The MSC Foundation has partnered with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) to conserve and restore threatened coral reefs.
The announcement was made during Monaco Ocean Week, which brings marine conservation experts and leaders together to discuss key challenges facing the world’s oceans.
The MSC Foundation said its support will enable the completion of the global assessment of the world’s coral species on the IUCN’s Red List of Threatened Species.
The Global Coral Biodiversity Assessment project aims to deliver concrete, actionable restoration plans for coral reefs, as well as the threatened species populating them.
The project will include identifying the most threatened species of coral and areas of reef; prioritising conservation and restoration actions based on the threats they face; and reporting the contribution that conserving these ecosystems makes to achieving the targets in the UN Global Biodiversity Framework.
Pierfrancesco Vago, chairman of the MSC Foundation executive committee and executive chairman of the cruise division of MSC Group, said: “As stewards of our planet, we have a responsibility to protect its precious ecosystems.
“Our new partnership with IUCN is a powerful commitment to conserve and restore threatened coral reefs, mangrove forests and seagrass beds.
“By empowering decision-makers and practitioners to act on the global recommendations emerging from the Global Marine Biodiversity Assessment, we can safeguard these essential ecosystems for future generations.”