PLANT IDENTIFICATION WORKSHOPS: 10 & 11 November, Canberra

Australian Network for Plant Conservation Inc.

presents

Identifying Plants of Grassy Ecosystems

(ACT Region)

Workshop One: Grass Identification for beginners
Tuesday 10 November (Canberra)

Aim: To introduce participants to the characteristics of grasses, and provide the skills and information required to positively identify some common genera. The first half of the day involves presentations, microscope work and identification keys. The afternoon session includes a field trip to an ACT Reserve, where participants will become familiar with field characteristics. By the end of the day participants will be become familiar with at least six abundant and widespread genera of the ACT.

Venue: Australian National Botanic Gardens & an ACT conservation reserve


Workshop Two: Plants of Grassy Ecosystems for beginners
Wednesday 11 November (Canberra)

Aim: To introduce participants to grassy ecosystems, their diversity and ecology. We will use some of the most commonly encountered plant groups: daisies, lilies, orchids, wattles and eucalypts to introduce you to the best identification resources (printed, on-line, and interactive). You will also learn how to access the experts through the identification services of the major herbaria. Along the way we will de-mystify identification 'keys', and introduce you to useful field characters to look for. The afternoon session includes a field trip to an ACT Reserve.

Venue: Australian National Botanic Gardens & an ACT conservation reserve


Workshop Fees - per workshop
(includes catering, transport, information pack, hand lens & GST)

ANPC member: $110/day *Concession (ANPC member): $85/day
Non-member: $120/day *Concession (non-member): $95/day

*Concession is for non-employed: volunteer community group members, full-time students, pensioners.


Registration forms available from the ANPC:
Ph: 02 6250 9509
Fax: 02 6250 9528
Email: anpc@anpc.asn.au


Registrations close: 5:00pm Wednesday 4 November 2009
(numbers are limited so register early)


Workshops supported by an ACT Environment Grant, the Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, The Australian National Botanic Gardens and Friends of Grasslands

AVAILABLE NOW: Plant Germplasm Conservation in Australia

On Friday 4 September Professor Lesley Hughes, Professorial Fellow, Dept. of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University; and the Australian Representative on the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity Ad Hoc Technical Expert Group on Biodiversity and Climate Change launched Plant Germplasm Conservation in Australia, at the Native Seed Forum at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Melbourne. The following has been taken from Professor Hughes' Speech in launching the book:


"we need many tools in our arsenal to deal with the inevitable impacts, many of them negative, that climate change will bring. This book is one of those tools, and an incredibly important one.

One of the important features of the book is its emphasis on the role of germplasm conservation, in all its forms, for conservation practice, both now and in the future. Ex-situ conservation will never take the place of good in-situ conservation practice, but aims to complement and enhance it, with the ultimate objective being to support the survival and continued evolution of species in self-sustaining populations in the wild.

We won’t be able to save everything, but tools like these will give us a much better shot".

Plant Germplasm Conservation in Australia
Edited by C.A. Offord and P.F. Meagher
Published by Australian Network for Plant Conservation Inc. (ANPC) in partnership with Australian Seed Conservation and Research (AuSCaR)

Available now from ANPC for AUD $39.95 (plus postage and handling)
Ph: 02 6250 9509 or email anpc@anpc.asn.au

PUBLIC CONSULTATION: NSW State Plan and Native Vegetation Act

Review of the NSW State Plan

The NSW Government is reviewing the State Plan. For more information and to have your say visit the Community Forum Page.
Submissions open until Wednesday 16 September.

Review of the Native Vegetation Act 2003

The Minister for Climate Change and the Environment is seeking written submissions on the review of the Native Vegetation Act to determine whether the policy objectives of the Act remain valid and whether the terms of the Act remain appropriate for securing those objectives.

To provide comments download the Discussion Paper or email inquiries to NVact.review@environment.nsw.gov.au Written submissions can be sent to: Mr Tom Grosskopf Director Landscapes and Ecosystems Conservation Branch Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water PO Box A290 SYDNEY SOUTH, NSW 1232
Submissions close 23 September 2009

INTERNATIONAL: Draft GSPC targets for 2010 - 2020

At its last meeting, the Conference of Parties (COP) to the Convention on Biological Diversity requested that a revised and updated Global Strategy for Plant Conservation (GSPC) be developed going beyond 2010, taking into account current and emerging environmental challenges on plant diversity, within the broader context of and consistent with the new CBD Strategic Plan. In May 2009, the CBD Secretariat, together with the Global Partnership for Plant Conservation (GPPC) organized a GSPC Liaison Group Meeting, which was hosted in Dublin by the National Botanic Gardens of Ireland. At this meeting a first draft of a revised GSPC, including an update of the current targets for the period 2010-2020, was developed.

The revised GSPC is now available on the CBD website for peer review, and can be accessed at: www.cbd.int/gspc/gspcreview. Comments are invited until 1st October 2009.

CONGRESS: Biennial BGANZ Congress, Plan(e)t Priorities: Regional Realties, Mackay, 8 - 11 October 2009

The BGANZ (Botanic Gardens Australia and New Zealand) Congress hosted by Mackay Regional Botanic Gardens aims to recognize the role and responsibilities of Botanic Gardens as a resource for the future preservation of species, and to support the global effort to retain significant and regionally important plant materials. A series of guest speakers, workshops, keynote presentations and discussion groups will explore these issues.The Congress is expected to attract 200 people from across Australia, New Zealand and further afield. Registrations close 30 September.

