by anpc | Mar 2, 2023 | Events Category, News
| Myrtle Rust is known to infect close to 400 species of the Myrtaceae plant family in Australia, with a range of impact from minor to devastating. In the latter category is the rainforest tree Native Guava (Rhodomyrtus psidioides). However, collective action provides hope for future recovery. An upcoming webinar, jointly hosted by the Botanic Gardens Australia and New Zealand (BGANZ) Collections and Records Management group (BCARM), with speakers from the Australian Network for Plant Conservation (ANPC) and the Australian Seed Bank Partnership (ASBP), will report on two recent projects directed at saving this and other species from imminent extinction.
In this webinar, you will hear from Bob Makinson and Amelia Martyn Yenson (ANPC) about the impact of Myrtle Rust on Native Guava and take the first look at our new video on the collaborative action providing hope in the face of rapid decline. This project is supported by funding from the Australian Government. We’ll also hear from Bradley Desmond (Acting National Coordinator, ASBP) about an inventory of priority Myrtaceae species held in ex situ collections across Australia and New Zealand. The Council of Heads of Australian Botanic Gardens (CHABG) and BGANZ undertook the first country-wide stocktake of Myrtaceae insurance populations, to understand the ex-situ representation of this Myrtle Rust affected family, and inform strategic planning, management and research.
Click here to join the meeting at 1pm on Wednesday 29th March. |
by anpc | Mar 2, 2023 | News
| The ANPC has just published a new resources page on our website with information about conservation of exotic, economic and ornamental plants. For the most part, the work of the ANPC focusses on the conservation of Australian native plant species and ecosystems. But we also recognise and value work, here and overseas, to conserve what are often called ‘old varieties’ of agricultural and ornamental plants of Australian or exotic origin, many of which are in danger of becoming extinct. This new webpage contains links to information sources on conservation of exotic, economic and ornamental plants. |
by anpc | Mar 2, 2023 | News
The ANPC is proud to announce we are an Actor for the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021-2030). The decade highlights the urgent need to prevent, halt and reverse ecosystem degradation around the world to combat climate change and species loss.
Learn what the decade for ecosystem restoration is about in this short video. |
by anpc | Mar 2, 2023 | News
What is the best way to support ANPC’s work in plant conservation? Become a member! Members are the lifeblood of our network and now is the time to join or renew for 2023. Membership is open to individuals (with a concession option), small businesses, libraries, community groups and corporate entities/government agencies. All members receive a subscription to our quarterly bulletin Australasian Plant Conservation and discounts to our events.
Join or renew today! |
by anpc | Feb 28, 2023 | News
Would you like to use your financial/accounting skills to help conserve Australia’s native plants? Or do you know someone who would?
The ANPC is looking for a volunteer to nominate as Treasurer to assist our efforts to conserve our amazing biodiversity. This is also a great opportunity to gain Executive Not-for-profit Committee experience!
The role of Treasurer is to manage the ANPC’s financial affairs and present financial reports to the ANPC’s bi-monthly Management Committee meetings and Annual General Meetings.
Desirable knowledge, skills and experience: a sound familiarity with financial record keeping and reporting, and a willingness to learn to use Xero financial software. Day to day financial management is undertaken by ANPC office staff.
Location in or near Canberra is an advantage but not essential, as the main duties can be undertaken remotely. Click here for more information.
If you are interested in applying or would like more information please reach out to our Business Manager Jo Lynch at business@anpc.asn.au
by anpc | Jan 31, 2023 | News
| While seed is the easiest and most efficient form of germplasm to store, species such as Native Guava (Rhodomyrtus psidioides) are undergoing such significant decline due to Myrtle Rust that they no longer produce viable seeds for collection. Other species have seeds that are not suited to storage under conventional seedbanking conditions. For these species, cutting propagation is a way of capturing genetic diversity and establishing ex situ collections that provide a measure of insurance against extinction.
Our partners at the Department of Agriculture and Forestry (QLD) and the Australian Botanic Garden Mount Annan (NSW) are establishing new ex situ collections from wild-collected germplasm. These collections provide a source of future propagation material, an accessible collection for research and a way of distributing germplasm across partner organisations as a further measure to establish the species in safe custody.
This project received grant funding from the Australian Government.
Images below:(top) Cutting propagation of Native Guava (Rhodomyrtus psidioides) at the Australian Botanic Garden Mount Annan. Credit: Amelia Martyn Yenson. |
