Guardians of the Reef: Protecting the Hawksbill Turtle in Arnavon

The hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) is classified as Critically Endangered globally under the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™. Found in tropical and subtropical waters of more than 100 countries, the species has suffered dramatic declines due to centuries of exploitation for meat, eggs and tortoiseshell.  The historic tortoiseshell trade alone led to the killing of millions of turtles worldwide over the past century. 

Today, hawksbills continue to face threats from habitat loss, bycatch, pollution and climate change. In the Arnavons, these pressures were once deeply felt. By the early 1990s, turtle and fish populations had been severely depleted. Recognising the urgency, the communities of Kia, Katupika and Wagina came together to establish the Arnavon Community Area in 1995. In 2017, it was formally declared Solomon Islands’ first national marine park - the Arnavon Community Marine Park.

Today, community rangers patrol nesting beaches, monitor turtle populations, protect eggs and enforce conservation rules. Their work represents a powerful model of local stewardship in action — and it is delivering results.

This progress is now being strengthened through regional collaboration under the Solutions on Marine and Coastal Resilience in the Coral Triangle (SOMACORE) programme. Supported by the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Climate Action, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMUKN) through the International Climate Initiative (IKI), SOMACORE works across priority seascapes, including the Bismarck Solomon Seas, to promote science-based, community-centred conservation and effective marine governance.

A key component of this support is advancing Arnavon’s journey toward the IUCN Green List. The IUCN Green List of Protected and Conserved Areas is a global standard recognising sites that achieve effective and equitable management, delivering measurable conservation outcomes for people and nature. Sites that meet the Green List Standard demonstrate strong governance, sound design and planning, effective management, and successful conservation results 

“Our role is to stand alongside the people of Arnavon as they progress through the IUCN Green List certification process. By strengthening governance, documenting measurable results and meeting the global standard, we are helping ensure that their community-led conservation efforts are recognised internationally and positioned as a model of excellence for the region and beyond,” said Susana Waqainabete-Tuisese, Regional Director for IUCN Oceania.

Wildlife conservation is about more than protecting a species. Healthy marine ecosystems underpin food security, livelihoods and cultural identity across the Pacific. The recovery of hawksbill turtles in Arnavon reflects the power of community commitment backed by science, partnership and global standards.

IUCN extends its sincere appreciation to BMUKN through IKI for supporting SOMACORE and to national and regional partners working to strengthen conservation across the Coral Triangle. Together, they are helping ensure that Arnavon stands not only as a refuge for a critically endangered species, but as a globally recognised example of effective, community-led marine conservation.