Were the paper straws actually worth it?
- Kinga Zujko
- Nov 28
- 2 min read
Every person who has ever been to a fast food place knows the torture that is drinking from a paper straw. The horrible feeling of anticipation as you wait for your straw to inevitably fall apart and the disgusting aftermath of trying to drink from something that is basically a wet noodle. But after years of surviving this torment has it finally achieved something?
The great news
This October the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUNC) reclassified the green sea turtles on their Red List of Threatened Species from “endangered” to “least concern”. This reclassification was based on the species’ last assessment, which proved that the species’ population has significantly increased since the 1970s. This proves that conversation efforts aren’t worthless and there is still hope for even the most endangered of species. Despite this we still must remember that the turtles weren’t saved by good intentions, but real work and sacrifice that sadly includes us having to drink from paper straws. Now let’s take a look at other things which made bringing the turtles back from the brink of extinction possible
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How did the green sea turtles return from the brink of extinction?
Battles against the extinction of a species are always hard to win. To put it simply, the odds just aren’t in our favour. But there are some cases when we have won. How? The most important thing is time. Green sea turtles were classified as endangered in the 1980s and as of now their population has only increased by 28%. Just like in every other situation to see progress we need to be patient.
The second most important thing is a holistic approach. Saving the species would not have been possible if it weren’t for addressing threats such as the illegal wildlife trade, invasive species and habitat loss as well as educating people about the importance of protecting nesting female turtles and their eggs. Ultimately what saved the species was that people cared about it. Thanks to awareness campaigns people learned about the endangerment of the turtles and saw real value in protecting them.
Why is this so important?
The increase of the green sea turtles population proves that all conservation efforts are worth something. It proves that scientists aren’t just throwing time and money into a bottomless pit, but spending it on something that actually brings results. It will inspire even more people to participate in conservation action, which will result in even more saved species. Above all it is hoped that one day we will live in a world, where no species are endangered at all. But for that to happen we need to keep advocating for the green sea turtles and all other endangered species, and keep drinking from paper straws.
Page design: Zofia Kitlas
Bibliography
Briggs, Helen. Green Turtle Bounces Back from Brink in Conservation “Win.” 10 Oct. 2025, www.bbc.com/news/articles/cg426qqqqnro.
Igini, Martina. “Green Sea Turtles No Longer Endangered in Conservation Win.” Earth.org, 21 Oct. 2025, earth.org/green-sea-turtles-no-longer-endangered-species-in-major-conservation-win/.
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