An exciting scientific program is being arranged by the Local Organizing Committee in consultation with our international and national colleagues. The program includes leading scientists from around the world, presenting keynote reviews covering theoretical and practical advances in the knowledge and understanding of the world’s ecosystems, and the prospects for global vegetation in the 22nd century.

The program will also offer our international colleagues a contemporary appreciation of the history and evolution of Australian ecosystems and biota, since Coffs Harbour is located amidst the many reserves comprising the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia World Heritage Area.

A further feature of the scientific program will be specialist sessions focused on contemporary issues and advances in vegetation science and management, of great relevance to not only researchers, academics and students of vegetation science, but practitioners, administrators, extension agents, industry, business, farmers, miners, wildlife scientists and conservationists. Indeed, anyone interested in understanding, classifying, managing, conserving and restoring vegetation for human wellbeing, future generations, biodiversity or posterity.

We invite proposals for special sessions on a wide range of topics, and would be pleased to receive proposals from colleagues on any of the following topics and more:

• Climate change impacts on global ecosystems
• Impacts of megafires on biota
• Fire management in a warming planet
• Monitoring biodiversity
• Plant genomics, conservation and management
• Vegetation decline and its mitigation
• Indigenous stewardship and vegetation management of natural areas
• Mining offsets and vegetation management
• Grazing management and biodiversity conservation
• Protected area management for the 22nd century
• Vegetation management and restoration in agricultural landscapes
• Climate change and revegetation
• Revegetation for ecosystem service provision
• International vegetation classification
• Classification of the world’s biomes
• Vegetation mapping

Please email your special session proposals to our scientific program coordinator, Dr Rhiannon Smith, at rsmith66@une.edu.au, with the following details:

1. proposed title of special session
2. convenor of special session (i.e. your name)
3. 2 or 3 sentences describing what the special session will cover
4. proposed keynote speaker for the session
5. other proposed speakers for the session that you will approach
6. interest in publishing papers arising from the presentations for a journal special issue or part thereof, and
7. any sponsors that you will approach to support the special session.