Saudi Arabia launches world's largest coral restoration
project
Saudi Arabia has unveiled the world's largest coral restoration project, the
KAUST Coral Restoration Initiative (KCRI), in collaboration with NEOM, aiming
to restore reefs worldwide.
The initiative, launched by King Abdullah University of
Science and Technology (KAUST), marks a significant milestone in coral
restoration efforts. The primary nursery, already operational on NEOM's
northwest coast, is set to revolutionize coral restoration with an annual
production capacity of 40,000 corals.
As a pioneering pilot facility, researchers will utilize
this nursery as a blueprint for large-scale restoration initiatives.
Additionally, an advanced coral nursery, ten times larger, is under development
at the same site, with a capacity to nurture 400,000 corals annually.
Completion is anticipated by December 2025.
Coral reefs, crucial habitats for 25 percent of marine
species, are facing severe threats from heat stress, with experts predicting
annual stress for 90 percent of global reefs by 2050.
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Prof. Tony Chan, President of KAUST, emphasized the urgency
of the global coral crisis and the initiative's ambition to scale up
restoration efforts from labor-intensive to industrial-scale processes. He
highlighted KAUST's leading expertise in developing technologies to achieve
this vision.
Nadhmi Al-Nasr, CEO of NEOM, underscored the initiative's
alignment with NEOM's commitment to sustainability and innovative solutions for
global environmental challenges. This collaborative effort signifies a
significant step towards restoring reefs globally and supports Saudi Vision
2030's goals for sustainable development through scientific research.
Source: https://www.siasat.com/
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