Unlocking the secrets of NEOM's underwater world:
Conservation and AI drive marine preservation
NEOM, Saudi Arabia, is pioneering a massive conservation
effort across the Red Sea and Gulf of Aqaba, utilizing AI to safeguard marine
life, coral reefs, and promote planetary regeneration at its $500 billion mega
project. The NEOM Nature Reserve Marine Conservation team, led by Dr. Paul
Marshall, is working tirelessly to explore and protect the unique underwater
biodiversity within NEOM's waters.
Conservation Initiatives: NEOM's waters house a rich
array of marine life, including sea turtles, dolphins, dugongs, and various
fish species. The conservation projects include sea turtle monitoring, sooty
falcon preservation, dedicated dugong surveys, aerial surveys of megafauna
using drones, boat-based surveys of dolphins, critical habitat work with corals
and seagrass, fisheries assessments, and shark and ray baseline assessments.
Saudi
artificial project revolutionizing Red Sea marine conservation efforts
Marine Monitoring and Technology: NEOM's conservation
efforts involve tracking and monitoring key species such as sea turtles,
dugongs, dolphins, and sooty falcons. The use of advanced technologies,
including aerial drones and AI, enhances the efficiency of monitoring programs.
These initiatives contribute to understanding the distribution and abundance of
critical species within the NEOM Nature Reserve.
Collaborative Partnerships: NEOM collaborates with
key partners like the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology
(KAUST) and the Ocean Explorer Research vessel, OceanX. These collaborations
involve groundbreaking research and monitoring projects to protect and conserve
marine life. The NEOM and OceanX collaboration resulted in the discovery of
ancient shipwrecks and the identification of areas of outstanding natural
beauty.
Red
Sea Global installs over 750,000 photovoltaic panels at The Red Sea destination
Coral Reef Conservation: NEOM's conservation project
extends to coral reefs, aiming to create the world's largest coral garden. The
unique oceanographic characteristics of NEOM's waters make it resilient to
global coral bleaching events. The coral reef restoration work supports the
Shusha Island Coral Park project, a global center for coral reef conservation,
expected to be completed by 2025.
Sustainable Development and Regreening Initiatives:
NEOM is at the forefront of sustainable urban development, with projects like
"THE LINE," "Oxagon," "Sindalah," and
"Trojena." It prioritizes environmental conservation, rewilding, and
regenerative development. NEOM has launched a regreening initiative in
collaboration with the National Center for Vegetation Cover and Combating
Desertification, aiming to rehabilitate 1.5 million hectares of land and plant
16 million trees by the end of 2024.
Saudi
Arabia's Red Sea Global to plant 50 million mangroves by 2030
Challenges and Commitment: NEOM acknowledges the
global challenges faced by marine ecosystems and is committed to setting a
benchmark in marine conservation. With climate change at the forefront, NEOM's
innovative approaches, including coral reef restoration, aim to support
international efforts and contribute to the protection of at least 30 percent
of the ocean by 2030.
NEOM's comprehensive conservation initiatives, technological
advancements, and collaborative partnerships reflect its dedication to creating
a sustainable and thriving marine environment for future generations.
Source: Alarabiya English
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