RIYADH: The G20 Coral Research and Development Accelerator Platform, CORDAP, was hosted in Riyadh on Monday to celebrate Saudi Arabia’s prominent role in global coral conservation.
During the event, officials launched the CORDAP Foundation, which had been established by a royal order.
According to a report, 1 billion people rely on coral reefs for food, income, medicine and coastal protection, but more than two-thirds of coral reef coverage globally has already been lost. To address this urgent issue, G20 CORDAP was set up to accelerate research and innovation.
Princess Reema bint Bandar, the Saudi ambassador to the US, took part in a panel discussion titled “The Emergence of Saudi Leadership in Environmental Conservation: Protecting Coral Reefs.”
She said: “I think nations are beginning to realize that the next crisis is going to be the crisis of water and resources. So, if we don’t take that time right now to align, to share the resources, but share the burden to fix what we have done, I think we forget that we didn’t inherit what we have from our ancestors, we’re borrowing from our future generations.”
Fahad bin Abdullah Toonsi, secretary-general of the Saudi G20 Secretariat and adviser to the Royal Court, shared insights on the journey of the Saudi government’s proposal and its acceptance by G20 leaders during the Saudi G20 presidency in 2020, ultimately resulting in the establishment of CORDAP.
Saudi Deputy Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture Osama Faqeeha said: “The Royal Court’s approval of the CORDAP Foundation marks a major milestone toward implementing this distinguished global initiative.
“The nonprofit organization will facilitate the receipt of financial contributions to CORDAP from G20 and non-G20 countries, the private sector and other contributors according to CORDAP’s charter endorsed by G20 environmental ministers,” he added.
Carlos M. Duarte, executive director of CORDAP and professor at KAUST said: “The future of our oceans depends on us taking action now.”
He added: “70-90 percent of the remaining coral reefs could disappear in the next 10-15 years, a projection that is exemplified by the catastrophic coral losses ongoing in the Caribbean affected by an unprecedented marine heat wave. An ocean without healthy corals is unthinkable.
“Accelerating the next generation of science and technology to help conserve and restore corals, while no efforts are spared to mitigate the pressures on them, must be a priority.”
Duarte told Arab News that G20 nations were among those at risk of losing coral reefs, and that no single nation had the capacity to solve the problem alone.
“60 percent of the world’s coral reefs are under the care of the G20 countries. Therefore, they made the decision to establish a chord under the direction of this Saudi presidency. I was therefore appointed during the Leaders’ Summit in 2020. We are now one of the three pillars of the worldwide conservation effort for coral reefs after two years.”
“It is a huge recognition of the leading role of Saudi Arabia as a leader in a global environment, not just in our own territory.”
Tony Chan, president of KAUST, highlighted the university’s support for CORDAP and Saudi Arabia’s leadership for coral conservation and research.
Many Saudi entities signed MoUs to support the foundation’s efforts in saving reefs, recognizing Saudi Arabia’s leading role in the fight.
CORDAP, headquartered at KAUST in Thuwal, Saudi Arabia, is the first international operating foundation incorporated by the Kingdom. Its establishment paves the way for future foundations to contribute to global goals and support the Saudi leadership in addressing global challenges.
The successful G20 presidency of Saudi Arabia identified coral reefs as key components of the ocean ecosystem at risk, and launched a collaborative Coral Research and Development Accelerator Platform, established by G20 nations in 2021, to drive a global effort to deliver the science and technology required to save tropical and cold-water corals.
Saudi Arabia ‘playing leading role’ in fight to save coral reefs
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Saudi Arabia ‘playing leading role’ in fight to save coral reefs
- New foundation launched to accelerate research and innovation
- Carlos M. Duarte, executive director of CORDAP and professor at KAUST said: “The future of our oceans depends on us taking action now”
‘The Arts Tower’ brings new meaning and color to Riyadh’s Sports Boulevard
- For Gharem, Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, like “The Arts Tower,” constantly lifts eyes upward, motivating people to leap from the familiar into the unexpected, pushing them to embrace the future with imagination
RIYADH: As you venture down the promenade of the capital’s latest attraction, Sports Boulevard, a new landmark is sure to catch your eye.
A tower at the intersection of Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Road and Prince Turki bin Abdulaziz Al-Awwal Road bursts with color and character.
The mind behind this work, named “The Arts Tower,” is renowned Saudi artist Abdulnasser Gharem, who has centered the mundane within the architectural landscape early on in his career with works like “Siraat” (The Path) and “Road to Makkah.”
