CLARIFICATION AND CORRECTION: Alpine seedbanking

The last ANPC News (31 May 2010) reported on the new seed drying facility at the Australian National Botanic Gardens.

The item mentioned that “the Australian Research Council identified the Gardens as the only facility to have initiated effort to collect and conserve seeds of Australian Alpine plant species for further use, regeneration and research.” The ANBG Seed Bank does indeed have a specific and central program for alpine seed collection and study, and holds the largest collection of Australian alpine seeds.

However, ANPC News would like to acknowledge that at least three other conservation seed banks also collect, store and study the seed of alpine species for conservation purposes, as part of their general State priorities: the NSW Seedbank, the Tasmanian Seed Conservation Centre, and the Victorian Conservation Seedbank.

ANPC News regrets any incorrect impressions given.

LECTURE: 'People before Nature'

UTSPEAKS lecture (Sydney): 'People before Nature' - Will undervaluing natural ecosystems thwart our ability to secure a sustainable future?

Dr Roel Plant, Dr Scott Rayburg and Joanne Chong
Thursday July 1st 2010, 6pm drinks for 6.30pm lecture start; University Hall, UTS Science Building 4, 745 Harris Street, Ultimo, Sydney.

Drawing on examples of stressed ecosystems in Australia and overseas, this public lecture considers the complex interactions humans have with the natural world and explores alternatives to the way individuals, communities and governments can develop sustainable strategies that protect the environment and ourselves. More info: http://www.uts.edu.au/new/speaks/2010/July/0107.html
RSVP by Wednesday 30 June 2010 (email Robert.Button@uts.edu.au or phone 02 9514 1734.
Twitter: Use hashtag #utspeaks to tweet about the lecture

Wanted: ANBG Volunteer Guides

Share your passion

Be a volunteer guide

The Friends of the Gardens are currently recruiting for their annual volunteer guides training program. The prestigious title of Volunteer Guide at the Australian National Botanic Gardens comes after a five week training course which teaches communication skills, an understanding of the five main Garden zones, plant groups and more. The course runs each Wednesday and Thursday from 9.30am – 3.30pm from 28 June to 26 August. After that volunteer guides can lead hour long walks through the Gardens, sharing their knowledge and love of plants with visitors from all over the world. Guide Don Beer loves to show people the Gardens. "It’s a beautiful place to be and I meet lots of interesting people. It’s a pleasure to show them around," he said.

An introductory Information Session will be held in the Gardens’ Theatrette at 12.30pm on Wednesday 23 June. To receive an information pack and register your interest please call the Visitor Centre on 02 6250 9540.

CONFERENCE: 17th Australasian Weeds Conference

17th Australasian Weeds Conference
New Frontiers in New Zealand
26 - 30 September 2010
Christchurch, New Zealand

The provisional programme is now available on the website: http://www.17awc.org/index.php

ANPC: Book reviewer wanted

CSIRO PUBLISHING has just rereleased Flora of the Otway Plain and Ranges 1 (http://www.publish.csiro.au/pid/6410.htm) by Enid Mayfield. The original book was published in 2006 by Linton Press.


If you are an ANPC member and would like to write a review of this book for publication in Australasian Plant Conservation (APC), please contact Sue Mathams at sue.mathams@environment.gov.au . The person who writes the review get to keep the review copy.