*Text of the Inter-American Convention for the Protection and Conservation of Sea Turtles
The Parties to this Convention:
Recognizing the rights and duties of States established in international law, as reflected in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982, relating to the conservation and management of living marine resources;

Inspired by the principles contained in the 1992 Rio Declaration on Environment and Development;

Considering the principles and recommendations set forth in the Code of Conduct for Responsible Fishing adopted by the Conference of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations in its 28th Session evidence, species of sea turtles in the Americas are threatened or endangered, and that some of these species may face an imminent risk of extinction;

Acknowledging the importance of having the States in the Americas adopt an agreement to address this situation through an instrument that also facilitates the participation of States from other regions interested in the worldwide protection and conservation of sea turtles, taking into account the widely migratory nature of these species;

Recognizing that sea turtles are subject to capture, injury or mortality as a direct or indirect result of humanrelated activities;

*Decline of the Dermochelys coriacea turtle in the Pacific of the Americas!
The Dermochelys coriacea or leatherback turtle, has inhabited the planet for 110 million years, surviving even the extinction of the dinosaurs. Today, the IUCN classifies it as a critically-endangered species, due to a decline of 80% of the global population during the past 10 years. The main causes are related to human activities. If concrete actions are not taken to ensure conservation of the leatherback, we could very well witness its extinction in our lifetime.

*Sea turtles: future?
Due to unsustainable activities carried out by humans, the populations of the six species of sea turtle of the Americas are in danger of extinction.

*Loggerhead turtles in the Mediterranean under threat
Uncontrolled tourism and rapid development of Greece’s beaches continue to effect the long-term survival of the largest nesting population of Mediterranean loggerhead turtles on the Greek island of Zakynthos.

Some 800–1,100 loggerhead nests can be found in the National Marine Park of Zakynthos, but poor management and lack of government support is threatening the future of this endangered marine turtle.

*Scores of marine turtles entangled in Indonesian nets
Following the deaths of some 140 marine turtles drowned in nets off Indonesia's Panjang Island, WWF and The Nature Conservancy are calling for the establishment of a marine protected area in the waters north-west of Borneo.

Deliberately targeted for their high-market value, 170 turtles were found entangled and drowned in nets. Of the 144 that died, 141 were green turtles and 3 were hawksbills. Of the seven marine species, six, including green and hawksbills turtles, are critically endangered.

*Sea turtles threatened by rising seas
Climate change is warming the earth. Ice is melting and sea levels have started to rise. This causes damage, with serious consequences for nature and for coastal communities.

Scientists have now looked at the impacts of sea level rise on sea turtles. These ancient animals lay their eggs into the beach sand. Many turtle species return to the exact beaches that they were hatched to lay the eggs for the next generation of turtles.