CARING FOR OUR COUNTRY: Business Plan 2010 -11 now available

Caring for our Country is an Australian Government initiative that seeks to achieve an environment that is healthy, better protected, well managed and resilient, and provides essential ecosystem services in a changing climate.
The current business plan sets out the targets for investment in 2010-11 and following years. The business plan provides guidance to potential applicants on the types of proposals which the Australian Government is seeking to fund to address these targets.

The latest Business Plan is now available and can be downloaded at http://www.nrm.gov.au/business-plan/10-11/index.html

PLANT IDENTIFICATION COURSE: Skills for Environmental Assessment, Janet Cosh Herbarium, University of Wollongong, 16 - 19 February 2010

Designed to provide training in the basic skills needed to successfully identify vascular Australian plants and introduced weeds. This course is targeted at professionals working in the industry who wish to develop or refresh their skills in this discipline. It will be run by the Janet Cosh Herbarium at the University of Wollongong for 4 days with a maximum of 12 places available. Belinda Pellow, the Curator of the Janet Cosh Herbarium and an author of the fifth edition of the 'Flora of the Sydney Region' will be the course leader. The course will run from 9 – 5 each day and will include, parking, lunch and tea breaks. Cost: $ 1045.00. Information and a registration form can be found on the Janet Cosh Herbarium Webpage (www.uow.edu.au/science/biol/herbarium). For further information contact the Herbarium Monday or Tuesday (02) 42214340

ANPC WORKSHOP: The Translocation of Threatened Plants, Perth, 24 February 2010

Have you been involved in, or would you like to be involved in, the planning, approval or implementation of a translocation project for threatened flora? Then this workshop is relevant to you!
Questions to be addressed include:
• What is translocation?
• When is it appropriate to use translocation as a tool to conserve threatened species?
• What needs to be done when planning a translocation program?
• How should a translocation program be implemented?
• What ongoing management and evaluation is required?
• Where can I go for more information?


The workshop will include WA case studies of translocation programs, highlighting lessons to be learnt.

The registration form and program are available from the anpc:
Website: www.anpc.asn.au Ph: 02 6250 9509 Fax: 02 6250 9528 Email: anpc@anpc.asn.au




Registrations close: COB Wednesday 17 February 2010

SURVEY: Restoration and Climate Change

The Institute for Applied Ecology is conducting a survey of international professionals, academics, students, etc. about their perspectives on restoration, climate change, and working with and moving organisms. Climate change may be the defining challenge to the field of restoration ecology this century. How does the wider restoration community currently approach the challenges of habitat and species restoration, and how is this approach likely to shift if the climate changes locally and globally? Understanding how people conduct or support restoration is crucial to engaging in discussions that move our field forward in the face of changing environments. We think you will find many of the questions interesting and thought provoking.

Please consider taking this survey if you have any connection to the process of habitat restoration (from policy to research to implementation) or want to make your views known. The survey is available at the following link:
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/W3BB7HQ The survey takes about 15 minutes and will conclude on 31 January 2010 and the results will be published.

SCHOLARSHIP: The Valette Williams Scholarship in Botany, Second Round, 2010: Australian Plants Society, North Shore Group

Applications for the Valette Williams Scholarship, an award funded by the North Shore Group of the Australian Plants Society (APS), are welcomed from Honours, Masters or PhD students.

The maximum grant awarded will be $3000. The project must contribute to the knowledge of the ecology, conservation, or propagation of native plants in the Sydney and surrounding regions, must be carried out within this region. The applicant must be attached to an Australian research institute. Application forms are available from http://www.blandfordia.org.au/Scholarship.html and applications close 12 March 2010.

ANPC MEMBERSHIP: 2010 Membership fees now due

Australian Network for Plant Conservation Memberships are for a calendar year: 1 January to 31 December. Your membership helps show your support for the promotion and development of plant conservation and also entitles you to discounts and benefits including:

- subscription to the ANPC’s quarterly bulletin Australasian Plant Conservation (APC)
- discounts for ANPC workshops, conferences and forums
- inclusion on the ANPC members’ email list
- electronic version of APC bulletin (optional)
- discounted subscription to Ecological Management and Restoration (EMR)*

*The ANPC is affiliated with the journal Ecological Management and Restoration. ANPC members can subscribe to EMR at a special discount rate. Please note: this is only available to individual members (not to groups or organisations).

Renewal forms have been sent to those members due to renew in 2010 and these should be returned as soon as possible to ensure timely delivery of the first edition of APC for this year. If you would like to become a member download a membership form visit http://www.anbg.gov.au/anpc/