For the first time, in its 64-year history, the 18th Australasian Vertebrate Pest Conference has gone virtual, with over 400 delegates from across Australia and New Zealand coming together to discuss the latest innovation, technology and management programs which could lead us towards a feral free future.
Hosted by the Centre for Invasive Species Solutions (CISS), in partnership with Agriculture Victoria (AgVic), this keystone biosecurity conference is a ‘must attend’ for those in the pest management industry, and brings together practitioners, researchers, wildlife managers and policy advisors to network, share their stories and discuss the future of vertebrate pest management in Australia and beyond.
CISS Chief Executive, Andreas Glanznig, said the conference ‘feral futures’ theme put a spotlight on how land managers can best integrate emerging digital and genetic technologies into future management, and how we best empower our communities to take advantage of these technologies.
“We want all delegates to vision a feral free future and think about what our environment and agricultural systems could be like in 2051 without feral animals, and this is why we chose this as our conference theme.”
“There is a real buzz around the conference program, and the vast array of presenters across Australia and New Zealand who will share new findings, results and outcomes with each other,” Mr Glanznig said.
Landcare movement influencer, Naomi Edwards is the Conference Master of Ceremonies (MC) and has a keen interest in ensuring that a ‘feral futures’ outlook embraces and listens to our youth as part of this discussion.
“I am delighted to MC the 18th Australasian Vertebrate Pest Conference to stimulate a serious but fun conversation about how we can be bold to protect and restore our productive and special ecosystems.
“It is so pleasing to see such a diverse array of keynote speakers including a PhD student, indigenous leader, NRM and research experts, and opinion leaders in the digital and genetic innovation spaces.
“The future-focused theme is what we need to be inspired and driven, and I am so excited to lead this discussion,” Ms Edwards said.
CISS as conference host would like to thank conference partner Agriculture Victoria and all our major sponsors and exhibitors (listed below) for their valuable support of this conference:
The three day program, begins today, and will see more than 120 presentations and discussions. For more information about the conference proceeding visit – https://avpc.net.au/proceedings and you can follow the conversation live via the Twitter hashtag #AVPC2021.