The aim of this forum is to raise awareness and facilitate discussion around the concept of using a circular / regenerative urbanism approach to transform urban food and woody waste into carbon rich products such as compost and biochar and sinking this back into the soil to provide a range of benefits such as increasing reducing irrigation demand, improving plant growth and canopy cover, reducing flooding, improving water quality and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. At this forum and associated field walk you will:

• Hear from international experts, Professor’s Lyn Abbott and Stephen Joseph on the importance of soil health to the effective function of urban soils and the implications of this for water and vegetation management.
• Learn about the role of soil amendments biochar, compost and organisms in enhancing soil health and greenhouse gas emissions.
• Learn how inner city residents have been making and using soil amendments to transform their yards and courtyards into carbon sinks.
• Tour the nearby circularity hub where some of the innovations which Lyn, Stephen and others have developed are being been trialed and where community members are making compost, biochar and growing microbes which they are using in a food forest, nursery and proposed Black Cockatoo Forest.

Date: Thursday 1^st May

Venue: Floreat Athena Soccer Clubrooms, 41 Britannia Road, Leederville (this is part of the Community Nature/Circularity Hub).

Objectives:

• Raise awareness of the benefits of transforming the city into a carbon sink with an integrated approach using biochar, compost and  microbes.
• Foster further discussions and partnerships e.g. in research.

Outcomes

• Increase understanding by decision makers, planners, natural resource managers and the community of the multiple benefits achieved by incorporating carbon into soil using a circular, regenerative approach.

Target audience:

• Decision makers
• Planners and policy makers
• Natural resource managers
• Community advocates
• Government and private sector
• Community members

Speakers (Preliminary – Confirmed)

9-9.15am – Welcome by Mayor of the City of Vincent, Alison Xamon