Scientists at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) and NEOM have launched the world's largest coral restoration project, the KAUST Coral Restoration Initiative (KCRI).
The first nursery, located in northwest Saudi Arabia, has a production capacity of 40,000 corals annually and is a pilot facility for large-scale restoration efforts.
Researchers plan to use this project as a model for future initiatives, including the world's largest and most advanced land-based coral nursery.
KCRI represents a significant step towards global coral reef restoration with a second facility currently in development in the Red Sea.
A new coral nursery is being built with a larger capacity to grow 400,000 corals annually, aiming to reverse the degradation of coral reefs which are home to 25% of known marine species but cover less than 1% of the sea floor.
The project is expected to be completed by December 2025.
Coral reefs are under threat as up to 90% of them may experience severe heat stress by 2050.
Prof. Tony Chan, president of KAUST, emphasized the urgency to transition from labor-intensive restoration efforts to industrial-scale processes to address this global crisis.
The text is about a new initiative between NEOM and the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) in Saudi Arabia.
The goal of the initiative is to promote marine conservation and test restoration methods, in line with Saudi Vision 2030.
NEOM's CEO, Nadhmi Al-Nasr, emphasized the importance of preserving coral reefs as part of this partnership.