King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), in collaboration with Nature Portfolio, has concluded the Corals, Coasts and One Health conference in Saudi Arabia, reinforcing the Kingdom’s Focus on science-led environmental collaboration.  

The three-day conference brought together leading international coral reef researchers, policymakers, restoration practitioners and representatives from Saudi government-linked entities and national initiatives. Discussions focused on strengthening research collaboration, accelerating coral reef protection and restoration efforts, and advancing governance approaches that support long-term reef and coastal resilience.  

A central outcome of the conference was a shared recognition that coral reef research must move beyond monitoring ecosystem decline and toward scalable active protection and restoration informed by research findings. Participants discussed redefining resilience in operational terms and accelerating the translation of research into restoration and protection strategies  

Organizations including SHAMS, Red Sea Global and the National Center for Wildlife participated alongside other national entities, reflecting growing collaboration between research institutions and entities responsible for conservation and coastal development. Active exchanges between global reef scientists and Saudi institutions responsible for conservation, restoration and coastal development generated new research collaborations and early-career networking opportunities.  

Discussions were framed around a One Health approach, emphasizing the interconnection between coral reef ecosystems, coastal environments and human well-being.  Participants emphasized that reef degradation directly affects food security, fisheries, tourism and coastal protection systems that underpin community wellbeing.  

Raquel Peixoto, Professor of the Marine Science program at KAUST and co-organizer of the conference, said degraded reefs can harbor an increased abundance of pathogens that may spread through marine species supporting fisheries and human nutrition.  

“Coral reef degradation is more than an environmental challenge,” Peixoto said.  

“It has important implications for human health and economic resilience. Degraded reefs can disrupt fisheries that sustain communities and weaken coastal systems that protect livelihoods. The One Health approach clarifies that ecosystem health, food security and economic stability are closely interconnected. Bringing together national and global expertise enables coordinated solutions that protect both reefs and people.”  

KAUST co-hosted the conference as part of its role as a national research university advancing interdisciplinary marine research and convening global expertise in Saudi Arabia.   

The conference was organized in partnership with Nature Reviews Earth & Environment, Nature Ecology & Evolution, Nature Climate Change and Communications Biology, providing an international platform for scientific exchange and collaboration