49th Annual GSSA Congress - First Notice

49th Annual GSSA Congress Advancing Rangeland Ecology and Pasture Management in Africa Incorporating the Fifth Research Skills Workshop and a Short Course on Fire Management in South Africa – Policy and Practice with a Practical Field Demonstration plus a Post Congress Tour

Date: 20 to 25 July 2014
Place: Phillip Sanders, Bloemfontein, Free State, South Africa

The Annual Congress will be hosted by the Free State Province at Phillip Sanders Resort and Conference Centre, situated about 30 km outside Bloemfontein and 20 km from Bram Fischer International Airport (airport shuttle will be available). The accommodation, conferencing and other facilities at Phillip Sanders are in close proximity to one another, encouraging networking, productive meetings and a varied social programme!

All those interested in presenting platform and poster presentations as well as research proposal posters are invited to submit abstracts for consideration.

Confirmed Invited Keynote Speakers (as at 29 January 2014):

Professor Jonathan Jansen, Vice-Chancellor, University of the Free State
Professor Johann du Preez, Department of Plant Sciences, University of the Free State
Professor John Taylor, President and Director, Australian Rangeland Society
Professor Matie Hoffman, Department of Physics, University of the Free State
Dr Colleen Seymour, Kirstenbosch Research Centre, South African National Biodiversity Institute
Dr Gert Dry, President, Wildlife Ranching South Africa
Dr Neil Miles, Plant and Environmental Resource Centre, South African Sugar Research Institute
Ms Anthea Stephens & Mr Mahlodi Tau, National Grassland Programme, South African National Biodiversity Institute
. . . watch this space for more additions and updates!!!

Confirmed Special Sessions and Workshops (as at 29 January 2014):

Curriculum Development in Grassland Science
Policy Debate Forum: Enablers and Barriers to Implementing Communal Rangeland Policy
Soil Carbon for Sustainable Pasture Production
Industry Liaison: Pastures, Seed and Fertilizers
. . . watch this space for more additions and updates!!!

Confirmed Evening Functions (as at 29 January 2014):

Star Gazing and Supper at Boyden Observatory
Launch of the 2014 Special Issue of the African Journal of Range and Forage Science on Bush encroachment - changes, causes, consequences and cures

The Congress will be incorporating the highly acclaimed Research Skills Workshop to be held from 20 to 21 July 2014 as well as the extremely popular short course on Fire Management in South Africa – Policy and Practice on Friday 25 July 2014.

Registration
Early bird registration for members of the Society will be R5900 and R6450 for non-members (and members who have outstanding fees). A special student rate is available of R5600. Payment of these registration fees must be RECEIVED by 28 February 2014. Thereafter, registration will be R6490 and R7095 respectively. These rates INCLUDE ACCOMMODATION AND MEALS!!!! Please contact us for more details on fees.

Registration should be done via the registration form or by sending an email to congress@grassland.org.za.