Many of our urban waterways simply aren't clean enough to take a dip during heat waves. But shouldn't safe access to healthy rivers, harbours and bays (and a safe climate) be a human right? And what about the rights of Nature?

This event brings together a stellar line up of special guests:

Thais Corral, Co-Chair of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration
Mark Mattson, Lake Ontario Waterkeeper & Swim Drink Fish Canada
Marc Yaggi, Waterkeeper Alliance
Dr Loretta Bellato, Swinburne University
James Mugavin, Loyly Studio

Melbourne Business & Biodiversity Circle # 7 is an online event in the lead up to World Water Day (March 22), running in partnership with 'Swim Drink Fish Canada' and the international 'Waterkeeper Alliance'. It builds upon Regeneration Projects' 2023 Swimmable Cities Handbook, and connects the global urban swimming movement to actors in our own backyard working towards a swimmable Birrarung / Yarra River by 2030.

For many people, understanding why Nature matters is difficult. But the test of whether a waterway is clean enough to swim in, instantly captures the imagination and also highlights the nature-related financial dependencies that industries as diverse as agriculture, sports, tourism, media, finance and technology have with urban biodiversity.

In this interactive gathering, you'll hear case studies and lessons from Toronto in their efforts to make their waterways clean enough to swim, drink and fish; discover how academics and architects are making headway in Melbourne, as well as understand how this connects to global biodiversity and water policy and initiatives like the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration.

How designers, decision-makers and developers relate to our urban waterways is everyone's business, that's why this online event is an absolute must!

Dive in and reserve your ticket!

* Free of charge for MB&BC members

** Newcomers welcome!

Join the Melbourne Business & Biodiversity Circle

Emerging as a response to the Global Biodiversity Framework, the Melbourne Business & Biodiversity Circle (MB&BC) is a collaborative space where professionals working at the intersection of our economy and Nature can come together to share their knowledge, visions and anxieties in a positive, aspirational space. Learn more and register your interest in becoming a MB&BC 2024 Member by emailing helen@regenprojects.earth.

About Swim Drink Fish Cananda

Swim Drink Fish is a movement at the confluence of water, people, and storytelling that works to safeguard a future where everyone has access to clean, healthy water. Swim Drink Fish connects people to water, and through that connection, empowers and activates environmental protection and restoration. Our work extends across 11 countries, spanning 171 communities, where collaborative local action inspires collective impact for the health of our waters. Our apps and programs connect communities with the water and with other people. More info: swimdrinkfish.ca

About the Waterkeeper Alliance

Waterkeeper Alliance® is a global movement uniting more than 300 Waterkeeper Organizations and Affiliates around the world, focusing citizen action on issues that affect our waterways, from pollution to climate change. The Waterkeeper movement patrols and protects nearly 6 million square miles (~15m square km) of rivers, lakes, and coastlines in the Americas, Europe, Australia, Asia, and Africa. More info: waterkeeper.org

Further Readings:

Learn about the progress being made in Paris, to make the Seine River swimmable before the 2024 Olympics - here
Learn about the water safety bill changing the game for urban swimming in New York - here

For any queries, please contact helen@regenprojects.earth

Regeneration Projects