUCN assessment increase scientific knowledge and research capacity to improve ocean health.

4.0 Regional Disparities and the Need for Continued Action

Despite the positive global trend, the recovery is not uniform. Several regional subpopulations remain under threat, indicating that progress towards SDG 14 is incomplete and requires sustained focus.

• North Indian Ocean: Subpopulations are classified as ‘Vulnerable’.
• Central South Pacific: Subpopulations are listed as ‘Endangered’.
• North Atlantic: While listed as ‘Least Concern’, this subpopulation is showing signs of decline, with reduced nesting numbers at key sites in Costa Rica requiring further investigation.

This regional variance underscores the species’ status as ‘Conservation Dependent’. The progress achieved could be reversed without continued conservation support, highlighting the fragility of these gains.

5.0 The Role of Global Partnerships (SDG 17)

The success of green turtle conservation is a testament to the power of global collaboration, a core principle of SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). The coordination between international bodies like the IUCN, national governments, and local conservation groups has been essential. Continued and strengthened partnerships are imperative to address the remaining threats and ensure the long-term survival of all green turtle subpopulations.

6.0 Conclusion

The reclassification of the green turtle to ‘Least Concern’ is a significant conservation victory and a positive indicator for SDG 14. It proves that dedicated, collaborative efforts can reverse biodiversity loss. However, the continued threats and regional declines serve as a critical reminder that conservation is an ongoing commitment. Sustained action, supported by robust global partnerships under SDG 17, is essential to protect marine ecosystems and ensure this recovery endures for future generations.

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

SDG 14: Life Below Water

• The article focuses on the green turtle (Chelonia mydas), a marine species. It discusses threats to their survival such as entanglement in fishing nets, pollution, and the degradation of ocean habitats, all of which are central concerns of SDG 14. The success of conservation efforts mentioned directly relates to the goal of conserving and sustainably using the oceans and marine resources.

SDG 15: Life on Land

• While the green turtle is a marine animal, its life cycle is intrinsically linked to land, specifically the coastal ecosystems where it nests. The article mentions the “degradation of nesting beaches” as a significant threat and the protection of these beaches as a key conservation measure. This connects the issue to SDG 15’s aim to protect, restore, and promote the sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems and halt biodiversity loss. The reclassification of the species from “endangered” directly addresses the goal of preventing the extinction of threatened species.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Targets under SDG 14: Life Below Water

• Target 14.2: By 2020, sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts, including by strengthening their resilience, and take action for their restoration in order to achieve healthy and productive oceans. The article directly references the need to address the “degradation of nesting beaches and ocean habitats” and highlights the success of “conservation measures including those that protect nesting beaches.”
• Target 14.4: By 2020, effectively regulate harvesting and end overfishing, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and destructive fishing practices and implement science-based management plans, in order to restore fish stocks in the shortest time feasible, at least to levels that can produce maximum sustainable yield as determined by their biological characteristics. The article discusses historical “hunting [of] green turtles for their meat and eggs” and modern threats from “entanglement in fishing nets.” The implementation of “turtle excluder devices” is a direct measure to make fishing practices less destructive and aligns with this target.

Targets under SDG 15: Life on Land

• Target 15.5: Take urgent and significant action to reduce the degradation of natural habitats, halt the loss of biodiversity and, by 2020, protect and prevent the extinction of threatened species. The central theme of the article is the recovery of the green turtle, a species that was previously classified as “endangered.” The entire discussion around its reclassification, population increase, and the need for continued conservation efforts directly relates to protecting a threatened species and halting biodiversity loss.
• Target 15.7: Take urgent action to end poaching and trafficking of protected species of flora and fauna and address both demand and supply of illegal wildlife products. The article mentions that conservation success is “largely thanks to legal protections against international trade and direct hunting,” which directly addresses the actions required by this target to protect species from illegal harvesting and trade.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• IUCN Red List Status: The primary indicator discussed is the reclassification of the green turtle on the IUCN Red List from “endangered” to “least concern.” This is a direct measure of progress for Target 15.5 (protect and prevent the extinction of threatened species). The article also notes the status of regional subpopulations (e.g., “vulnerable,” “endangered”), providing a more granular indicator of conservation status.
• Population Trends: The article explicitly states that the “global population has increased by roughly 28% since the 1970s.” This quantitative data serves as a clear indicator of the recovery of a species, measuring the effectiveness of conservation actions under both SDG 14 and SDG 15.
• Implementation of Conservation Measures: The article implies progress by mentioning the successful implementation of specific conservation actions. These include:
  • “Legal protections against international trade and direct hunting” (Indicator for Target 15.7).
  • “Conservation measures including those that protect nesting beaches” (Indicator for Target 14.2).
  • “The use of turtle excluder devices” (Indicator for Target 14.4).

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: news.mongabay.com