Brisbane Biodiversity Forum - The Importance of Biodiversity - Urban Forestry and Threatened Species in Brisbane and Kobe, Japan

Join the first international Brisbane Biodiversity Forum for an informative evening, with our guest-speakers. Special guests from Brisbane’s sister city, Kobe, Japan. Initiatives to protect and nurture biodiversity in the City of Kobe Mayor Hisamoto Kizo Hisamoto Kizo was born in Kobe in 1954. Upon graduating from the Faculty of Law at the University of Tokyo, he joined the former Ministry of Home Affairs (Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications), where he served as Councillor of the Cabinet Secretariat, Director of the Election Department, and Director of the Local Administration Bureau. He was first elected as the Mayor of Kobe in November 2013, and currently serves his third consecutive term in this position. Mayor Hisamoto is also the Chair of the Japan Designated Cities Mayors Association, and puts great emphasis on climate consciousness, sustainable development and biodiversity conservation. At the forum, Mayor Hisamoto will make a presentation on various municipal projects related to biodiversity conservation, and revitalization of the satoyama – a mosaic of biodiverse areas, where nature is intertwined with human activities. Urban Forest Restoration: How can we restore natural forest vegetation in urban/peri-urban landscapes? Dr Ishii Hiroaki Dr Ishii is Professor of Forest Resources at Kobe University. His research interests include forest community ecology; conservation, restoration and management of urban forests; and physiological ecology of urban trees. Dr Ishii will be presenting the academic background of urban forest conservation and management in Kobe. Panellist: Mr. Okada Atsushi, Executive Director for Biodiversity Conservation, Kobe City Government Mr. Okada joined the Kobe City Government in 2001, and over the years oversaw the development of international relations, economic policy and projects in various strategic fields. He has held his current position since 2021, and currently oversees the planning and implementation of municipal biodiversity conservation policies and projects. Building Resilient Koala Populations Dr Sean Fitzgibbon Dr Sean Fitzgibbon from the University of Queensland presents groundbreaking research on koala conservation in Brisbane, focusing on reversing disease impacts and restoring populations. In partnership with Brisbane City Council, UQ successfully rehabilitated a Chlamydia-affected koala population at Belmont Hills Reserve. Now, the Building Resilient Koala Populations Project expands these efforts to Bayside Parklands and Brisbane Koala Bushlands—critical habitats within the Koala Coast. Supported by an $800,000 funding agreement, this ambitious project aims to rebuild Brisbane’s koala populations and enhance their long-term survival. Koala Conservation in Brisbane Susan Dymock Join Susan Dymock from Brisbane City Council as she discusses the city's dedicated efforts to protect and recover koala populations. Brisbane, Australia's most biodiverse capital, supports approximately 2,500 plant species and 1,000 vertebrate wildlife species. Council aims to establish 40% of mainland Brisbane as natural habitat, with current coverage at 38.9%. Susan will highlight the critical importance of urban forests in facilitating koala movement and survival, emphasizing how connected habitats enable genetic diversity and resilience against threats. Location: Brisbane Botanic Gardens Mt Cooth-tha, Auditorium, 152 Mt Coot-tha Road, Toowong Catering: Light refreshments provided Simultaneous Japanese live translation