The ANPC thanks all our volunteers, including our Bookkeeper Robert Hawes (left), who works in our head office one day a week, and our new Treasurer John Grunberg. We couldn’t help save our plants without you!
The ANPC is pleased to announce that the 13th Australasian Plant Conservation Conference (APCC13) will be held in Albury from 19-23 April 2021 and hosted by Albury City Council. The conference organising committee has been formed and has started to plan this exciting event. Stay tuned for more information soon. To keep up with the latest news, keep an eye on the conference website here.
The second independent review of the EPBC Act commenced on 29 October 2019. The review will be led by Professor Graeme Samuel AC, supported by a panel of experts. A report will be presented to the Minister for the Environment within 12 months of commencement of the review. Download the ANPC’s submission here [PDF link]
The Australian Native Seed Survey Report has been launched by the Threatened Species Commissioner Dr Sally Box. Read the Media Release here. The report details the full results of the national survey capturing the behaviours and views of a wide range of participants in the native seed sector – which the authors say are not all encouraging. ‘Worryingly, the report highlights the concerns of the sector that future demand for seed will be difficult to meet from the wild’ said Martin Driver from the ANPC. ‘This is due to the high costs of seed collection and the lack of seed from a broad range of the species that are critical for restoration. The recent bushfires have made this situation worse’. Seed production of native seed offers some hope, but currently lacks the capacity to meet demand. ‘Seed production areas (SPAs) are an increasingly important supplier of seed for restoration, landscaping and bush food markets’ said Dr Paul Gibson-Roy from Kalbar Resources. ‘SPAs are locations where we cultivate native species for their seeds, like agricultural crops. They can produce seed in higher quantities and quality that is much easier to collect than in the wild. Their continued development will be critical to meeting seed needs and preserving wild populations’. Read more and download the Report here.
As part of the Healthy Seeds project, an update of the Florabank Guidelines has commenced to ensure practitioners are aware of, have access to, and are using up-to-date science and guidance materials for best-practice native seed management in ecological restoration. Listen to ANPC Project Manager Lucy Commander’s presentation here on the update of the Florabank Guidelines (which was to be presented at the postponed Australasian Seed Science Conference in Canberra in April 2020).