KARACHI, Tuesday, November 6, 2025 (WNP): WWF-Pakistan has urged the government and conservation partners to accelerate research, strengthen monitoring, and expand community-led initiatives to protect Green Sea Turtles, warning that the species remains vulnerable in Pakistan despite its global downlisting from “Endangered” to “Least Concern.”

The organization said the reclassification by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) reflects global conservation gains, but should not create a false sense of security—especially in the Northern Indian Ocean, where the species continues to face major threats from unregulated coastal development, bycatch, poaching, predation by feral dogs, and emerging climate impacts.

Green Turtles nest along Pakistan’s coasts in Sindh and Balochistan, including Sandspit–Hawksbay, Ormara, Pasni and Astola Island. WWF-Pakistan, working for over 30 years with the government and coastal communities, has supported nest patrols, fisher training, and awareness campaigns, and played a key role in securing Marine Protected Area status for Astola Island in 2017 and Churna Island in 2023.

However, the country still lacks scientific baseline data on population size, nesting patterns and long-term survival, leaving significant gaps in assessing the species’ trajectory.

“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 is possible through sustained conservation. Our priority now is ensuring Pakistan’s populations receive the same level of protection and long-term monitoring so this global progress translates into regional progress.”

WWF-Pakistan called for coordinated research, including satellite tracking and genetic studies, and urged the integration of turtle nesting and foraging sites into marine spatial planning to ensure Pakistan’s seas remain thriving ecosystems where these ancient mariners can continue their journey across the Indian Ocean.