Monday 16 July 2012: The Council Meeting and Best Farmer SA Course (Rangeland Management using the Principles of the Controlled Fodder Flow Grazing Strategy and Animal Behaviour, presented by Riaan Dames) will begin at 09h30 (registration for the course will open at 09h00). Registration will open at 13h30 and the Congress will begin on at 18h00 on Monday evening with an Opening Address and Welcome, Presidential Address, Keynote Address, Opening of Art Exhibition and Meet & Greet Supper.

Tuesday 17 July 2012: Opening Plenary at 08h00 followed by Restoration of Natural Ecosystems, Reclaiming the Agricultural Potential of Grasslands and Savannas, Research Proposal Poster Session, The Whole and the Sum of the Parts: Exploring Alternative Approaches to Rangeland Management, Rangeland Fire: People, Policy and the Environment, Interactions between Plants, Animals and their Environment, Plant Chemistry and Quality, and Managing Biodiversity through Conservation Planning followed by AGM at 15h50 and Supper at 19h00 at Boesmanland Plaaskombuis.

Wednesday 18 July 2012: Opening Plenary at 08h00 followed by African Rangelands and their People, Aligning Policy with the Socio-Ecological Dynamics of Rangeland Commons, Bush Encroachment: Perspectives on Drivers, Dynamics and Management, and New Approaches to Vegetation Description and Monitoring followed by mid-Congress tours from 14h00 until 17h00, optional Langebaan Lagoon Sunset Boat Trip at 17h00, Greek Themed Supper and Evening starting at 18h30.

Thursday 19 July 2012: Starting at 08h30, a full day of Planted Pastures (Production from Planted Pastures, Sustainable Planted Pasture Systems and Soil Quality for Sustainable Pasture Production) in parallel with Rangeland Dynamics in Humid and Arid Environments, Water, Nutrients and Production in Rangelands, Invasive Plants: Control and Utilization, and Wildlife, Rangelands and the Services They Provide followed with the Gala Dinner at 19h00.

Friday 20 July 2012: Post-Congress Tours. These tours are optional and there will be an extra charge. Delegates who are not on post-Congress tours can depart or can go on local self drive tours from tourism information pack.

Confirmed Special Sessions and Workshops include

• The Whole and the Sum of the Parts: Exploring Alternative Approaches to Rangeland Management
• Wildlife, Rangelands and the Services They Provide
• Restoration of Natural Ecosystems & Reclaiming the Agricultural Potential of Grasslands and Savannas
• Rangeland Fire: People, Policy and the Environment
• Soil Quality for Sustainable Pasture Production
• Sustainable Planted Pasture Systems
• Bush Encroachment: Perspectives on Drivers, Dynamics and Management
• Aligning Policy with the Socio-Ecological Dynamics of Rangeland Commons

Confirmed Speakers include

• Dr Alan Anderson (Chief Research Scientist, CSIRO Tropical Ecosystems Research Centre, Australia) will be addressing the topic, Burning for biodiversity in tropical savannas: the Australian experience, as the Opening Plenary on Tuesday to be followed by the Rangeland Fire: People, Policy and the Environment, and Restoration of Natural Ecosystems sessions
• Dr Mohammed Said (Scientist, International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), Kenya) will be addressing the topic, Natural resource management and biodiversity conservation in the drylands of Eastern Africa, as the Opening Plenary on Wednesday to be followed by the African Rangelands and their People, and Bush Encroachment: Perspectives on Drivers, Dynamics and Management sessions
• Dr Anthony Mills (CEO, AfriCarbon (Pty) Ltd and C4 EcoSolutions (Pty) Ltd, South Africa) will be addressing the topic of Peering beneath carbon offsets and soil surfaces, in the Soil Quality for Sustainable Pasture Production workshop
• Mr Jozua Lambrechts (Associate Consultant, Savory Institute, South Africa) will be addressing the topic, Holism: The future of range management to address global challenges, during the special session, The Whole and the Sum of the Parts: Exploring Alternative Approaches to Rangeland Management
• Dr Urs Kreuter (Professor, Texas A & M University, USA) will be addressing the topic, Rangeland sustainability, capital and investment in ecosystem services: A social-ecological systems approach, in the session, Wildlife, Rangelands and the Services They Provide
• Mr Nelius van Greunen (Vice Chairman, Milk SA & Managing Director, Greunen Boerdery, South Africa) will be addressing the topic Future challenges for the dairy industry, during the special session, Sustainable Planted Pasture Systems