The main theme is Meeting Rangeland, Pasture and Wildlife Challenges in a Changing Landscape although a wide range of themes will be covered during the Congress.

Organisers of special sessions, symposia, workshops, etc. are encouraged to publish contributions in a special issue of the African Journal of Range and Forage Science. Remember that page charges for all papers published in 2009 by members of the Grassland Society of Southern Africa will be ZERO!!

• Abstract Submission Guidelines - details abstracts of up to one page in length including figures and graphs are encouraged. Abstracts should be emailed to the Congress email.
• Guidelines for AJRFS Special Issues
  
• Platform Presentation Guidelines
  
• Poster Presentation Guidelines

Several special sessions, symposia and workshops are being organised in addition to the standard sessions. Click on Read More below for proposed titles and further details.

The Congress will be held at the Florida Campus of UNISA, hosted by the College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences.

Accommodation will not be included in the Congress package. A list of nearby guesthouses, hotels, lodges, etc. is available by clicking Read More and should assist delegates to find suitable accommodation. Please note that these have not been checked by the Congress organisers.  Otherwise, please search for accommodation using Florida and/or Roodepoort as keywords. The Campus is 3 to 5 km from Westgate and Clearwater Shopping Centres.

The pre-Congress tours will leave the venue on Monday 20 July 2009 at 1:30pm (delegates should be ready at 1pm), and will return by 6:30pm in time for the Meet and Greet. Tour numbers are limited so early booking is advised.

Pre-Congress Tour A: Gold Reef City Heritage Tour - Jozi Story of Gold

Includes viewing the introductory movie "Rich Beginnings - Our Golden Heritage", visiting the Museum Houses, seeing a Gold Pour Demonstration and going on the Underground Mine Tour. For more information about Gold Reef City, visit www.goldreefcity.co.za.

Pre-Congress Tour B: Cradle of Humankind - Maropeng Centre

The Maropeng Visitor Centre is an exciting, world-class exhibition, focusing on the development of humans and our ancestors over the past few million years. For more information about the Centre and the exhibition, visit www.maropeng.co.za.

Pre-Congress Tour C: SAB World of Beer

A uniquely memorable experience of the magic of beer and brewing and two ice cold frosties afterwards. For more information about the tour, visit www.worldofbeer.co.za.

The post-Congress tours will leave the venue in convoys at 9am on Friday 24 July 2009. The tours will be complete by 3pm. Lunch will be provided. Delegates will need to provide their own transport.

Post-Congress Tour D: Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve

Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve covers a surface area of 11 583 ha and is named after the Transvaal Sugarbush (Protea caffra). The dominant feature on the reserve is the Suikerbosrand mountan range. Over 20 large mammals occur in the reserve. Activities include a 3.7km trail, a 60km tourist self drive route, a display of the highveld ecosystem, the Marievale Bird Sanctuary and the Alice Glockener Butterfly Reserve.

The tour will begin with a presentation giving background information about Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve in the auditorium at the office complex, including a basic history of the reserve and what Reserve Management does on the reserve. This will be followed by an informative tour on the tourist route and will cover other issues such as game management, rehabilitated old lands, successful removal of alien plant species, the vegetation monitoring programme and other ecological supports services will be discussed and illustrated with examples in the reserve.

Post-Congress Tour E: ARC Roodeplaat Experiment Farm

Roodeplaat is a 4000ha farm in the sourish mix bushveld (Acocks 1988) north of Pretoria. The area belongs to the Post-Waterberg Formation. The Roodeplaat Igneous Complex is a unique ring-shaped structure with a diameter of 16km and is also referred to as the 'Roodeplaat volcano". Delegates will visit the Bonsmara production system trial, ARC-API-RFU Forage Genebank and Nursery, 20 ha of planted pastures (lucerne, Fingergrass) and Conservation Agriculture trials (jointly run by 4 ARC institutes).

1. Payments may be made by cheque, credit card or electronic transfer to Nedbank Cheque Account 1343011299 Cascades Branch No 134325 Swift Code NEDSZAJJ.
2. All costs include VAT. Foreign delegates should request an invoice before payment to determine correct amount.
3. Early bird registrations must be paid in full by 31 March 2009, thereafter normal registration fees will apply.
4. Normal registrations should be paid in full by 10 July 2009.
5. The congress organisers reserve the right to charge a cancellation fee on all registrations cancelled after 30 June 2009.
6. Registration fees exclude accommodation. A list of possible accommodation near the venue is available on the website.
7. Pre-Congress tours will leave the venue on Monday at 1:30pm and return by 6:30pm.
8. Post-Congress tours require your own transport. Convoys will leave the venue at 9am. The tours will be complete by 3pm. Lunch will be provided.

Click here to register online

OR

Click here to download the registration form

PLEASE NOTE:

1. Only students attending the Congress for the first time and presenting either a poster or a platform presentation are eligible to apply for sponsorship.
2. Sponsored students will be obliged to assist the Organising Committee and Conference Administrator.
3. Sponsorship includes all meals from Monday supper to Thursday supper (excluding breakfasts).
4. Accommodation is NOT included.
5. Transport to and from the venue is NOT included.
6.  4 spaces are available. Application must be received by 15 May 2009.
7. A report must be submitted to the sponsor within two weeks following the Congress.

Click here to download the application form.

The Peter Edwards Award for the Best Conservation Farmer is presented each year to a land-user situated in the area in which the Congress is held. The Award is presented in recognition of the sound application and practise of the principles of range and forage science and conservation. The aim of the Award is to recognise top land-users in different areas of southern Africa and thereby encourage the wise use of natural resources.

If you or your company would like to sponsor an aspect of the Congress, or would like to have an exhibition stand for the duration of the event, please contact Freyni du Toit via email or on 0333903113 or 0832567202.