MSC Foundation and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) have announced a new partnership for the conservation and restoration of coral reefs. The announcement came during Monaco Ocean Week, an event that brings together experts and leaders from across the marine conservation community to discuss the major challenges facing the oceans.
Support from the MSC Foundation will complete the global assessment of the world’s coral species as described in the IUCN Red List, the most comprehensive inventory of global species extinction risk. The Global Coral Biodiversity Assessment project aims to provide concrete and actionable restoration plans for coral reefs and the threatened species that inhabit them.
“I would like to express my sincere thanks to the MSC Foundation for its support. It could not be more important: over a third of the coral species on the IUCN Red List are at risk of extinction. This partnership will allow us to complete further assessments and ensure the world the information needed to protect corals and the livelihoods of over half a billion people who depend on them,” said IUCN President Razan Al Mubarak.
Pierfrancesco Vago, Chairman of the Executive Committee of the MSC Foundation and Executive Chairman of the Cruise Division of the MSC Group, commented: “As stewards of our planet, we have a responsibility to protect its precious ecosystems. Our new partnership with the IUCN represents a strong commitment to the conservation and restoration of threatened coral reefs, mangrove forests and seagrass beds.By empowering decision-makers and industry stakeholders to act on the basis of the Global Marine Biodiversity Assessment, we can safeguard these critical ecosystems for future generations”.
MSC Foundation Executive Director Daniela Picco added: “The MSC Foundation is committed to advancing ocean science and is delighted to partner with IUCN to drive meaningful change in the marine conservation sector. This partnership marks a significant step forward. move forward in our efforts to restore and protect the world’s oceans.It complements our Super Coral program and other marine conservation efforts while providing an opportunity to engage new communication and outreach partners. Together, we will work for a sustainable future for our planet, where marine life thrives and oceans are restored to health for generations to come.”
The partnership will also contribute to the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development.
LEARN MORE ABOUT MSC FOUNDATION MARINE RESTORATION PARTNERSHIPS
The MSC Foundation is currently engaged in three marine conservation and restoration programs through partnerships that advance ocean science.
MSC Foundation’s Super Coral Program is based in the MSC Ocean Cay Marine Reserve in the Bahamas. The Foundation is currently building its Marine Conservation Center on the island of Ocean Cay, which will include a biolaboratory, coral nurseries, and outreach and education facilities. The program leads the way in identifying, cultivating and implanting heat-resistant corals to restore and increase the resilience of reserve coral reefs, while disseminating knowledge of the techniques developed so they can be used throughout the world. world. This groundbreaking work is supported by collaborations with global authorities on coral conservation, including the University of Miami and Nova Southeastern University.
The second program sees the MSC Foundation partner with the Ba’a Foundation in Saudi Arabia to support new coral reef resilience and restoration programs in the Red Sea, sharing knowledge and learnings and raising public awareness of marine conservation efforts.
The third partnership took its first steps in late 2022, with the signing of a memorandum of understanding with the Qatari Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, Qatar University and the Qatar Foundation to launch a new innovative program of marine conservation in Qatar. The goal of this program is to harness the synergistic power for the conservation, restoration, and nourishment of three symbiotic coastal ecosystems: mangrove forests, seagrasses, and corals. Expected benefits range from increased marine biodiversity, enhanced fisheries, and improved coastal erosion protection, to new opportunities for ecotourism and development through a building-with-nature approach.
MSC FOUNDATION:
The MSC Foundation, an independent non-profit organization, implements the MSC Group’s commitments to marine conservation and humanitarian and sustainable development around the world, leveraging MSC’s global reach and unique knowledge of the sea to protect and feed our blue planet, its peoples and our common cultural heritage.
Focusing on four areas – environment, community support, education and emergency relief – the Foundation promotes the protection and sustainable management of ecosystems, empowers vulnerable communities around the world to realize their full potential, supports an equitable and inclusive quality education to promote lasting individual and collective development and help disaster-affected populations recover.
The Foundation works to achieve these goals both independently and with dedicated partners: independently, leveraging the MSC Group’s commitment to project design and management, connecting communities, raising awareness, and mobilizing financial support from thousands of people, and together with trusted partners selected for their strong innovative vision or their experience of effective action.
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