ANPC NATIONAL CONFERENCE: full program available and deadline for registrations extended until this Friday 19th Oct

There's only two weeks until ANPC's National conference in Canberra 29 - 2nd Nov.

The full program is now available and includes a range of interesting presentations, workshops and posters on the theme of Plant Conservation in Australia: Achievements and Future Directions.

For more information including registration details visit the conference webpage.

ANPC WORKSHOP: Seed collection, storage and use for native vegetation restoration, Sydney 5th Nov 2012

The Australian Network for Plant Conservation is hosting a workshop on Seed collection, storage and use for native vegetation restoration 5 November 2012 at the Australian Botanic Garden, Mount Annan NSW.

This workshop will provide participants with the knowledge needed to effectively collect, store and use seed in native vegetation restoration.

Topics covered include:

• developing a collection strategy
• seed collection methods
• pest and disease management
• seed banking
• seed germination and dormancy

Experts in the use of native seed will present a selection of case studies.

For more information, including a full program, flyer and registration form please visit the workshop webpage.

This workshop will also be held in SE Queensland 3rd April 2013. Registrations to open December 2012. 

ANPC WORKSHOP: Translocation of threatened plants 6 - 7 November Sydney NSW

The ANPC will be hosting its next Translocation of Threatened Plants workshop 6 - 7 November 2012 at The Australian Botanic Garden, Mount Annan NSW.

This two day workshop will provide participants with the knowledge required to effectively plan, implement and evaluate translocation projects for threatened flora.

Questions addressed include:

• 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?

The workshop will include case studies of translocation programs, highlighting lessons to be learnt and an optional full-day field trip to translocation recipient sites for a range of threatened plants.


Workshop participants viewing a translocation recipient site for the the endangered shrub Muehlenbeckia tuggeranong during a previous ANPC Translocation workshop. 

For more information, including a full program, flyer and registration form please visit the workshop webpage. You can also read a report on a recent translocation workshop and view images here.

This workshop will also be held in SE Queensland 4-5 April 2013. Registrations to open December 2012. 

ANPC WORKSHOP: Jewels in the landscape: managing significant native vegetation remnants 21 - 2012 Moree NSW

The ANPC is hosting it's final workshop in the Jewels in the Landscape series 20 - 21 November 2012, Moree NSW.

This two day workshop will provide participants with the skills required to plan, implement and monitor a project to manage and restore significant native vegetation remnants.

Learning will be through a combination of theory presentations and field-based activities.

The workshop has a particular emphasis on managing grassy woodland remnants but is relevant to the management of other vegetation types.

Topics covered include:

• ecology of grassy woodlands;
• weeds and weed management in grassy woodlands;
• grassy woodland restoration;
• grazing for biodiversity;
• planning a management and restoration project
• flora identification skills;
• identifying the natural values of a site and its threats;
• identifying vegetation community type;
• vegetation monitoring techniques; and
• where to get help including an overview of funding opportunities.

Images of past Jewels in the Landscape workshops can be found at ANPC's workshop flickr pages. 

ANPC is now regularly sharing plant conservation news on Facebook, Twitter, and Google +

The Australian Network for Plant Conservation has embraced social media in our efforts to promote and develop plant conservation. You’ll now find us sharing plant conservation news on Facebook, Twitter, and Google +.

We’re also sharing images from current and past ANPC activities on Flickr.

We’ll continue to send out a summary of major news every 3-4 weeks via the ANPC News email newsletter.

If you have plant conservation news you would like us to share please email your news to anpc@anpc.asn.au. Please include "For ANPC News" in the subject.

