Texas Plant Conservation Conference 2023

TPCC 2023 registration and call for abstracts now open!
Scroll to the bottom of this page for links to both.

August 14-15, Fort Worth

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.

Sponsors & Exhibitors

Interested in sponsorship or want to exhibit your organization, program, or products to attendees?

Visit Sponsor & Exhibitor Page

What to expect from TPCC 2023

Keynote and guest lectures
Innovator presentations
Lightning talks
Poster session
Workshops and collaborative breakout sessions
Garden & collections tours
Vendors/exhibitors
NEW: We’re looking into offering child care to registrants who would otherwise not be able to attend the conference. Please let us know in the registration form your interest in this service.

Important Dates

March: Save the Date announcement
17 Apr 2023: Call for abstracts; call for exhibitors; early registration opens
- Early Registration: $95; Regular Registration: $115
15 Jun 2023: Abstract submission closes; early registration ends
15 Jul 2023: Registration closes
14 Aug 2023: Day 1 of TPCC — Keynote, oral presentations, poster session
15 Aug 2023: Day 2 of TPCC — Presentations (continued), optional workshops, tours

Monday, 14 August 2023

*Registration
*Welcome remarks
*Keynote address, Dr. Naomi Fraga, Director of Conservation Programs, California Botanic Garden
*Session 1
*Lunch (included with registration)
*Session 2
*Session 3
*Poster session reception (drinks & appetizers included with registration)

Tuesday, 15 August 2023

*Special presentation
*Session 4
*Session 5
*Lunch (included with registration)
*Workshop 1: Establishing Communications and Building Relationships With Private Landowners
*Workshop 2: Trustees for the Texas Threes: How to increase seed for S3 species
*Tours

Monday Evening Poster Reception

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 [link coming soon] to submit a poster abstract.

Keynote Address

Collage including a portrait of Naomi Fraga, a landscape photo of Naomi hiking in the Amargosa Desert, a macro photo showing fingers holding a small yellow flower of the family Phrymaceae — *Naomi Fraga, PhD; Naomi hiking in the Amargosa Desert; a tiny Phrymaceae flower*

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

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.

1. Establishing Communications and Building Relationships With Private Landowners

Instructors: Dan Caudle (USDA-NRCS [retired]; BRIT) & cohost to be named
Workshop capacity: 50
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.

2. Trustees for the Texas Threes: How to increase seed for S3 species

Instructor: Minnette Marr (Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center)
Workshop capacity: 18 attendees
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.

Call for Abstracts & Registration

We are currently accepting abstract submissions. Visit this link for more information on submitting a presentation abstract for consideration. You may submit an abstract before registering, but all accepted presentations will require the presenter to register for the conference. Abstract submission deadline is 15 June 2023.

Registration for presenters and general attendees is now open. Please visit this link to register. Note that payment is required for registration. Multiple registrations can be paid for at once, but each attendee will need to register separately. Registration deadline is 15 July 2023.

Lodging

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.

Past conferences:

2022 – Postponed until 2023
2020 – Virtual
2018 – Fort Worth “Collaborate”
2016 – Fort Worth (cohosted by Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center)

Days

Questions? Please send questions through the contact form below:

Research Team