25-27 September 2003
ROYAL BOTANIC GARDENS MELBOURNE

Abstracts (PDF format 337KB) New!
Abstracts (Word format 523KB) New!

There has been a great deal of progress in the field of orchid conservation in Australia over the last few years, both in there being diverse programs of research, and also with improving management practices of natural orchid populations. The second Orchid Conservation Forum will give the opportunity to present and hear the results of some of this productive work. It will enable us to

• learn where progress has been made;
• highlight those areas requiring further study;
• plan effective, complementary, and relevant research projects; and
• guide management of rare and threatened orchids

It will bring together people with a diverse range of skills and knowledge, all working towards conserving the many threatened species of this important plant group.

The keynote speakers will include Dr Kingsley Dixon, and Dr Andrew Batty from Kings Park and Botanic Garden in Perth. The main sessions of the Forum will be

• Ecology
• Ex situ propagation and cultivation
• Mycology
• Translocation
• In situ management
• Pollination biology
• Taxonomy - a useable taxonomy for effective conservation
• Conservation genetics of orchids
• Germplasm conservation
• Understanding funding arrangements for orchid conservation

The third day of the Forum will be an orchid tour to Anglesea, an orchid-rich, and indeed, a wildflower rich area along the coast to the southwest of Melbourne. On the tour we will be accompanied by local orchid specialist Margaret MacDonald and Department of Sustainability and Environment staff who will guide us to special sites.

The Orchid Conservation Forum II is being organised by the Victorian Threatened Orchid Recovery Team which includes representation from the Department of Sustainability and Environment, the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne, RMIT University the University of Melbourne, Royal Melbourne Zoo, Parks Victoria, and the Australasian Native Orchid Society.

PAPERS
If you are interested in presenting a paper, please contact Rob Cross (see the contacts page). Abstracts should be submitted by 22 August 2003

ANGLESEA FIELD TOUR
The Anglesea Field Trip costs an additional $50, and will include lunch and cool drinks for morning and afternoon teas. For information about the Anglesea Field Tour click here.

GENERAL INFORMATION
For information on locations, transport, the dinner and accommodation click here. There is a field trip planned to Anglesea for Saturday 27 September 2003. For information on the Anglesea Field Tour click here. For contact information click here.