bioDIVERSITY

Integrated Pest Management:  Controlling pests is an essential part of food production, and can be done using chemicals and the natural enemies of pests - biological control. Dr Linda Thomson and her team of researchers at the University of Melbourne have shown that by minimizing chemical use, populations of the pest’s natural enemies can be maintained which increases biodiversity.

Community Ecology: Richard Loyn leads research programs in forest and fire ecology, wetlands and waterbirds, vegetation monitoring, and ecological analysis and synthesis. Richard is a widely published ecologist with specialist skills in wildlife conservation, forest and wetland management, landscape ecology, sustainable land use and conservation planning. He collaborates widely with non-government organisations and is a Senior Fellow at the University of Melbourne. He was elected to the standing committee of the International Ornithological Congress in August 2006. Richard will talk about bird use of forestry plantations.

Birdlife Australia: In the field talking about the importance of birds in the broad agricultural landscape and the contributions that trees make to their survival.

Myrtle Rust and the implications for Victorian Vegetation: David Smith, DPI Biosecurity Scientist, Knoxfield. The fungus Uredo rangelii (Myrtle Rust), recently found in Victoria for the first time poses a threat to Victoria's nursery, forestry and beekeeping industries, as well as to public parks and gardens and native forests. It can potentially attack all species of the Myrtaceae plant family (such as Eucalyptus, Corymbia, Angophora, Leptospermum, Melaleuca). David is tracking the movement of Myrtle Rust as it moves south and has the most up-to-date information available.

Water Watch & Landcare: Demonstrations of macroinvertabrates that live in, and indicate the health of, waterways and wetlands by Water Watch. Active displays from Upper Barwon Landcare Network, Southern Otway Landcare Network & the Heytesbury Landcare Network.