Gharem told Arab News: “This piece is a witness to the transformation that’s happening here. It’s a symbol of investment into the cultural infrastructure as proof of how important that is to any society or community. I think the tower represents this transformation, especially that it, in itself, transforms one of the symbols of energy into a beacon for creative expression.”
Previously one of numerous 83.5-meter electricity pylons, the tower was meant to be removed for the sake of the Sports Boulevard project.
“I asked if I could have one,” Gharem said, explaining that, as one of the nominated artists to propose a work to beautify the boulevard, he was keen to use the existing structure.
HIGHLIGHTS
• The selected proposal features a total of 691 colored panels that were installed to bring the tower’s vibrant facade to life.
• The pieces used are all related to the grand narrative of the Kingdom, including economic diversity, cultural transformations, and social changes.
Author and curator Nato Thompson said about the work in a statement: “By repurposing a symbol of energy infrastructure and turning it into a beacon of artistic expression, Gharem highlights the evolving role of culture and art in Saudi Arabia’s development journey.
“It stands as living proof of the Kingdom’s commitment to nurturing its cultural landscape, making arts and creativity an inseparable part of its identity just as oil and energy were in the past.”
The selected proposal features a total of 691 colored panels that were installed to bring the tower’s vibrant facade to life.
It utilizes elements from Saudi architecture and patterns we recognize from our old homes, primarily the triangular shape.
“I was lucky that the tower was made up of triangles, which is a geometrical shape that brings together the different regions of the Kingdom and the historical features of our beginnings, so it’s a symbol of unity,” Gharem said.
The pieces used are all related to the grand narrative of the Kingdom, including economic diversity, cultural transformations, and social changes.
This piece is a witness to the transformation that’s happening here. It’s a symbol of investment into the cultural infrastructure as proof of how important that is to any society or community.
Abdulnasser Gharem, Saudi artist
“The colors are alluding to the connection between our history and heritage and the concepts of cheerfulness and mental hospitality. A tower always forces you to look up.”
For Gharem, Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, like “The Arts Tower,” constantly lifts eyes upward, motivating people to leap from the familiar into the unexpected, pushing them to embrace the future with imagination.
“The piece is based on sunlight,” he said. “The daylight gives a completely, completely different dimension to the work compared to its urban illumination during the night.
“The colors do not just appear; they shift, transform, and come alive in different ways throughout the day. Here, nature becomes a crucial element to the structure.”
Even the wind has played a part in determining the number and placement of the colored pieces used. “It taught me that there needs to be some gaps in order to allow the piece to breathe and I was forced to humble myself upon the power of nature.
“The wind became my partner in design,” he said.
“The Arts Tower” is designed to make people feel represented and connected.
While the Sports Boulevard promotes physical activity, the creative landmark serves a deeper purpose: it is a thoughtful space meant to inspire human interaction and community — and more importantly, invite them to slow down, engage, and ponder the future.
“Culture is one of the key factors for our country’s development path. At the end of the day, culture is just as important as energy. It’s worth investing in, and it’s a certificate that the Kingdom is committed to nurturing its cultural scene,” Gharem said.
Acacia rebirth: Saudi royal reserve boosts green cover
- The reserve’s development authority focuses on increasing community awareness, supporting biodiversity protection and fostering a sustainable environment for wildlife reproduction and conservation
RIYADH: Nestled in the northeast of Riyadh, the Imam Abdulaziz bin Mohammed Royal Reserve is an environmental gem, boasting a mix of nature’s finest features and an array of awe-inspiring terrains.
As well as being a haven for distinctive geological formations, it also contains rare plants and animals featured on the Red List of Threatened Species.
The reserve is undertaking extensive restoration efforts, planting hundreds of thousands of trees, particularly Acacia, across its vast 91,500 sq. km area.
This initiative aligns with the Saudi Green Initiative, aiming to revitalize the reserve’s vegetation and restore ecological balance, a Saudi Press Agency report said.
Acacia trees are crucial to this effort due to their resilience in harsh desert climates and their significant ecological role. They provide grazing, shade and habitat for wildlife while also helping to stabilize the soil and offering a vital nectar source for high-quality honey.
These comprehensive afforestation projects are crucial in combating desertification and enhancing biodiversity, reinforcing Saudi Arabia’s commitment to environmental sustainability.
FASTFACTS
• Acacia trees are crucial to this effort due to their resilience in harsh desert climates and their significant ecological role.
• This eco haven is the Kingdom’s second-largest royal reserve.
The reserve’s development authority focuses on increasing community awareness, supporting biodiversity protection and fostering a sustainable environment for wildlife reproduction and conservation.
