Aramco supports coral reef conservation with NFWF

Aramco extends its global commitment to marine protection and preserving sensitive ecosystems by joining the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) with support for community-based grants to improve the health and resilience of coral reefs in Florida, Hawaii, Guam, American Samoa, and the Caribbean.

The grants are awarded through the Coral Reef Conservation Fund, a 20-year conservation partnership between NFWF and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Coral Reef Conservation Program (CRCP), with Aramco joining as the fund's newest partner along with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service. 

Eleven grants will address threats and develop tools for restoration and management of coral reefs in U.S. and Caribbean waters. The grants will leverage nearly $1.3 million in matching contributions to generate a total conservation impact of more than $2.5 million.

“This year, we are excited to celebrate 20 years of dedication to coral reef conservation,” said Jeff Trandahl, executive director and CEO of NFWF. “Coral reefs are critically important habitats for thousands of marine species, and they also offer coastal communities protection against storms and provide many other social and economic benefits. For two decades, the Coral Reef Conservation Fund has made possible new and innovative ways to help coral reefs remain healthy and resilient.”

Aramco's support extends its experience in marine environmental protection and ongoing commitment to coral reef preservation and restoration.  The 2020 grants support projects addressing NFWF's three primary focus areas to help protect functioning and resilient coral reef systems in an increasingly urbanized and changing coastal environment:

• Increasing the resiliency of ecologically important reefs by reducing human-based threats like land-based sources of pollution and overfishing
• Building capacity for active restoration efforts to restore degraded reefs
• Investing in innovation and tools for managers to increase their impact

Since 2000, the Coral Reef Conservation Fund has made over 400 awards to coral conservation projects with more than $20 million in federal and non-federal funds which leveraged $27 million in matching funds for a total conservation impact of $48 million.

Click here to learn more about Aramco's conservation and biodiversity initiatives.