Feb 21, 2020 | News
Green shoots can already be seen among the black scorched earth, but experts are cautious about just how well Australia’s landscapes will regenerate after the fires that have ripped through millions of hectares across the country. There is also division on what humans could or should do to assist ecosystems as they recover in a period of drought and climate change. Fire is not always a negative for Australia’s landscapes…But the strain put on many areas of Australia’s ecosystems by prolonged drought, and repeated fires, mean experts say just how parts of the bush will regenerate are yet to be seen….Action also needs to be taken to prevent invasive plants and feral animals like rabbits, goats and horses from impeding recovery, says Lucy Commander, project manager at the Australian Network for Plant Conservation. Dr Commander has also called for the government’s $50 million fund for wildlife and plant recovery to be spent strategically, instead of rushing in. Read more.
Jan 13, 2020 | News
The ANPC is extremely excited to announce that we have received an Environment and Conservation grant from The Ian Potter Foundation to review and update the ANPC’s Germplasm Guidelines. Called ‘Conserving our national plant treasures: guidelines for collecting, storing and growing Australian plants for restoration’, this project will fund the comprehensive update of one of our flagship publications. The Germplasm Guidelines are the definitive Australian standard for native seed and regenerative plant material collection, storage and use, last being published in 2009. Since that time, seed biology research has progressed significantly and to ensure that the latest information is passed onto practitioners and land managers, we will bring together leading experts in seed biology research and practice from across Australia to review and rewrite the Guidelines. The project will incorporate updated scientific knowledge to ensure Australia’s seed sector maintains the necessary skills and knowledge required. Read more.
Jan 13, 2020 | News
The Healthy Seeds Consortium of partners from across the native seed and ecological restoration sectors has been established between the ANPC and the Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research, Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney, Department of Planning, Industry and Environment, Australian Seed Bank Partnership, Greening Australia, Australian Association of Bush Regenerators and the Society Ecological Restoration Australasia, to oversee the project and has held its first meeting. Martin Driver and Lucy Commander commenced in September as the Healthy Seeds Project Manager and Florabank Guidelines Project Manager respectively, and have hit the ground running. And Murray Local Land Services is about to start the audit and investigation into past and present Seed Production Areas (SPAs) in NSW. SPAs are seen as central to overcoming shortfalls in high quality native seed for ecological restoration, and for improving seed supply reliability, reducing pressure on wild populations, and for improving genetic provenance and diversity to ensure the long-term health and resilience of restored ecosystems. Read more.
Jan 13, 2020 | News
While cane toads creep across northern Australia and down the eastern coastline, a far more insidious invasive species is ravaging our native trees. Scientists warn rapid extinctions of some of our most well-known tree species are on the cards if myrtle rust, an invasive, disease-causing fungus, is not rapidly brought under control. Myrtle rust, or Austropuccinia psidii, has caused extensive dieback of trees including lilly pillies, paperbarks, box brush and tea trees. The areas most affected are wet forest environments, such as coastal heath, paperbark wetlands and rainforests, along the east coast of Australia, said Bob Makinson, a conservation botanist with the Australian Network of Plant Conservation. “We know that at least four species are in what can only be termed catastrophic decline,” Mr Makinson said. “The critical endangered status that’s been afforded to three of those species in New South Wales means that they are in danger of extinction in the near future. Read more.
Nov 29, 2019 | News
The Annual General Meeting of the Australian Network for Plant Conservation Inc. (ANPC) was held on Wednesday 20 November 2019 at the Australian National Botanic Gardens, Canberra. Click here to read the President’s Report on what the ANPC has achieved over 2019. Thank you to all those who attended and/or nominated for Management Committee positions. Dr Tony Auld (pictured) was nominated as President, and Dr David Coates as Vice-President. Dr Stephen Bell, Dr Andrew Crawford, Dr Paul Gibson-Roy, Dr Lydia Guja and Bob Makinson were nominated as Ordinary Members. Welcome to new committee members Tony, Stephen and Lydia. And many thanks to Dr Linda Broadhurst, Dr Kate Brown, Selga Harrington, Chris Ikin, Maria Matthes and Kylie Moritz who stepped down from the committee this year. Read more.
