GREEN SEA TURTLES ARE BOUNCING BACK, SHOWING CONSERVATION EFFORTS ARE WORKING, BUT THERE IS STILL A LONG WAY TO GO

Some genuinely good news from the ocean: green sea turtles have been downlisted by the IUCN from Endangered to Least Concern, the lowest risk category on the Red List. Global populations have grown around 28 percent since the 1970s, driven by decades of sustained conservation effort.

The recovery isn't perfectly even everywhere. Some regional populations, like those in the Central and South Pacific and North Indian Ocean, are still classified as Vulnerable or Endangered. So there's still work to do in those areas. But the global trend is a genuine milestone worth celebrating.

Not every species is having the same moment though. Sea turtles as a group span a wide range of outcomes, depending on where you look.

Hawksbill turtles remain Critically Endangered, the most serious category before extinction in the wild. Prized historically for their patterned shells, they still face illegal trade, habitat loss, and fishing bycatch.

Loggerhead turtles are Vulnerable. That's a step down from critical, but not a reason to relax. Their populations vary widely by region, with some beaches recovering and others still under pressure.

Flatback turtles are Data Deficient. Found only around Australia, there simply isn't enough reliable population data to assess their risk. That's not the same as safe, just unknown.

The green turtle's comeback is a reminder that protection efforts can genuinely shift a species' trajectory. It's also a nudge to keep pushing for the species and regions that haven't turned the corner yet.

Please keep doing those beach cleans and if your little ones enjoy digging on the beach please fill in those holes before you leave at the end of the day. Turtles can get stranded in them and never make it to their nesting sites.