AT: Texas Plant Conservation Conference

In Person. Registration Required – Deadline 7/15/2023

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.

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.

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.
  Program Summary [draft]

  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)
  *TORCH Business/Curator Meeting (x)
  *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: Collections & Gardens

  (x) 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.

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) & Katy Hoskins (USDA-NRCS)
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.

Log in VMS under AT: Skills Enhancement Courses