Program Outline

Pre - Conference Workshops

Tuesday 13 February 2007

All rates are in Australian dollars and are inclusive of GST, unless indicated otherwise

Workshop 1:
Non-market valuation, Decision Support Systems and the management of invasive species:
Economic tools for public agencies.
8.30am – 4.00pm

This workshop focuses on non-market valuation of indigenous biodiversity and processes for the incorporation of these values into decision-making to protect natural assets from invasive species. Key issues to be addressed include:

• How analysts understand and model invasions and their impacts
• Second and third round impacts of incursions
• The theory of optimal prevention and response
• Changing catchment values through forest, farmland, urban and coastal marine areas
• Value Mapping - what information is readily available to decision makers as inputs to valuation?
• Nonmarket valuation, case analysis and the role of benefit transfer
• Attribute surveys and the relationship between NPV analysis and multi criteria analysis
• Decision Support Systems for biosecurity
• The impact of scope (local, regional, national) and alternative invasion scenarios on both values and decisions processes.

The workshop will be highly interactive. Contributors are Donna Lee, University of Florida and John Rolfe, University of Central Queensland; plus Frank Scrimgeour, Theo Stephens, Brian Bell, Geoff Kerr, Basil Sharp and Pam Kaval from New Zealand. This is an opportunity for policy makers, practitioners and researchers to learn about developments, swap views and advance thinking on this important area.

For more information contact:brian@Nimmo-Bell.co.nz
Price: $175.00

Workshop 2:
Advances in Bioeconomic Modelling
9.00am - 4.00pm

The objective of this workshop is to expose participants to the latest advances in Bioeconomic modelling and expand their capability in this area of work. The programme is designed to appeal to academics and practitioners with exposure to solutions and techniques to modelling problems through shared experiences. Key issues and topics that will be addressed are:

• Bioeconomics contribution to policy / research.
• Integrating dynamic biological systems into economic models.
• Modelling outcomes at a number of levels (private : public, farm : regional : national )
• Incorporating risk and uncertainty into Bioeconomic models.
• Comparing modelling approaches – comparative strengths and weaknesses.
• Latest tools and techniques for model builders.
• Shared experiences from Australia and New Zealand presenters.
  

The workshop programme is designed to be as interactive as possible so numbers may be limited. Presenters include; Oscar Cacho (UNE), Greg Hertzler (UWA), Randall Jones (DPI NSW).

For more information contact: stuart@agribusinessgroup.com
Price: $175.00

Pre Conference Field Trip

Mount Grand and Winery Day Tour
Tuesday 13 February 2007

Picking up from Rydges Lakeland Resort at 10.00am, we drive through beautiful landscape to Cromwell, visiting the Big Picture wine tasting and visual film experience which introduces the wines of Central Otago, including the region’s outstanding Pinot Noir. After lunch you will visit Mt Grand, a 2130 hectare high country run located in Central Otago owned by Lincoln University and farmed as a full commercial unit to maximise profit while demonstrating sound farm management techniques. It runs Super Fine Wool Merino sheep 3,300 ewes plus replacements. On our way back to Queenstown we will visit a winery to taste more of the fine wine of the region.

Price: AUD$150.00
Price Includes: transport, lunch, wine tasting x 2, visual wine experience
Minimum of 15 and maximum numbers of 48

Bookings are to be made on the registration brochure.

Further information in regards to the program will be posted soon.