TRAINING: Communities in Landscapes

Training in topics such as:

• Seed Collection and Storage for Professionals




• Cultural Assessment of Box-Gum Grassy Woodlands (BGGW)




• Identification and Assessment of BGGW




• Restoring Landscape Connections in BGGW

Will be offered in 2011. If you would like to attend or want further information on these and other events call Toni McLeish on 02 6229 7119.

MYRTLE RUST: Found in Queensland

Myrtle rust has recently been found in a small number of production and retail nurseries in South East Queensland. Biosecurity Queensland is working with industry to investigate the origin of the infected plants and the current location of any plants that have been sold to the public.

If you suspect myrtle rust on your property notify Biosecurity Queensland on

13 25 23 or call the Exotic Plant Pest Hotline on 1800 084 881.

CONFERENCE: 16th NSW Weeds Conference – Making a Difference – from coast to coast

18-21 July 2011 at the Pacific Bay Conference Centre, Coffs Harbour

WHY ATTEND THE CONFERENCE?

-See new technology in action
-See first hand the weed management challenges on the north coast
-Meet with and learn from other weed managers
-Learn the latest development in weed management, policy, research, new incursions
-Chance to network with others working in weed management at social functions
-To gain an understanding of the latest technology and research findings
-Understand new weed threats
-Appreciate the broad depth of experience and knowledge of people working in weed management disciplines

Registration will be available in February 2011. Costs will be from $630.00 to $700.00 (early bird & standard). For more information visit the website.

WORKSHOP: Renewal after Fire: Bushfire Management Workshop

Saturday 5 - Sunday 6 February 2011
10am to 5pm at the Tuggeranong Community Centre

The Nature Conservation Council of NSW invites you to a workshop exploring the recovery of the natural environment after Canberra’s 2003 bushfires. It will include a field trip to Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve as well as lunch and afternoon tea. RSVP by January 28th on 9516 1488 (Ann Miehs) or amiehs@nccnsw.org.au

PUBLICATION: A Guide to Private Conservation in NSW

Australia’s biodiversity cannot be conserved adequately in the public reserve system. Public reserves such as national parks account for a small fraction of all land in Australia. Without conservation on private land much of Australia’s biodiversity may be lost.

This is why government and non-government organisations are working towards encouraging landholders to take steps to conserve some or all of the natural features of their properties. A range of private conservation mechanisms have been developed in the hope that more of Australia’s biodiversity can be preserved.

This publication will help you understand the different private conservation options available and help you decide which option would be most suitable for your property. Download this free publication from the EDO website.

2011: International Year of Forests

2011 is the International Year of Forests (Forests 2011). The United Nations General Assembly declared 2011 as the International Year of Forests to raise awareness on sustainable management, conservation and sustainable development of all types of forests.

On the UN website, you will find information regarding events being organised throughout the International Year as well as interactive web tools and resources to promote dialogue on forests.

BIODIVERSITY: UN General Assembly backs resolution for an 'IPCC-for Nature'

New York/Nairobi, 21 December 2010
A new international body aimed at catalyzing a global response to the loss of biodiversity and world's economically-important forests, coral reefs and other ecosystems was born yesterday by governments at the United Nations 65th General Assembly (UNGA).

The adoption, by the UNGA plenary, was the last approval needed for setting up an Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES).The independent platform will in many ways mirror the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) which has assisted in catalyzing worldwide understanding and governmental action on global warming.

The new body will bridge the gulf between the wealth of scientific knowledge on the accelerating declines and degradation of the natural world, with knowledge on effective solutions and decisive government action required to reverse these damaging trends. Its various roles will include carrying out high-quality peer reviews of the wealth of science on biodiversity and ecosystem services emerging from research institutes across the globe in order to provide gold standard reports to governments. These reports will not only cover the state, status and trends of biodiversity and ecosystems, but will also outline transformational policy options and responses to bring about real change in their fortunes.

FULL RELEASE

NEW PUBLICATION: Eucalypts

Eucalypts

A celebration

John Wrigley and Murray Fagg

Published: November 2010, Allen & Unwin

A superbly illustrated celebration of the beauty and diversity of Australia's most iconic and best-known trees.

'The tallest and most stately trees I ever saw in any nobleman's ground in England cannot excel in beauty those which nature presented to our view.' First fleet surgeon Arthur Bowes
Eucalypts are a familiar part of our landscape and an integral part of the Australian identity. We have farmed them and used them to build houses, furniture, roads and bridges since the beginning of white settlement. We have been inspired by them, painted them, made films about them, written books about them and of course Aboriginal Australians have long made musical instruments from them. Though a small number are found as native plants in several other countries, Eucalypts are a very Australian tree.


This book celebrates their diversity, their beauty and the role they play in our history, culture and economy. It looks at their evolution, biology, horticulture and ecology, together with their classification and the botanists involved. Through historic and contemporary images, it examines the many ways in which they have served Aboriginal, colonial and contemporary Australians in both practical and aesthetic ways. Eucalypts have quite literally been the building blocks of our nation and this beautiful book tells their complete story for the first time.

Available from Allen & Unwin

NEW BOOKLET: Cumberland Plain Shale Woodlands and Shale-Gravel Transition Forest

On 9 December 2009, the Cumberland Plain Shale Woodlands and Shale-Gravel Transition Forest was listed as a critically endangered ecological community under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act). These native woodlands occur on the Cumberland Plain of the Sydney region. The woodlands now exist only as small remnants within its range. To accompany the listing the Commonwealth Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities has prepared an information booklet Cumberland Plain Shale Woodlands and Shale-Gravel Transition Forest: A guide to identifying and protecting the nationally threatened ecological community, EPBC Policy Statement 3.31. The booklet is designed to assist land managers, owners and occupiers as well as environmental assessment officers and consultants to identify, assess and manage the Cumberland Plain Shale Woodlands and Shale-Gravel Transition Forest. It also highlights the EPBC Act implications of its listing. The booklet can be downloaded at: http://www.environment.gov.au/epbc/publications/cumberland-plain-shale-woodlands.html