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KAUST researcher co-leads first global group to safeguard microbial diversity

KAUST · · Notable

Research Healthcare Eethics KAUST Policy

Summary

KAUST Professor Raquel Peixoto will co-lead the first global body under the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) to safeguard microbial biodiversity. The Microbial Conservation Specialist Group will explore ecological disruption and potential extinction of microbes vital to ecosystems and human health. The group will assess extinction risks, set conservation priorities, and establish criteria for a microorganism Red List. Why it matters: This initiative highlights the growing recognition of the importance of microbial ecosystems and positions KAUST as a leader in integrating microbiology into global biodiversity governance.

Keywords

KAUST · microbial biodiversity · IUCN · conservation · microbes

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