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Exceptional Times, Exceptional Plants – Thursday 9th September 2021

Exceptional Times, Exceptional Plants – Thursday 9th September 2021

Jul 7, 2021 | Events Category

We’d like to invite everyone to the Australian Academy of Science Fenner Conference on the Environment: Exceptional times, exceptional plants.

 

What’s happening?

This one day workshop provides an opportunity for scientists and organisations to better understand which Australasian plant species need alternatives to seed banking and what ex situ conservation options are available (including living collections, cryopreservation and tissue culture). These methods for conserving plant germplasm can help facilitate species recovery and protect species from extinction. The conference will include presentations and a panel session, provide an opportunity to strengthen partnerships and the chance to interact with experts online.

The Fenner Conference is an ideal introduction to key chapters of the new third edition of ‘Plant Germplasm Conservation in Australia – strategies and guidelines for developing, managing and utilising ex situ collections’ (also known as the Germplasm Guidelines), which will be launched earlier in the week. Significant advances to identify and conserve ‘exceptional plants’ ex situ have been made since the guidelines were last published. Knowledge-sharing will support plant conservation in this critical time.  Sharing our knowledge can help prevent plant extinctions by better understanding species biology as well as providing plants and knowledge to support translocation and ecological restoration.

Register now!

‘Exceptional times, exceptional plants’ will be held online on Thursday 9th September. This event is free to join, even if you are not attending the Australasian Seed Science Conference. You can register now at

https://seedscience2021.com.au/fenner-conference/.

Download the Program here.

After the conference

We will also be holding a writing day, by invitation, to summarise outcomes and recommendations for exceptional species conservation in Australia and New Zealand and conclude the Australian Academy of Science Fenner Conference on the Environment in 2022, more details to come.

This workshop is funded by a grant from the Australian Academy of Science Fenner Conference on the Environment.

Feature image by Michael Lawrence-Taylor

 

 

Perth NRM Seed Collection Seminar

Perth NRM Seed Collection Seminar

Jul 7, 2021 | News

On Thursday 17 June, ANPC Project Manager Dr Lucy Commander was asked by Perth NRM to give a seminar on seed collection. Lucy provided an overview of the new edition of the Florabank Guidelines, which outlines best practice native seed collection and use, as well as the Guidelines for the Translocation of Threatened Plants in Australia and a case study from her previous work restoring a Threatened Ecological Community. The seminar was fully booked, and well received, with attendees indicating that the seminar increased their knowledge about seeds and that they would share their new knowledge with colleagues and the community.

Four Seasons of Seed – Winter

Four Seasons of Seed – Winter

Jul 7, 2021 | News

The second workshop in this series, run in collaboration with Murrumbidgee Landcare and Riverina LLS, ‘Seed germination and propagation’ was held on 30th April. Around 25 participants attended from a wide geographic range, their interests included restoration of rare and diminishing species on their own land. The next workshop will be field based to inspect a range of direct seeded restoration and revegetation sites, equipment and techniques. Anyone interested can contact ANPC Project Manager Dr Martin Driver, Jade Auldist or Sally Ware (Riverina LLS).

Saving threatened orchids from extinction

Saving threatened orchids from extinction

Jul 7, 2021 | News

Since 2017 the ANPC has been working with the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria (RBGV), Friends of the Grampians Gariwerd and the Australasian Native Orchid Society (Victoria Group) Inc. on two orchid conservation projects in western Victoria, to undertake surveys, collect seed, propagate seedlings, construct exclusion fencing and identify pollinators. Both projects culminated this month with the re-introduction of approximately 50 Audas Spider-orchid (Caladenia audasii) and 400 Brilliant Sun Orchid (Thelymitra mackibbinii) seedlings. Ten to 15 enthusiastic volunteers helped plant each day to supplement the low numbers of these threatened orchids in the wild. Both projects were funded by the Victorian Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning through their Biodiversity On-ground Action grants.