We've been sharing information on loads of events across Australia and plant conservation news. Here's a sample of some of what we have shared recently:

• Nice overview on why we should care about Biodiversity.'What is biodiversity and why does it matter?
• NSW NEWS: New organisation Local Land Services (LLS) created by merging NRM and Ag services from LHPAs, CMAs and parts DPI.
• Free e book - Glimpses into disappearing landscapes: Nationally Listed Threatened Ecological Communities of the South West Region of SW WA. 
• Wondered what a regional Seedbank does and achieves? Check out this nice video about Murray CMAs Seedbank. 
• Three rare insects to be translocated onto three three critically endangered plants in the Stirling Ranges, Western Australia. 
• Victoria's Native Vegetation Management Framework is being reviewed. Opportunity to comment close 19 Oct. 
• The first recipient of the David Given Award for Excellence in Plant Conservation announced (see below for more info)
•  Australian Aila Keto honored yesterday by @IUCN at #IUCN2012 for 'outstanding services to conservation'.
• The Habitat Network has started a new community native plant nursery and food garden – “The Habitat” at Santa Rosa Park, Quarry Road, Ryde. All volunteers welcome.

NEWS: The first recipient of the David Given Award for Excellence in Plant Conservation announced

The first recipient of the David Given Award for Excellence in Plant Conservation has been announced: Stewart McPherson.

The David Given Award for Excellence in Plant Conservation aims to enhance the profile of plant conservation and encourage outstanding efforts of young plant conservation professionals. This award is named after the late Dr. David Given to honour his outstanding contributions to SSC and more broadly to plant conservation.

NEWS: ‘Red List’ for whole ecosystems adopted

Leading Australian environmental scientists have helped to establish the first global list of threatened ecosystems at an international conservation summit. This momentous advance in global conservation – creation of a ‘Red List’ for whole ecosystems rather than just threatened species – was adopted by the 2012 IUCN World Conservation Congress held in South Korea September 6-15.

Read more.

NEWS: Significant reform to agricultural and NRM services in NSW

The Government recently announced major changes to the governance and structural framework of agricultural and natural resource management services and functions in NSW.

From January 2014, Local Land Services will deliver functions currently provided by 13 Catchment Management Authorities (CMAs) and 14 Livestock Health & Pest Authorities (LHPAs) and agriculture advisory services of Agriculture NSW (part of the Department of Primary Industries).

According to the Government, Local Land Services is intended to be a new customer-focused way of delivering Government-funded agriculture and natural resource management services, advice and information in NSW.

The new Local Land Services will deliver:
· agricultural advice
· plant and animal pest control and biosecurity
· natural resource management
· emergency and disaster assessment and response.

The new Local Land Services will become operational in January 2014, when they take over the functions of CMAs, LHPAs and DPI as outlined above. In the interim, landowners will still be able to access existing services from these organisations.

During this time a range of transitional arrangements are in place, including CMAs will be reduced from 13 to 11.

For more information: http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/locallandservices

NEWS: Australian Seedbank Partnership announces 1000 Species Project

Bringing together expertise from across Australia, The Australian Seedbank Partnership recently announced the 1000 Species Project. The project will be collecting and storing seed from native plant species valued for their endemic, endangered or economic significance. 1000 species not currently secured in Australia’s conservation seed banks will be targeted.

Read more.

NEW RESOURCE: Seeds of South Australia online

The South Australian Seed Conservation Centre has developed an online resource about seeds of South Australia.

This online resource provides a source of seed images for South Australian native plants, a seed identification key and species fact sheets containing seed biology information as it becomes available. For more information and to use this online resources visit: http://saseedbank.com.au/

Source.

NEW RESOURCE: Census of the Vascular Plants, Hornworts, Liverworts and Slime Moulds of the ACT

The Census of the Vascular Plants, Hornworts, Liverworts and Slime Moulds of the Australian Capital Territory lists the scientific names of the native and naturalised vascular plants, hornworts, liverworts and slime moulds known to occur in the Australian Capital Territory.

All records are based on herbarium specimens housed in the Australian National Herbarium.

NEW RESOURCE: National Atlas of Groundwater Dependent Ecosystems

In many parts of Australia, there is increasing pressure on groundwater resources from activities including agriculture, mining, urban and commercial developments. While groundwater dependent ecosystems are vulnerable to such pressures, there is a knowledge gap in understanding how they should be managed.

The Groundwater Dependent Ecosystems Atlas aims to address the knowledge gap by creating the most complete inventory of the location and characteristics of groundwater dependent ecosystems in Australia.

