We are delighted to invite you to attend our annual in-person Conservation Conversations evening. This is an excellent opportunity to not only catch up socially but also to stay updated on Nature Foundation's recent activities and achievements and engage in stimulating conversations with passionate conservationists.
 
Hosted by intrepid rural journalist Prue Adams (pictured right), the evening will occur in two parts: an update from Nature Foundation, followed by an exploration of the topic of threatened native plant species, with special guests Jo McPhee (Manager, Kangaroo Island Native Plant Nursery) and Professor Hugh Possingham.
 
Currently, over 100 South Australian plant species are listed as nationally threatened under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. At the state level, 828 plant species are listed as threatened under the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972. Of these, 41 are considered extinct in South Australia.¹ This underscores the urgent need for our collective conservation efforts.

Government departments and conservation groups employ a range of recovery plans and strategies to support biodiversity and conservation of native species, including flora, which are often vital for the survival of native fauna.
 
The Kangaroo Island Native Plant Nursery grows over 100 different species of KI native plants. It supports local landholders in revegetating their land, as well as developing windbreaks, shelterbelts, coastal plantings, and home gardens.
 
Following the devastating bushfires on Kangaroo Island in 2019-2020, which burned over half of the island and had a profound impact on the local ecosystem, the Native Plant Nursery established the Fire Recovery Fund in collaboration with the Nature Foundation to help restore the island's habitat, benefiting both native wildlife and protecting farmers' livestock.
 
This support is ongoing, and in 2024 alone, the KI Native Plant Nursery propagated 45,000 plants as tube stock for the 2023-24 growing season. From these plants, 42 bushfire-affected landholders were supplied with 15,024 native trees and shrubs to help re-plant vegetation and shelterbelts burnt in the bushfires.
 
Kangaroo Island Native Plant Nursery Manager, Jo McPhee, will join the evening remotely from KI and present an overview of the nursery and the critical support it provides for the revegetation of Kangaroo Island.
 
Jo will then be joined by MC Prue Adams and Professor Hugh Possingham (present in the room) to discuss the situation of threatened native plants, their impacts on ecosystems, and strategies for survival. Guests are encouraged to contribute to the conversation through Q&A.
 
We look forward to your joining us for an engaging evening of conservation conversations!

Event overview

• 5:00–5:30pm, arrival and drinks/canapés

• 5:30–6:45pm, Welcome to Country, introduction and update from Nature Foundation, including Q&A

• 6:45–7:30pm, drinks/canapés

• 7:30–8:30pm, special guest presentation and conversations about threatened native plant species and strategies for survival, including Q&A

• 8:30–9:00pm, drinks/canapés

Join us in person:

• Free for Nature Foundation members using your unique access link or code provided in your email invite or contact [email protected] with any queries)
• $20 for non-Nature Foundation members

Or join us online via Zoom, free access for both members and non-members.

Register here

This is sure to be an informative and engaging evening. We hope you can join us!

Learn more about our conservationists:

Jo McPhee, Manager, Kangaroo Island Native Plant Nursery

Jo McPhee has always had a keen interest in native plants and revegetation, having revegetated her property at Currency Creek for several years. Jo studied a Bachelor of Science (Biodiversity & Conservation) whilst working as the Community Nurseries Network Coordinator for the Coorong Lower Lakes Murray Mouth Restoration Project. Following this, Jo was the manager of the Hindmarsh Island Landcare Nursery and worked briefly for Trees for Life.

Jo is currently the Native Plant Nursery Manager for the Kangaroo Island Landscape Board, growing plants indigenous to KI for bushfire recovery, large-scale revegetation projects and habitat restoration.

Professor Hugh Possingham

Hugh is an internationally renowned scientist and birdwatcher who has held many senior roles, educating and advocating for biodiversity and nature conservation for over 30 years, including Queensland Chief Scientist, Chief Scientist of The Nature Conservancy in Washington DC, and is currently co-chair of the Biodiversity Council.

Hugh also created the Threatened Species Index in 2016, which the federal government now uses as a headline indicator for biodiversity.

He generously donated $100,000 to Nature Foundation to support the purchase of Bullock Bridge Nature Reserve and is supporting the development of the reserve's land management plan.


Sources:

1: https://www.environment.sa.gov.au/topics/biodiversity/threatened-species-and-ecological-communities/threatened-species/threatened-plant-species

Top photo of Glossy Black-cockatoo subspecies (Calyptorhynchus lathami halmaturinus) on Kangaroo Island by Eleanor Sobey.