A powerful call to action echoed at the recent Economist Impact panel, "Building a Global Movement to Restore Coral Reefs," sponsored by ICRI member Mars. The event, featuring leading experts from around the world (including KAUST's Prof Raquel Peixoto), underscored the urgent need for collaborative efforts to safeguard these vital ecosystems.

The panel emphasized that a global "ForCoral" movement, encompassing governments, scientists, businesses, NGOs, and local communities, is essential for the survival and restoration of coral ecosystems.

Moderated by Daniel Franklin from The Economist, the discussion featured insights from:

• Ambassador Peter Thomson, UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for the Ocean
• Professor David Smith, Chief Marine Scientist, Mars
• Raquel Peixoto, Associate Professor, KAUST (King Abdullah University of Science and Technology)
• Rili Djohani, Co-founder, Coral Triangle Center
• Margaux Monfared, International Policy Manager, International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI)

Key takeaways from the session included:

• Success stories in reef restoration: Highlighting the positive impact of current initiatives.
• The power of collaboration: Emphasizing the need for unified efforts across sectors.
• Scaling restoration efforts: Recognizing the importance of expanding initiatives globally.

The panelists stressed the urgency of collaboratively scaling up restoration efforts to benefit both nature and people, ensuring the survival of coral reefs for future generations, and Prof Raquel Peixoto emphasized the crucial role of scientific research in developing effective restoration strategies.