Dr David OBURA
Planetary Health Awards 2026 “Science” category

Coral reefs are home to remarkable biodiversity and play an essential role for many communities that depend directly on marine ecosystems for their food and livelihoods.

For over 30 years, Kenyan marine ecologist Dr David Obura has studied coral reef biodiversity, resilience and vulnerability to climate change. His research also examines the consequences of reef degradation for the communities that depend on them.

Founder of CORDIO East Africa, he works to bring scientific knowledge, conservation and action closer together, from the local management of marine areas to major international biodiversity forums.

As Chair of IPBES since 2023, Dr David Obura has helped strengthen the role of scientific knowledge in international decision-making processes and improve understanding of the close links between the health of ecosystems and that of human societies.

“I am so honoured to receive this award on science in relation to planetary health. It marks a transition from my past work on coral reefs – showing how we are still accelerating to a precipice of coral reef decline, though solutions are essentially known – to my present and future work on the understanding of how our economies and finance must be reconnected with nature’s limits and societal needs, not the other way around.”
Dr David Obura, laureate in the “Science” category