CORDAP has supported over 2000 researchers worldwide
In a decisive decade for coral conservation, the G20 Coral Research & Development Accelerator Platform (CORDAP) reports major advances in 2025, showcasing Saudi Arabia’s pivotal role as an enabler of regional and global coral conservation and restoration efforts. The Kingdom’s transformative leadership and commitment are advancing research and development solutions essential to the survival of coral reefs, ecosystems underpin the food security and coastal protection of millions of people.
A year of achievements
In the face of the most severe global coral bleaching crisis on record (2023-2025), where over 80% of the world’s coral reefs were exposed to bleaching, the foundational support of Saudi Arabia has been instrumental to developing solutions that counter coral losses. To CORDAP’s 2025 Annual Report, the Kingdom’s support enabled 43 coral research projects involving more than 2,000 researchers from 663 institutions across 115 countries, reflecting a collaborative approach across multiple disciplines and sectors, to coral conservation that benefits both the region and the global community.
“A range of innovative solutions to conserve and restore coral reefs are being tested at a larger scale, demonstrating the real-world impact of CORDAP research and initiatives. Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture (MEWA), together with the support of King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), have been instrumental in these achievements, demonstrating the leading global role of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on the mission to secure a future for coral reefs.” said Carlos Duarte, CEO of CORDAP.
In 2025, CORDAP’s initiatives resulted in the outplanting of over 300,000 corals and the monitoring of nearly 570,000 square meters of reefs, equivalent to approximately 80 soccer fields. Funding provided by the Kingdom has also enabled enhancing 26 research facilities, from the Caribbean to the Indo-Pacific, and established 209 coral nurseries, one being the biggest coral nursery in Malaysia.
Launch of the Coral Restoration Center in Roatán, Honduras, June 2025.
What’s next?
Looking ahead, CORDAP will implement a global Capacity Building Initiative focusing on training skilled coral practitioners worldwide to bridge the gap between research and practical application. The program kicked off in February, in Rabigh, with participants from Red Sea Global, Saudi Water Sports and Diving Federation and the National Wildlife Center.
This year CORDAP is launching the Coral Grand Challenges, a series of large-scale initiatives designed to develop scalable solutions for coral conservation, with one of the first nodes for coral cryopreservation located at NEOM.
The achievements of CORDAP, supported by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, represent a significant step forward in the global fight against coral degradation. With the growing involvement of Saudi based scientists in CORDAP funded initiatives, the collaborative efforts will enhance coral resilience and also strengthen the national capability for coastal protection and sustainable livelihoods in Saudi Arabia and beyond.