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FWBG-BRIT hosted the 2023 biennial meeting of the Texas Plant Conservation Conference (TPCC) from August 14-15, 2023. The theme of this year’s conference was “Seeds & Needs” chosen based on the recent nationwide refocusing of seed collection efforts for both restoration and conservation. Sessions focused on resources & networks, species-specific research, education, policy, ecological patience, and a variety of other conservation-related topics. Two workshops were offered focusing on communication and relationship-building with private landowners and on targeting Vulnerable Texas species (NatureServe S3) for seed collecting. All titles and abstracts are archived and assigned static DOIs at https://osf.io/meetings/TPCC2023.
QUICK STATS:
* 125+ attendees
* 113 authors
* 43 organizations
* 28 talks
* 18 posters
* 9 exhibitors
* 4 sponsors
* 2 days
* 1 huge success!
We especially would like to thank our special presenters:
The Texas Plant Conservation Conference is a professional-level meeting serving scientists, land managers, state and federal agencies, local governments, and other professionals with an interest in plant conservation in Texas and adjacent regions. Conference attendees explore current research and conservation projects on rare plants, native plant communities, plant monitoring methods, and plant management practices for native Texas plants. This conference is ideal for conservation organizations, agencies, academics, and members of the public interested in native plant conservation.
7:30 am Registration
8:30 Welcome remarks
9:00 Keynote address: “Seed banking the California flora: Promise and progress” (Dr. Naomi Fraga, Director of Conservation Programs, California Botanic Garden)
10:00 Break/Exhibitor Visits
10:30 Session 1: “Resources & Networks”
12:00 pm Lunch (provided)
1:30 Session 2: “Plant By Plant”
3:00 Break/Exhibitor Visits
3:30 Session 3: “Lightning Talk General Session”
4:45 Break/Exhibitor Visits
5:00-7:00 pm Poster session reception (drinks & appetizers)
8:00 am Morning Mingle
8:30 Special Presentation: “Preparing for the Supernova” (Anna Strong, Texas Parks & Wildlife Department)
9:00 Session 4: “The Long View”
10:15 Break
10:30 Special Presentation: “Our national grazing lands: The Great Barrier Reef of North America” (Meredith Ellis, G Bar C Ranch)
11:30 Closing Remarks & Lunch (provided)
1:00 pm Workshop 1: Establishing Communications and Building Relationships With Private Landowners (Workshop now full.)
1:00 pm *** TORCH (Texas-Oklahoma Regional Consortium of Herbaria) annual business meeting (open to public)
1:00 pm FWBG-BRIT collections tours OR Herbarium Open House (pending)
3:00 Workshop 2: Trustees for the Texas Threes: How to increase seed for S3 species (Workshop now full.)
*** The Texas Oklahoma Regional Consortium of Herbaria (TORCH) will be convening its annual business/curator meeting during the conference. The meeting is open to all, and TPCC registration is not required to attend this separate but concurrent event. Note: The TORCH meeting is scheduled for 1:00pm on Tuesday, 15-August, which is likely to overlap with Workshop #1. RSVP for the TORCH Business/Curator Meeting here.
Unable to attend the whole conference but want an opportunity to network and share ideas? Join us on Monday 14 August from 5 to 7 pm for the Poster Reception. Share a poster on your latest project or just browse and mingle. Educators and students of all grade levels are invited to share their class projects to gain experience, feedback, and a resume boost. To register for just the poster reception, select the “Poster Reception Only” option on the registration and payment pages. Visit this link to submit a poster abstract. Registration and poster abstract submission are now closed.
We’re excited to welcome this year Naomi Fraga, PhD, to deliver our keynote address entitled “Seed banking the California flora: Promise and progress.” Dr. Fraga is the Director of Conservation Programs at the California Botanic Garden and Research Assistant Professor of Botany at Claremont Graduate University. As a part of the conservation program at the Garden she oversees the activities of the California Seed Bank which is the largest seed bank dedicated to California native plants. Her research focuses on floristics, systematics of monkeyflowers, rare plants and conservation of the native flora. Naomi serves as Secretary for the Southern California Botanists, Treasurer for the Amargosa Conservancy, and on the board of the Claremont Wildlands Conservancy.
We look forward to learning from her experience leading amazing conservation work in California!
Workshops will occur on Day 2 (Tuesday 15 Aug 2023) at the conclusion of the regular sessions. These optional two-hour workshops focus on enhancing skills important for conservation. Attendees have the opportunity to attend one of the workshops below. Workshops are provided at no additional cost to attendees thanks to a generous donation from the Nicholas Martin Jr. Family Foundation. Registration is required, however, because space is limited. Please select your desired workshops during both the registration AND payment processes. We will attempt to update this page as soon as the workshops are full.
Instructors: Dan Caudle (USDA-NRCS [retired]; BRIT) & Katy Hoskins (101 Ranch Company; Rancher & Professional Nature Photographer)
Workshop capacity: 50 attendees (Workshop now full)
Workshop fee: $0.00
Description: Locating potential areas for plant surveys or collection on privately owned lands can be a frustrating experience. Obtaining permission to access those lands can be even more challenging. Effective communication and acknowledging the landowner’s perspective is essential to building a working relationship based on mutual respect and trust. This workshop will provide participants with the fundamentals for positive and honest relationship-building between conservationists and private landowners.
Instructor: Minnette Marr (Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center)
Workshop capacity: 18 attendees (Workshop now full)
Workshop fee: $0.00
Description: The goal of this workshop is to give conservation practitioners and volunteers the tools they need to collect seeds of their region’s S3 species to share locally. Learn how to select species that are not already potential targets for growing in agricultural settings and/or processing with machines. Walk through online resources and learn how to develop a multi-year plan. Attendees should bring own laptop or tablet to complete workshop activities.
You may still visit this page for information relevant to preparing a poster or oral presentation.
All presentation abstracts and author-chosen supplemental files will be archived in a conference proceedings site here: https://osf.io/meetings/TPCC2023
We have arranged for a block of discounted rooms within the August 13-16 window at Home2 Suites by Hilton, located at 1145 University Drive, Fort Worth, TX 76107, just 0.7 mi from Fort Worth Botanic Garden. Please use this discount link to make a reservation at Home2 Suites.
We are also arranging for a discount rate at Extended Stay America, located at 1601 River Run, Fort Worth, TX 76107, approx. 1.1 mi from our campus. Use the code “EAB49” at checkout to receive discount.
The conference will be held at the Lecture Hall at the Fort Worth Botanic Garden (3220 Botanic Garden Blvd, Fort Worth, Texas 76107). The Lecture Hall has its own entrance, just north of the main Garden Center entrance. Look for a conference sign outside of that entrance.
Parking at the Garden is free. A map to assist with navigation can be found here.
FORT WORTH BOTANIC GARDEN
3220 Botanic Garden Blvd
Fort Worth, Texas 76107
(817) 463-4160
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BOTANICAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF TEXAS
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