"My journey as a National Geographic Explorer began by following one leatherback sea turtle on a map. In many ways, I’ve been following turtles ever since." — #NatGeoExplorer callieveelenturf "Sea turtles have become my greatest teachers and ambassadors for the protection of marine ecosystems. They’ve led me across oceans and borders, but most importantly, into communities whose knowledge, relationships with Nature, and commitment to protecting the places they call home have shaped the conservationist I am today. What started as a question about where turtles go and why eventually became a much bigger question for me: How do we change the systems that determine Nature’s future? That journey led me to the Rights of Nature, the idea that Nature has intrinsic value, inherent rights, and deserves a direct voice in decision-making. My research, conducted with the local communities of the Pearl Islands, The Leatherback Project team, the Ministry of the Environment of Panama, the National A...