King Abdullah University of Science and Technology received a grant to help aid coral reef conservation projects along Saudi Arabia’s coastline.
The grant has been awarded by Amazon in the kingdom, and aims to support the research projects that are challenging the number of threats that affect coral reefs all over the world, such as rising sea temperatures, which is a major cause of coral bleaching.
Coral reefs support 25% of all marine life and protect against flooding, and are vital for the marine ecosystem, coastal areas and communities. Deep and shallow water coral reefs are endangered as they face threats including climate change, fishing and pollution – which is why conservation and research is key.
Sunset at the @RSRC_KAUST Coral Probiotics Village by Morgan Bennett-Smith. @KAUST_News @KaustResearch @KaustRPP @seedhealth @Saudi_Gazette @saudiarabia @bmmo_network pic.twitter.com/1bCGY4aWzo
— Raquel Peixoto (@peixotors) April 6, 2022
KAUST’s research project is also working to provide new tools for the Global Reef Research and Development Accelerator Program, a global environmental initiative launched by G20 members during Saudi Arabia’s presidency in 2020. The program is a joint effort amongst countries all over the world and their respective sectors to improve coral reef conservation using shared ideas, science and technology in order to preserve and restore coral reef ecosystems.
Hatem Samman, head of public policy for Amazon Saudi Arabia, stated that by contributing to the Global Coral Reef R&D Accelerator Platform initiative and supporting KAUST’s coral reef conservation project, the company is also supporting Saudi Arabia’s environmental goals, and climate change efforts.
The coral reef conservation project will also be launching awareness campaigns for the public to enlighten people on the importance of the coral reefs, their role, what they need protecting against and how the public can help.
