Ahead of the Congress, the IUCN Motion 037 on the Fourth Global Coral Bleaching Event was adopted, underscoring the urgent need for coordinated global action to safeguard coral reefs. Building on this momentum, the #ForCoral Pavilion, organised under the ICRI Chair, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, represented by General Organization for Conservation of Coral Reefs and Turtles in The Red Sea (SHAMS), took stage at the 2025 IUCN World Conservation Congress (WCC), held in Abu Dhabi from 9–15 October.
Over five days, the #ForCoral Pavilion hosted 16 events and panel discussions, bringing together more than 40 speakers, experts, policymakers, and scientists. In addition, the ICRI chair took part in several other events to raise the plight of coral reefs as the time to act is now.
Event Highlights
Turning the Tide for Coral Reefs: Partnerships for People & Planet
A central stage event featuring Ambassador Peter Thomson (UN Secretary Generals Special Envoy for the Ocean), Minna Epps (IUCN), Doreen Robinson (UNEP), and Dr. Khaled Asfahani, CEO of SHAMS and Co-Chair of ICRI, and reiterated the importance of collaborative action to protect coral reefs for both people and the planet.
“Coral reefs are lifelines for people and the planet. As the fourth global bleaching event unfolds, our task is clear – to move reefs from the margins to the mainstream of climate and biodiversity action.” Dr. Khaled Asfahani, CEO of SHAMS & Co-Chair of ICRI
High-Level Roundtable: From Extraction to Regeneration
Hosted by the High-Level Climate Champions, IUCN, and the World Economic Forum, this dialogue called for a shift toward a regenerative blue economy and set the stage for further commitments ahead of the 2026 Our Ocean Conference in Kenya.
Advancing Marine Conservation Breakthroughs
The event, hosted by the Coral Reef, Seagrass, and Mangrove Breakthroughs, highlighted the interconnected roles of these ecosystems in coastal protection, biodiversity, and carbon storage. It brought together governments, NGOs, and financial institutions to address policy and funding gaps, showcase successful conservation initiatives, and share practical tools to accelerate marine ecosystem protection. Aligned with NDCs and COP30, the session aimed to drive system-level transformation and catalyse implementation at pace and scale.
Deep Dive Session: Mobilising the Ocean Breakthroughs in the MENA Region
During this session, Dr Fahd AlGuthmy presented the Coral Reef Breakthrough and announced the organisation of the high-level coral reef summit to be held in the second half of 2026.
Together, these events at the #ForCoral Pavilion reaffirmed the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s commitment, in building a resilient, regenerative, and inclusive future for coral reefs worldwide.