CALL FOR ARTICLES: Australasian Plant Conservation

Australasian Plant Conservation is a forum for information exchange for all those involved in plant conservation. Each edition contains a range of articles on plant conservation issues which reflect the interests of the range of ANPC's membership. Regular features include lists of the latest relevant publications, websites, conferences, field work and workshops. It is currently received by more than 700 individuals and organisations within Australia and worldwide.


The ANPC is currently seeking articles for the next edition of the bulletin Australasian Plant Conservation with the theme of Local Government and Plant Conservation. If you know of or are involved with any Local Government projects where the main objective is native plant conservation (eg. threatened species/ecosystems, revegetation/rehabilitation,remnant vegetation management) - please consider promoting these projects through the ANPC. The deadline for articles is 27 November and author guidelines can be found at: http://www.anbg.gov.au/anpc/pdffiles/APCGuideContrib.pdf

To view previous issues:
http://www.anbg.gov.au/anpc/australasian_plant_conservation.html#previous%20issues

Contact the ANPC Project Manager for more information (02) 6250 9523 or anpc@anpc.asn.au

NEW PUBLICATION: 'Plant Germplasm Conservation in Australia, strategies and guidelines for developing, managing and utilising ex situ collections'

Edited by C.A. Offord and P.F. Meagher

Published by Australian Network for Plant Conservation Inc. (ANPC) in partnership with Australian Seed Conservation and Research (AuSCaR)

Launch, Friday 4 September, 2009 at the Native Seed Forum, Royal Botanic Gardens, Melbourne.

In 1997 the ANPC produced the 'Germplasm conservation guidelines for Australia - an introduction to the principles and practices for seed and germplasm banking of Australian species'. Given the advances in germplasm conservation over the past decade and a call to document these, the ANPC recognised the need to update the guidelines. In partnership with AuSCaR, the ANPC has produced 'Plant Germplasm Conservation in Australia, strategies and guidelines for developing, managing and utilising ex situ collections' (2009). The new publication provides up-dated guidelines and standards for the capture, storage and use of wild plant germplasm for long-term conservation in Australia, including the recovery of threatened plant species and the conservation of genetic diversity in the face of climate change. The guidelines will also be useful for shorter-term projects in the restoration and revegetation industry and community sectors.

For more information on 'Plant Germplasm Conservation in Australia' please contact the ANPC office 02 6250 9523 or anpc@anpc.asn.au

CONFERENCE DATE CLAIMER: Australian Network for Plant Conservation Inc., 8th National Conference 2010

From planning conservation to achieving restoration

28 September to 1 October 2010, Perth, Western Australia


(photo: David Coates)

NATIVE PLANT ID WORKSHOPS (ACT): Australian Network for Plant Conservation Inc. (ANPC)

In late October or November (to be confirmed) 2009 the ANPC will hold two, one-day plant identification workshops in the ACT:

Plant ID - native grasses (beginner - intermediate)
Plant ID - grassy woodlands (beginner - intermediate)


For more information contact the ANPC office 02 6250 9509 or anpc@anpc.asn.au

REVEGETATION PUBLICATION: 'Recreating the Country'

Recreating the Country
A blueprint for the design of sustainable landscapes
By Stephen Murphy

Published by Ballarat Region Treegrowers, Recreating the Country challenges landholders and land managers to consider new ways of thinking about how we might reverse the inexorable decline and disappearance of Australian plants and animals from rural landscapes. While integrating conservation and production has become the catchcry from foresters to dairy farmers, what can be done practically?

This book provides the ‘stretch goals’ and the blueprint for ways of adding habitat and designing more wildlife-friendly properties. It’s set to become the bible for a new form of revegetation – the biorich plantation. Integrated with other forms of vegetation, these plantings would aim to enrich habitat potential across rural landscapes, not just for a lifetime, but in perpetuity.

The book can be purchased for $20 and $5 postage, visit the Australian Forest Growers website.

SYMPOSIUM, WEEDS: Celebrating 20 years, Managing Weeds in a Climate of Change, 10th Queensland Weed Symposium, Yeppoon, Qld, 26 - 29 July 2009

The Weed Society of Queensland's 10th Qld Weed Symposium is an opportunity to network with peers and contemplate the future of weed management.

In 2009 the Weed Symposium returns to Central Queensland where delegates will have the opportunity to consider managing weeds in a climate of change and celebrate 20 years of practical, safe and efficient weed control.

EPBC ACT: Interim Report of the EPBC Act Review and call for public comment

The Australian Government is currently running an Independent review of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act. The response to the discussion paper has been extensive and in order to identify the broad range of significant issues raised in public submission, an interim report has been prepared. The Interim report of the EPBC Act review outlines the major themes raised in public submissions, the consultation process and the Senate committee inquiry.

As part of the review process they are now seeking public comments on the interim report in general and in particular, on a number of specific areas identified in the report. The report is open for public comment until Monday 3 August 2009.