ESO director gets funding for Coral Reef Conservation Project
MUSCAT - The Environment Society of Oman (ESO)'s executive Director, Suaad Al Harthi, has been awarded funding from the National
Geographic Society to support a groundbreaking coral reef conservation and capacity-building project in Oman.
Al Harthi, a National Geographic Explorer and recipient of the Society's 2024 Wayfinder Award presented by Kia, will use her grant to further ESO's leadership in Oman's environmental conservation.
Using the funding, Al Harthi and ESO will pursue two primary objectives: coral reef conservation and capacity building to ensure the long-term sustainability of these critical ecosystems. ESO researchers will assess the health, recovery, and resilience of coral reefs surrounding Muscat, including those within and beyond the Ad Dimaniyyat Islands Nature Reserve (DINR).
The initiative also aims to empower female field scientists to lead in coral reef research and protection fforts. Technical support for the project is provided by New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD).
Coral reefs are biodiversity hotspots vital to fisheries, tourism, coastal protection, and climate resilience. However, they are increasingly threatened by climate change, human activities, and natural disturbances that undermine their ability to provide crucial environmental and economic benefits.
ESO's project will contribute critical data to inform sustainable conservation strategies. A key component of the project is a coral reef monitoring workshop, scheduled for April 20–23, 2025, in Muscat. Organized in partnership with NYUAD, the workshop will bring together environmentalists, dive center experts, and academic researchers to strengthen Oman's reef monitoring capacity.
The workshop will be hosted at Oman Sail headquarters. Its brand, SeaOman – the country's leading marine leisure provider and a certified PADI 5* Instructor Development Centre – is supporting ESO by facilitating reef monitoring surveys.
Suaad al Harthi shared: 'I am extremely grateful for this grant, which enables my colleagues and I to deepen our understanding of the recovery and resilience of coral reef sites around Muscat, while raising awareness of their importance to both marine biodiversity and Oman's coastal economy.
A key pillar of this initiative is capacity building - particularly empowering female field scientists and volunteers to play a leading role in the long-term protection of these vital ecosystems.'
Marine conservation enthusiasts also attended a public talk by Professor John Burt, Marine Biologist at NYUAD, titled 'Corals in a Changing Climate: Lessons from the Arabian Gulf' on April 20, 2025.
Oman's coral reefs, like many around the world, are increasingly vulnerable to climate change, with rising sea temperatures triggering more frequent and severe coral bleaching events. The coral ecosystems of the Arabian Gulf, the Sea of Oman, and the Arabian Sea are among the most biodiverse ecosystems in the region.
However, regional studies indicate a 40.1% decline in live coral cover since 1997, driven largely by recurring bleaching events.
Professor Burt noted, 'Coral reefs are the most diverse ecosystem in Arabia, yet our understanding of the status and trends in regional reef health remains underdeveloped. The reef monitoring efforts spearheaded by ESO will provide invaluable data to help support conservation efforts for Oman's amazing reef ecosystems.'
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