There’s plenty already happening with environmental biosecurity for 2021. Below are a series of updates for up and coming events including a workshop/symposium to help develop a new environmental biosecurity RD&E strategy (marine eNGOs are particularly encouraged to participate) and to drive implementation of the myrtle rust national action plan.

EVENTS AND WORKSHOPS

Australian Biosecurity Symposium

SAVE THE DATE: The second Australian Biosecurity Symposium will be held on 26-28 Oct 2021. The cross-sectoral event is being hosted by Invasive Species Council, Animal Health Australia, Plant Health Australia and the Centre for Invasive Species Solutions. Event organisers are particularly looking for community and NGO participation. Registrations and abstract proposals will be open in the coming weeks

Australasian Vertebrate Pest Conference 25-27 May

Registrations are now open for the 18th Australasian Vertebrate Pest Conference organised by the Centre for Invasive Species Solutions. The conference theme is Feral Futures 2051. It will be a virtual event to be held on 25 - 27 May, 2021. Register at https://avpc.net.au.

Australasian Weeds Conference 25-29 Sep
The Weed Management Society of South Australia, on behalf of The Council of Australasian Weed Societies, will be hosting the 22nd Australasian Weeds Conference at Adelaide Oval from 25-29 September 2022. Early bird registrations and abstract submissions area now open (abstracts close 2pm 14 Feb). See https://wmssa.org.au/22awc/

R&D workshops - February 9-25

The National Environment and Community Biosecurity RD&E Strategy is being updated. The Centre for Invasive Species Solutions are running a series of online fora to enable participation in the revision of the strategy. Firstly, there will be a series of 2-hour, sector-based focus groups between the 9-11th February, 2021, to discuss biosecurity RD&E needs in each sector. The discussion from these sessions will feed into a larger interdisciplinary, cross-sectoral workshop to be held on the 25th of February, 2021, when the revised strategy will be developed.

FOCUS GROUPS:

These sector-based focus groups will explore what environmental and community biosecurity means to each sector and how the strategy can best address gaps and improve biosecurity capability.

For more information on content of the forums and to register, CLICK HERE

Online focus group dates (times shown in AEDT):
Environmental Weeds Tue Feb 9 10:00 -12:00
Invertebrate pests Tue Feb 9 2:00 – 4:00
Vertebrate pest animals Wed Feb 10 10:00 -12:00
Human disease animal vectors Wed Feb 10 2:00 – 4:00
Marine pests and disease Thur Feb 11 9:00 – 11:00
Plant pests and diseases Thur Feb 11 11:30 – 1:30
Environmental NGOs & ecological researchers Thur Feb 11 2:00 – 4:00  

CROSS-SECTORAL STRATEGY DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOP:

Using the outcomes of the focus group sessions, this workshop will concentrate on developing the revised strategy, aiming to achieve cross-sectoral benefit and complement other biosecurity RD&E strategies.

For more information and to register, CLICK HERE

Strategy development online workshop date (time shown in AEDT):

Thur Feb 25 10:00 -3:00 (break 12-1)

You are invited to attend any of the focus groups that you are interested in PLUS the strategy development workshop. Please forward this invite to colleagues.

 

Myrtle Rust Symposium 23-25 Mar

The Australian Plant Biosecurity Science Foundation is convening a National Myrtle Rust Symposium in Ballina, NSW and online from 23-25 March 2021.

The symposium will bring key stakeholders together to build a community of interest, share knowledge and build co-ordination and implementation of the National Action Plan. Presenters will share the latest research, response, surveillance and conservation activity, framed against the Action Plan. Workshop sessions and discussion will aim to maximise the effectiveness of the Plan in reducing the risk of new strain entering Australia, reduce the risk of greater spread, understand the impacts on both species and ecologies, and options for conservation of threatened species.

This is a hybrid event where key stakeholders will come together in person to work through ways of implementing the National Action Plan, combined with an online event to share the latest research, activities and thinking to a broader audience.

Land and resource management groups are encouraged to attend. Registration to attend  is free, and additional support may be available from the Foundation for travel costs. Abstracts are being sought on myrtle rust-related issues (face-to-face, online or pre-record).

Sessions will follow the structure of the National Action Plan, focused around:

  • Enabling the Response
  • Awareness and engagement
  • Impact Assessment
  • Towards Recovery
  • Biosecurity
  • Summary and Galvanising Action

Register and abstract submissions here. Registration is free. Abstracts close 26 Feb 2021. For more information, contact [email protected] or Michael Robinson on 0419 992 914.