International Projects

Current

Improving livelihoods and upland environments in Laos

The project aims to assist the Lao government in fostering further adoption of improved livestock
production by adapting extension methods and staff development approaches across five northern provinces in Laos. The research is funded by the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) to the value of $400,000, running from 2007 to 2011. Researchers include Dr Joanne Millar, Project Leader (ILWS), Anne Stelling, Research Officer (ILWS), Viengxay Photakoun (CSU Masters Student) and Boualy Sendara, Project Coordinator (NAFES). Partners include the National Agriculture and Forestry Extension Service (NAFES) and Department of Livestock and Fisheries (DLF).Link to Research in Progress summary.

Northern connections - waterfowl movements in the tropics

This project will investigate the movements and origins of birds moving between Australia and its near northern neighbours. By virtue of the fact that little is known of the detail of migratory connectivity or the biology of species that move between Australia and its northern neighbours this project is exploratory. Funded by an Australian Research Council Linkage Grant of $650,000. The research team consisted of David Roshier (ILWS), Robert Heinsohn (ANU) and Leo Joseph (CSIRO). The project runs from 2007 to 2009. Partners are the Department of Environment & Heritage, Australian Quarantine & Inspection Service, and Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Australia. Link to Research in Progress summary

Sustainable management of inland wetland ecosystems in Southern Africa: Inventory and land cover

For many years the need to avert water shortages has resulted in farmers in the Limpopo Basin in Southern Africa turning to wetlands for crop production. This study analyses the mix of agricultural (crop and livestock) and fisheries water use strategies in dambos and riverine swamps, and the trade-off’s among them as a tool to guide planning for wetland use and conservation. The focus of the study which runs from 20080-2009 is facilitating sustainable wetland management and development. It will investigate wetlands in upper and lower catchments of the Limpopo basin. The International Water Management Institute (IWMI) and Challenge Program for Water and Food funded this project which comprises an international research team including Prof Max Finlayson (ILWS), Dr Mutsa Masiyandima (IWMI, Pretoria, South Africa), Dr Matthew McCartney and Dr Lisa-Maria Rebelo (both at IWMI, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia) . The study will present information for making decisions about land and water use and sharing resources in the Limpopo basin in southern Africa. This project will result in firstly -the sustainable use of wetland resources for food production, secondly -sustainable livelihoods, and finally increased environmental security.

Socio-economic outcomes of community forestry for livelihoods of rural people

The scale of community-based forestry worldwide is increasing, and already covers twice the area of plantation forestry. Much of the theoretical and practical understanding of community forestry originates from Nepal, where a community-based approach to forestry was pioneered in the 1970s. This research aims to analyse the extent a long-term investment in community forestry has generated the desired socio-economic outcomes for rural communities in Nepal. The research is funded bu the Australian Government and CSU through an International Post-Graduate Research Scholarship to Mr Binod Prasad Devkota, the Principal investigator and PhD student. Dr Digby Race is the Principal Supervisor supported by Dr Joanne Millar and Dr Rik Thwaites (Co-supervisors). The project runs from July 2008 – June 2011. Link to research in progress summary

Optimising the policy and institutional settings for community-based forestry in Indonesia

Community-based forest management (CBFM) is a popular concept in many countries, covering over 400 million hectares worldwide. In Indonesia, CBFM is viewed as an important component of the forestry sector – with the government’s goal to establish 5.6 million ha of CBFM by 2011 (twice the area of industrial plantation forests). Despite the government’s ambitious goal for CBFM, there are several challenges, such as the entrenched poverty of many rural communities, imperfect forest product markets, and high administration costs for smallholders. This research aims to analyse the different models of CBFM being developed in Indonesia, and the extent that the most popular models are likely to achieve the goal of CBFM – to reduce deforestation and rural poverty, and build a sustainable resource to supply industry. The research is funded by Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR), Charles Sturt University, and the Indonesian government’s Forestry Research and Development Agency (FORDA). The project will run from 2008 to 2011 with principal researcher and PhD student Mr Lukas Rumboko Wibowo supported by supervisors Dr Digby Race & Prof. Allan Curtis. Link to research in progress summary

Reducing uncertainty in the Philippine rice industry

Prof. Kevin Parton together with colleagues from the South Australian Research and Development Institute, NSW Department of Primary Industries, the Philippine Institute for Development Studies, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration, and Visayas State University, are modelling the value of Seasonal Climate Forecasts (SCF’s) in the context of predicting the size of the Philippine rice harvest.  The value of the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) project is $385,000 and runs from 2005 to 2009. Link to research in progress summary.

Enhanced profitability of selected vegetable value chains in the Southern Philippines
and
Improved domestic profitability and export competitiveness of selected fruit value chains in the Southern Philippines)

ILWS Adjunct Professor John Mullen is involved in two research and development projects in thesouthern Philippines which are funded by the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research(ACIAR) and run from 2008 to 2012. The NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) is a key partner in this project with research interests in soil management and crop protection both in NSW and thePhilippines. Consistent with such a largeproject, there will be a program of economics research undertaken by economists to evaluate the benefits of these new technologies to farmers in NSW and the Philippines and to identify constraints that might impede adoption of the technologies. The value of the economics projects are $490,000 for the vegetable economics project and $280,000 for the fruit economics project.

Completed

Communities' Informal Care and Welfare Practices

This project was aimed at promoting mutual learning, understanding and international exchange of innovative and replicable community informal care and welfare practices.  Identifying, documenting and promoting the preservation and practice of community informal care and welfare practices across Asia-Pacific countries was a further aim. The project received $80,000 funding from the Japan Foundation Asia Centre and the Association of Commonwealth Universities. The project was lead by Associate Professor Manohar Pawar and ran from 2001-2006. Link to Research in Progress summary

Workforce capacity to respond to children of mentally ill parents: Australia and Canada

This project aimed to replicate Maybery and Reupert (2006) findings regarding Australian workers capacity to respond to children of parents with a mental illness in a large sample of Canadian mental health workers. Initial funding was obtained from a $150,000 grant from Vichealth, Beyond Blue and the Victorian Mental Health. A $10,000 International Research Linkage grant is currently under consideration by the International Council for Canadian Studies. The collaborators include Dr.D Maybery, (ILWS), Dr A Reupert, (CSU), Dr Lees & Dr Chovil, (Trinity Western University, BC Canada). The project timeline is from 2003 to 2008. Link to Research in Progress summary