CMS and the UN Environmental Program (UNEP) proposed an international treaty, or Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that was signed immediately by eight of the 21 countries represented in Manilla. The MoU proposed 24 programs and 105 specific projects towards reversing the decline of six species of sea turtles including the loggerhead, hawksbill, leatherback and flatback turtles.

"Having existed on Earth for millions of years, sea turtles are an important component of the marine ecosystem, and serve as indicators of the health of the environment in which they live. Their aesthetic appeal draws conservationists and tourists from around the world to nesting beaches throughout the region, generating income for local communities," said Douglas Hykle, CMS's Deputy Executive Secretary, who called this new program as vital to saving sea turtles.

A number of factors have led to decreasing turtle populations: fewer and fewer free beaches for turtles to lay eggs as human develop more along the coastlines, poaching, and increased human traffic and pollution of the seas and oceans in the region have all contributed to the sharp decrease in the number of sea turtles.

"The measures to be taken focus on reducing threats, conserving critical habitat, exchanging science information, increasing public awareness and participation, promoting regional cooperation and finding funding for implementing this vital conservation work," said Hykle.

Hykle held up as an example for other conservationists a Malaysian husband and wife team that have personally bought and hatched 250,000 sea turtles and returned them to the wild. Dr. Chan Eng and her husband Liew Hock Clark with the Sea Turtle Research Unit in University College in Terengganu were awarded the UNEP Global 500 award on Environmental Day earlier this month.

"This is an example of the kind of pioneering work nations that have signed up to the new CMS conservation agreement might consider extending to their countries," said Hykle.

There are already long-term monitoring programs of sea turtles in place in Australia and South Africa, and new programs are in the works in India, Pakistan, and Iran.