In addition, the survey team recorded close to 200 nests of the critically endangered hawksbill turtle, several nursery habitats with significant numbers of the critically endangered Halavi guitarfish, and had some rare but thrilling encounters with the endangered Indian Ocean humpback dolphin. Some personal highlights, include encountering schools of up to 100 bumphead parrotfish, a vulnerable species that is rarely encountered in such large groups across much of its range. The survey revealed that many threatened and endangered animals inhabit the Red Sea coast, further signifying the importance of RSG’s environmental protection and regeneration efforts. This is why collaborations between private and public sector organizations – like ours with the National Center for Wildlife and King Abdullah University of Science and Technology – are essential, as they spur on the urgently required shift from traditional ocean activity to a sustainable blue economy. Many of the challenges facing our oceans that were reflected in the survey, from climate change to biodiversity loss, transcend far beyond the capabilities of a single business. We have provided counsel to the board throughout the development of both destinations, and have played a crucial role in detecting, highlighting, and mitigating environmental impacts. The study was conducted by a core team of scientists, of which I am part, and offers a key insight into our philosophy of evidence-led sustainable development. Having such a comprehensive survey program helps RSG understand and assess the coastline along which it is striving to create a thriving blue economy, both ahead of and during its development. We believe it is the largest study ever carried out by a private development company. Hence, we have conducted one of the world’s largest environmental surveys of wildlife and marine ecosystems, across 125 miles of Saudi Arabia’s northwestern coastline. Proper assessment of whether we meet these ambitious environmental goals within 20 years’ time requires good data and suitable metrics against which we can measure our progress. It’s a goal that marks the destination out as one of the most ambitious regenerative tourism projects in the world. Over the next two decades, our destination THE RED SEA has committed to delivering a net conservation benefit of 30 percent to this precious ecosystem by implementing practices that promote the long-term wellbeing of its diverse flora and fauna. It’s also still an area with thriving coral reefs.Īt Red Sea Global (RSG) we’ve made it a priority not just to protect, but actively enhance these surroundings throughout the development of two of our tourism destinations. It’s an area of extraordinary natural beauty, an exceptionally diverse marine ecosystem, and home to threatened and endangered species, including hawksbill turtles and elusive dugongs. The Red Sea is one specific ecosystem that is close to my heart. However, we can and must do better in analyzing and mitigating the impact of economic development on natural ecosystems below the waterline. The risk of long term and lasting effects is becoming more and more evident. While many headlines focus on the more visible impacts, increasing portions of our oceans and marine environments are under enormous stress. As we find ourselves in one of the most decisive decades in global history when it comes to climate, planet, and environment, we are seeing the effects of economic expansion and overexploitation on our natural resources and habitats.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |