Sixth Sudden Oak Death Science Symposium: Biosecurity, Plant Trade, and Native Habitats Preliminary Announcement and Call for Papers June 21 – 23, 2016 Fort Mason Center 2 Marina Blvd, San Francisco, CA 94123 The Sixth Sudden Oak Death Science Symposium: Biosecurity, Plant Trade, and Native Habitats brings together scientists and practitioners from throughout the world working on Phytophthora plant pathogens in wildands and nurseries. The meeting will provide a scientific update on the state of our knowledge about Phytophthoras and associated diseases in urban and wildland forests as well as nurseries, landscapes, and restoration areas. This conference reflects widening concerns related to Phytophthora species in U.S. wildlands and the potential for spread from native and ornamental plant production facilities to restoration sites and adjacent lands. Phytophthora ramorum, cause of sudden oak death and other plant diseases, has killed millions of tanoak and coast live oak trees along the Pacific Coast and forced the removal of millions of Japanese larch trees in the U.K. The pathogen was inadvertently introduced to both North America and Europe on ornamental nursery stock and is a quarantined pest in over 65 countries. In California, the first U.S. detection of P. tentaculata in native plant nurseries and on outplanted restoration plants has heighted concern over other Phytophthora species in endemic plant and animal habitats. This meeting will expand the concept of the Sudden Oak Death Science Symposiums, with presentations on sudden oak death research and management progress since the Fifth Sudden Oak Death Science Symposium (June 2012, Petaluma) as well as other nursery and wildland Phytophthora issues. Call for Papers, Case Studies, Speakers, and Posters We are seeking abstracts (up to 1 page) of proposed papers or posters by January 29, 2016. These should be submitted via email using the format (including font size and style) of the attached MS-Word example and should clearly state if you would like to present a paper or a poster. Abstracts should be sent to: Katie Harrell, California Oak Mortality Task Force email: kpalmieri@berkeley.edu<mailto:kpalmieri@berkeley.edu> phone: 510-847-5482 or 530-350-7147 Symposium proceedings will be produced. Speakers are requested to provide manuscripts; extended abstracts will be accepted.Complete instructions for paper preparation will be sent out with abstract acceptance notifications. Topics Submissions should focus on one of the following areas addressing Sudden Oak Death/P. ramorum or Phytophthora spp. in native habitats, restoration areas and wildlands: biology and pathology; organisms associated with Phytophthoras; ecology; economic, social, and environmental impacts; modeling and risk assessment; management and control strategies; monitoring; arboriculture and urban forestry; nursery management; policy; or other related topics. Applicants will be notified by March 11, 2016 as to the acceptance of their submission. Conference Location and Information The Sixth SOD Science Symposium: Biosecurity, Plant Trade, and Native Habitats will be held at the Fort Mason Center (http://fortmason.org/) in San Francisco, California from June 21-23, 2016. This conference is aimed at researchers, natural resource and horticultural managers, regulators, policy makers, and public and private interest groups. Conference participants will need to find lodging at hotels, hostels, campgrounds, or other nearby venues. Travel expenses and registration fees are the responsibility of the speakers. Registration materials will be available soon. Tentative Symposium Schedule Monday, June 20 Pre-conference Phytophthora Identification Hands-On Workshop, UC Berkeley Monday, June 20 Welcome reception and registration Tuesday, June 21 Registration All day field trip – Departs from Ft. Mason Wednesday, June 22 Registration Indoor presentations – Ft. Mason Poster viewing Thursday, June 23 Registration Indoor presentations – Ft. Mason Poster viewing For More Information Submission of Abstracts, Conference Logistics, and Facilities • Katie Harrell, California Oak Mortality Task Force 510-847-5482; kpalmieri@berkeley.edu<mailto:kpalmieri@berkeley.edu> Registration • Bonnie Nielsen, California Oak Mortality Task Force 415-473-4204; banielsen@ucanr.edu<mailto:banielsen@ucanr.edu> Program • Susan Frankel, USDA Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Research Station 510-883-8825; sfrankel@fs.fed.us<mailto:sfrankel@fs.fed.us> Conference Website • http://ucanr.edu/sites/sod6/