Commercial turtle farming is a complex issue that has great potential to relieve the exploitation pressure on wild populations, but also has the potential for significant negative impacts on native populations. More study and discussion of the issue is required. The necessity to survey the distribution, to monitor the status of known populations, and to study the ecology of turtle species in their natural habitat emerged from all presentations and discussions. Survey work inside protected areas is particularly appropriate as these areas generally offer some reprieve from collection for subsistence and trade. Surveys of species coexisting with humans in stable agricultural landscapes or man-made waterbodies are also useful to identify species with adequate populations and thus of lesser conservation concern.
Field studies are essential components of species management plans and recovery programs.
Field study data directly contribute to the success of ex situ captive maintenance, while observations of captive animals will suggest new avenues for field research. The successful reintroductions of species from ex-situ conservation programs will require knowledge of the species' native distributions, habitats and basic ecology. Much of this survey work would be best carried out by local scientists and wildlife authorities. International organisations have a significant role to play by participating in joint fieldwork and so providing training and expert skills, as well as by contributing literature, equipment and other resources and establishing and maintaining a communications network. A turtle conservation website can be a very rich source of information, though not all turtle conservationists have access to the internet.