World Rowing and WWF Strengthen Alliance with 'Healthy Waters' Initiative to protect and restore freshwater and coastal ecosystems for people, nature, and climate

With the world facing worsening water, nature and climate crisis, World Rowing and the WWF launched today their “Healthy Waters” initiative, to raise awareness about the critical importance of healthy rivers, lakes and coastal ecosystems and inspire joint projects across the globe to protect and restore them. Building on their existing partnership, this new approach will accelerate action by combining the global reach of World Rowing with WWF’s environmental expertise and presence in 100 countries, empowering their communities to collaborate at the local and national level to make a tangible impact on water security, climate resilience, biodiversity, and the health of ecosystems.

“The Healthy Waters initiative provides an opportunity for rowers and conservationists to work together to deliver meaningful change that will benefit people and planet”, said Vincent Gaillard, World Rowing Executive Director. “Healthy freshwater and coastal ecosystems are central to enhancing water and food security, reversing nature loss, mitigating and adapting to climate change, and driving sustainable development.“

“WWF is proud to partner with World Rowing on the Healthy Waters initiative. It is a unique opportunity to bring the rowing and conservation communities together around a common goal to protect and restore our freshwater and coastal life support systems,” said Stuart Orr, WWF Global Freshwater Lead. “By working side by side, we will drive positive change in communities and countries across the globe – contributing to efforts to create a climate resilient, nature positive and sustainable future for all.”

World Rowing National Federations, along with their clubs and athletes, as well as World Rowing Event Organising Committees around the world, will have access to the Healthy Waters Alliance platform to enable collaboration with WWF offices on impactful local projects focused on protecting and restoring Healthy Waters through awareness raising and hands-on activities to improve the health of rivers, lakes and coasts.

Indeed, the first pilot projects were showcased in Genoa, Italy during 2024 World Rowing Coastal Championships and Beach Sprint Finals over the past two weeks. Working together, the WR & WWF Alliance, WWF-Italy, the Event Organising Committee, and a local NGO (Spazzapnea) organised a Seabed Clean-up with a team of divers at Bagni San Nazaro in Genoa. Meanwhile, the first Italian rowing club joined the WWF Mediterranean Adopt a Beach initiative to monitor marine litter and combat plastic pollution.

We are excited to be a part of this Alliance with World Rowing, WWF, WWF Italy and started with our clubs’ engagement on the “Adopt a Beach initiative” said Giuseppe Abbagnale, President of the Italian Rowing Federation. “Together, we can inspire and mobilise our clubs and rowers to take concrete steps towards healthier and more resilient water ecosystems to the benefit of our communities.”

“We are proud of the Genoa Organising Committee sustainability efforts to go beyond the delivery of a World Championships and leave a legacy to our City, our Community and our Planet. This is perfectly aligned with our 2030 and 2050 Action Plan.” said Stefania Manca, 2024 World Rowing Coastal Championships and Beach Sprint Finals Sustainability Manager.

Together, National Rowing Federations and WWF offices can inspire the rowing community worldwide to take steps to safeguard the future of the sport and the planet – showcasing rowing as a leader in sport and sustainability.

A comprehensive guide is now available to all stakeholders at www.worldrowing.com to facilitate the process. Furthermore, the platform aims at facilitating exchanges and gradually build on existing best practices to foster further innovation.

For Vincent Gaillard “the Healthy Waters Alliance is about more than just protecting the waters our athlete’s row on; it’s about leveraging those waters as part of a broader strategy to combat climate change and ensure a sustainable future for Rowing and the planet.”

For more details please contact:

World Rowing, sustainability@worldrowing.com,+41 21 617 8373.

Richard Lee, WWF Global Freshwater Communications Lead, rlee@wwfint.org, +31 6 54 287 956.