It is developed to:

• collate existing information on groundwater dependent ecosystems
• identify the location and characteristics of groundwater dependent ecosystems that have
• not previously been identified
• provide a central, web-based portal to present the information.

RESEARCH ROUNDUP

Here's a selection of recent research articles related to plant conservation.

Developing biodiverse plantings suitable for changing climatic conditions 1: Underpinning scientific methods, by Booth and Williams, Ecological Management and Restoration.

Developing biodiverse plantings suitable for changing climatic conditions 2: Using the Atlas of Living Australia, by Booth, Williams and Belbin, Ecological Management and Restoration.

Does managed coastal realignment create saltmarshes with ‘equivalent biological characteristics’ to natural reference sites? by Mossman, Davy and Grant, Journal of Applied Ecology.

Long-term stock grazing management in Travelling Stock Reserves and influence on conservation values. by Spooner and Morris, Ecological Management and Restoration.

Overestimating Population Sizes of Rare Clonal Plants. by Tepedino, Conservation Biology

FUNDING OPPORTUNITY NSW: Linking Landscapes through Local Action

The 'Linking Landscapes through Local Action’ project was established in 2012 as part of the NSW Governments Green Corridors program.

Grants are available for establishing and funding biobank sites on public land.

Expressions of interest (EOIs) are being sought from public land managers in the Sydney Basin.

LISTEN to Steve Hopper: From Botany Bay to Breathing Planet: Reflections on Plant Diversity and Global Sustainability

Plant diversity has never been more important than now. It offers solutions towards food security and sustainable livelihoods, and yet we continue to destroy species at an accelerating pace. What are strategies to preserve plant biodiversity?

Listen to Stephen Hopper's 2012 Menzies Memorial Lecture – From Botany Bay to Breathing planet: reflections on plant diversity and global sustainability.

EVENT: NCC NSW Annual Conference 27 - 28 October, Sydney NSW

The 2012 Nature Conservation Council of NSW Annual Conference will be held at the University of Sydney Law Foyer on 27-28 October 2012, including the presentation ceremony for the NSW Environment Awards.

The NCC Annual Conference is an opportunity for member groups to gather from across the state and formulate council policy. Further details here. Please note registration closes today.

EVENT: Linear Reserve Environmental Management Forum, 30th Oct 2012, Sydney NSW

The NSW Roadside Environment Committee (REC) is hosting a state-wide forum on linear reserve environmental management to showcase examples of best practice and to facilitate discussion that helps land managers in both linear reserve planning and operations. Cost is free (but places are limited).

EVENT: Greening Australia Moolapio Grassland Discovery Day at Point Henry, Geelong Vic 6 or 7 Nov

The Greening Australia Moolapio Grassland Discovery Day will showcase the Moolapio Grassland and Seed Production Area.

You can choose to attend Vic 6 or 7 Nov. The day will provide an insightful walk and commentary on the creation, progression and consolidation of the Moolapio grasslands. Learn about an ecosystem under threat and other Greening Australia grassland projects. Guest Speaker: Dr Paul Gibson-Roy, Senior Restoration Ecologist, Greening Australia, NSW

For more information and to register (COB Friday November 2nd) email Lyn Willcock at lwillcock(at)gavic(dot)org(dot)au.

EVENT: Society for Ecological Restoration Australasia, Perth, 27-30 November 2012

The inaugural Society for Ecological Restoration Australasia Conference, 28-30 November 2012 in Perth, Western Australia is shaping up to being an exciting and inspiring meeting with seven keynote speakers now announced.

The symposium sessions have been announced and include an ANPC symposium on the role of plant translocations in restoring and maintaining biodiversity: policy, planning and practice. The symposium will include presentations by practitioners from across Australasia exploring the current and future role of threatened flora translocation in restoring and maintaining biodiversity. Issues to be discussed include: the role of translocation as a climate change adaptation tool, the importance of information sharing and guidelines, and lessons learnt from past translocation projects.

For more information and to register visit the conference web page.