The authority also provides guided tours and excursions led by environmental tour guides, making it a hotspot for eco-enthusiasts interested in hiking, climbing and other ecotourism activities.
This eco haven is the Kingdom’s second-largest royal reserve. It hosts diverse wildlife and plant species, making it ideal for hiking, wilderness adventures, camping and sustainable hunting.
Its vegetation cover provides a refuge for various bird species, crucial for maintaining ecosystem balance by controlling insects, small rodents and carrion.
The reserve stands out with its streams and valleys, where rainwater and floods flow from the Al-Urumah Plateau into the reserve’s valleys, such as Al-Thumama Valley and Ghilana Valley, leading to streams and parks such as Rawdat Khuraim.
Swift medical response saves pilgrim in Madinah
- The case “highlights King Salman Medical City’s capabilities as part of the Madinah Health Cluster and its readiness to provide specialized care for pilgrims”
MADINAH: A swift response from Saudi Arabia’s urgent care system enabled medical teams at King Salman bin Abdulaziz Medical City in Madinah to save the life of an Iraqi female pilgrim suffering from a brain hemorrhage.
According to the Madinah Health Cluster, clinical assessment and interventional radiology revealed a ruptured artery that required immediate intervention, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Saturday.
Once the patient was stabilized, a targeted procedure using coiling technology was performed. The interventional neuroradiology team sealed the rupture, preventing further complications, the SPA added.
The Madinah Health Cluster said the pilgrim regained full consciousness with “no neurological deficits” and has begun rehabilitation before returning home.
The case “highlights King Salman Medical City’s capabilities as part of the Madinah Health Cluster and its readiness to provide specialized care for pilgrims,” the SPA wrote.
Saudi authorities intensify efforts against drug traffickers and dealers
- The General Directorate of Narcotics Control arrested four citizens in the Eastern Province for the possession of 108 kg of hashish and for selling regulated tablets
RIYADH: Saudi authorities have made numerous drug-related arrests throughout the Kingdom recently, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Saturday.
Border Guard patrols in Al-Dayer, Jazan region, arrested eight Yemenis trying to smuggle in a total of 240 kg of qat in multiple separate attempts. The same sector also saw authorities thwart the attempted smuggling of 42 kg of hashish.
In another attempt, land patrols in Al-Dayer prevented the smuggling in of 54 kg of hashish, 343,000 tablets regulated for medical use, and 2,000 amphetamine tablets.
In Jazan’s Fifa governorate, security patrols arrested two Ethiopians smuggling 35 kg of qat.
In Al-Raboah, Asir region, Border Guard patrols arrested five Yemenis and Ethiopians smuggling 100 kg of qat and also prevented the smuggling in of a further 280 kg of qat.
Also in Asir, a Sudanese resident was arrested with 125 kg of qat in Dhahran Al-Janoub, and an Ethiopian with 46 kg of qat in Al-Farsha.
Security patrols in the Eastern Province arrested an Indian resident for selling heroin.
Patrols from the General Directorate of Mujahideen in Jazan arrested two Ethiopians selling hashish, amphetamine, and regulated pills.
The General Directorate of Narcotics Control arrested four citizens in the Eastern Province for the possession of 108 kg of hashish and for selling regulated tablets.
Officials also arrested two Yemenis in Najran for selling amphetamines, locally known as shabu.
Preliminary legal procedures were completed in all cases, and all seized items have been handed to the relevant authorities, the SPA reported.
Authorities have urged the public to report drug smuggling or sales by calling 911 in Makkah, Riyadh, and the Eastern Province, or 999 in other regions. Reports can also be submitted confidentially to the General Directorate of Narcotics Control via email at 995@gdnc.gov.sa or by calling 995.
Yanbu festival showcases Red Sea culture, marine life
- The event included experts’ presentations on financing opportunities for fishermen, aimed at supporting the development of sustainable fisheries
RIYADH: Bahhar, a festival in the city of Yanbu in Madinah province, attracted residents and visitors to its artistic performances and cultural, tourism, and heritage activities, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Saturday.
The week-long festival also featured prominent Yanbu fishermen sharing stories of their experiences in the Red Sea, the SPA reported.
Bahhar’s event tent included a theater, a children’s art room, performances by a folklore band, a pavilion for marine-related handicrafts and fine arts, and an exhibition of the biodiversity of the Red Sea coast.
Side events included talks and workshops on marine fishing regulations, modern fish-farming systems, and initiatives to protect the sea and the coastal environment.
The event also included experts’ presentations on financing opportunities for fishermen, aimed at supporting the development of sustainable fisheries.
