Jun 6, 2025 | Events Category, News
Only 10 days to go until the second Australasian Myrtle Rust Conference (16-17 June) with Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research and Waipapa Taumata Rau University of Auckland.
The conference program (including speaker abstracts) has been released (download here), as well as links for the free virtual attendance (here).
The conference themes are:
- Community-led action
- New technologies, solutions, and research insights
– Part 1: Tools and fungal genetics
– Part 2: Environmental and microbial insights - Species conservation
- Early career initiatives and research
Head on over to the conference website for all the details. We’re looking forward to seeing you online for what’s sure to be a fantastic conference!
May 30, 2025 | Events Category, News
APCC15 has been announced – Mark those calendars and follow us for updates!
We’re excited to announce that our 15th Australasian Plant Conservation Conference (APCC15) will be held in Port Douglas, Queensland during the week of 24-28 August next year! In the spectacular Wet Tropics, we will be within touching distance of the stunning world heritage listed Daintree Rainforest and in a town with abundant accommodation and dining options. Keep an ear out and follow us on Facebook or bookmark our conference webpage for conference updates as they come.
Apr 17, 2025 | Events Category
Session 5 will be on “Getting a Myrtle Rust conservation program going – the practicalities“
The presenter will be Brandan Espe of James Cook University.
Brandan will present on how TropEco at JCU established its Myrtle Rust conservation program. The focus will be around the tools and steps required to get such a program off the ground, and the challenges of ensuring ongoing success.
Brandon curates the JCU living collections and manages the TropEco program, with the Townsville campus alone being over 380Ha, having over 1300 taxa and well over triple the accessions recorded to date and growing. He manages the Grounds and Environment teams who care for the gardens, natural ecosystems, nurseries and wildlife. He oversees plant selection and landscape designs for capital and operational works across the University as well as botanic conservation and educational engagement. He started the JCU TropEco Myrtle Rust conservation program in his former role as Environmental Officer.
Date
Thursday 24 April 2025
2:00 PM – 3:00 PM (AEST)
Register here: https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1385840
Feature Image: Kunzea truncata – Endangered (NCA), Credit: Brandan Espe
Mar 28, 2025 | Events Category
Many of Australasia’s best-known and most highly valued native trees – from Australia’s eucalypts to New Zealand’s pōhutukawa – are in the family Myrtaceae. Many species in this family urgently need protection from myrtle rust, a disease caused by the globally dispersed pathogen Austropuccinia psidii.
This event, held at an intimate venue at the University of Auckland, will feature guest speakers from Australia and New Zealand. In-person attendance will be limited primarily to presenters, but all talks will be livestreamed to an expansive virtual audience.
“From knowledge to impact” is the theme of this year’s conference. Work is still underway to finalise conference registration details, but meanwhile you can find out more on the website and join the mailing list here.
The organisers are currently seeking sponsorship for the conference. The priority is to facilitate the attendance of Māori, community and student delegates. If you are interested in becoming a sponsor, please contact Jenny Leonard (leonardj@landcareresearch.co.nz). Download the sponsorship package here.
