Myrtle Rust – a new threat to Australia’s biodiversity

A one-day course on Myrtle Rust recognition, reporting, risk assessment, and management concepts and techniques.

This course was run in 10 locations throughout NSW in June 2011.

WORKSHOP DATES AND LOCATIONS

Total attendance over the ten courses was 271.  Participant evaluations received to date are almost all very positive re course content and presentation.

Course Content

These one-day events presented a comprehensive summary of what is known of this new threat to Australia’s biodiversity, the knowledge gaps, and management options.

The emphasis was be on wild-plant conservation, but there was also information relevant for people from the horticulture, forestry, and bush-products sectors who wish to know more about Myrtle Rust, how to monitor for it, and where to find information on the control measures available for horticultural sites and suppliers. The day included workshop sessions to assist particpants to think about regional priorities, and options for changes to work practices for your sector.

Myrtle Rust is a fungal disease of plants that has recently arrived in eastern Australia. It can attack many species in the myrtle family (Myrtaceae). In the last year it has infected close to 100 native species, including lillypillies, tea-trees, turpentine, and some eucalypts, among many others. This plant family contains 10% of all Australia’s native plant species, is dominant in many Australian ecosystems, and is important in forestry, commercial and home horticulture, and the bush food and medicine industry.

This course provided essential information on the disease, and help:

• identify regional species and ecological communities at risk
• decide what to monitor before and after disease arrival
• assess the risks and consequences of spreading the disease, and how to avoid doing so.

Costs (GST-inclusive) – except for OEH pre-paid staff as below:

• $140.00 for individual and community-group attendees
• $165.00 for government, semi-government and commercial organisations

Workshop fees covered: trainer experienced in Myrtle Rust, a detailed workbook, venue costs, morning and afternoon tea, lunch.

Staff of NSW Office of Environment & Heritage please note: registration fees for OEH staff whose work relates to threatened species and/or reserves (including through education, collaborations, science and information systems) were pre-paid from ‘Find It & Fix It’ funding, but with an upper limit on total numbers.

Presented by the Australian Network for Plant Conservation Inc. (ANPC) in association with the Royal Botanic Gardens & Domain Trust (Sydney) and the National Meat Industry Training Advisory Council Ltd. (MINTRAC)

More info:  contact Bob Makinson 0457 722 583, email bob.makinson@rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au