Workshops

 Micropropagation is an effective conservation tool for rare orchid species with a thorough understanding of how to apply its advanced techniques to support a species survival in the wild. However, opportunities to engage hands-on with micropropagation and participate in discussions with expert practitioners are two barriers, weakening the global network of orchid conservationists.  

 Therefore, facilitators from the Atlanta Botanical Garden (ABG) in the United States will facilitate a three-part workshop (lecture, demonstration, discussion), addressing these needs and next steps.  

Using ABG case studies from the Southeastern Plants Regional Species of Greatest Conservation Need (RSGCN), participants at all skill levels are welcome to explore:

• Learning the context of micropropagation in conservation and data management
• Working hands-on to learn ABG’s workflow for asymbiotic germination
• Discussing among experts considerations for facilities and research questions
• Assessing the availability and utility of current resources

The two workshop facilitators from ABG are Dr. Emily E. D. Coffey (Vice President of Conservation & Research) and Mr. Jason Ligon (Micropropagation & Seed Bank Coordinator).

Please contact the workshop organiser directly (email Heidi.Zimmer@csiro.au) if you would like to attend online, so we can provide you with the Teams meeting link 

 This workshop is open to all attendees, including those who have limited or no experience with threatened species assessment. We are very keen to include people who work in orchid research in taxonomic and molecular areas so that they might extend their understanding of the data underpinning extinction risk assessment. Also encouraged to attend are people who work in threatened species conservation and assessment, who may not have a particular focus on orchids, but are challenged by orchid extinction risk assessment and/or would like to better understand the IUCN Categories and Criteria. The workshop will be both online and in-person (at the IOCC8 venue at Curtin University). 

 Presenters: Heidi Zimmer (Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research [Joint Venture between CSIRO and Parks Australia]) and Tom Le Breton (University of New South Wales).

• Introduction to the Guidelines for Using the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria and a walkthrough of Table 2.1.
  • Population size reduction (Why is it so infrequently used in Australia? Estimating generation length.)
  • Geographic range (How is it measured? What does it mean?       Definitions and explanations for severe fragmentation, location and       extreme fluctuations.)
  • Population size (Defining a population, subpopulation and       mature individuals. What about clonal species?)
  • Other considerations: Criteria D and E – infrequently used in Australia.
• Activity and worked examples
  • Assessment of two orchids species IUCN Categories and Criteria using readily available data.
  • Nomination of a species for EPBC listing.
  • IUCN Red List Assessment in SIS interface.
• Discussion: Intersections between threatened species extinction risk assessment, orchid research and taxonomy, and conservation.

Tentative speaker list:

• Qld: Michael Mathieson – Senior Scientist, Queensland Herbarium      and Biodiversity Science.
• Tas: Stephanie Horwood – Environmental Consultant, Enviro      Dynamics; Magali Wright – COO Chair of the Tasmanian Threatened Species      Scientific Advisory Committee and Tasmanian Orchid Conservation and      Research Program.
• WA: Belinda Davis – Research Scientist, WA Department of      Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions. Talk title “Orchid      conservation listing in Western Australia.”
• NT: Nicolas Cuff – Chief Botanist, NT Herbarium; Caroline Chong      – Threatened Species Botanist, Northern Territory Government. 
• Aust: Tobias Hayashi – Assistant Director, Biodiversity      Division, Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water.
• NZ: Carlos Lehnebach - Curator of Botany, Museum Of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa.
• International: Mike Fay – Senior Research Leader at RBG Kew,      Co-Chair IUCN SSC Orchid Specialist Group.
• International: Steve Bachman – Research Leader Conservation      Assessment and Analysis, RBG Kew. 
• International: Molly Grace, University of Oxford Co-Chair, IUCN      Green List of Species Working Group. Talk title “Assessing the impact of      conservation on orchid recovery with the IUCN Green Status of Species”.
• Conclusion: Heidi Zimmer – Key knowledge gaps and shared      understandings, next steps (prioritisation and coordination) and      possibility of an opinion paper/synthesis.