International Projects
Current
Extension Approaches to Scaling Out Livestock Production in Northern Lao PDR
2007-2011(EASLP)
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 project pages or Research in Progress summary.
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
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 large project, 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.
Vulnerability assessment to climate change of high altitude wetlands in the Himalayas
Himalayan high altitude ecosystems are facing enormous pressure from global changes related to climate change, industrialisation and local drivers such as increasing population, urbanisation and land use changes. These changes are increasingly altering the ecological character of high altitude wetlands, the research is to undertake vulnerability assessment of the ecological character of the wetlands. This research is funded by WWF and is led by Professor Max Finlayson.
Growth in China and its Regions and the impact on Australia and Regional Australia
Australia as a whole, and many regions of Australia, are experiencing an economic boom because of growth in China. This project has undertaken a number of studies of direct relevance to regional Australia and its continuing prosperity. The research team led by Professor John Hicks, Dr P. K. Basu and DrRichard B. Sappey have examined a number of aspects relating to the proposed China-Australia Free Trade Agreement and the potential for Australia and its regions to continue to benefit from economic growth in China through to 2050.
Disaster Management in regional Bangladesh and Regional Australia
The project ‘A Study of Strategies to Promote Community Resilience in Disaster Management: The Case of Flooding in Selected Communities in Bangladesh and Australia’ has received a CSU Competitive Grant. The participants are: Dr Valarie Ingham, Dr Richard Sappey, Dr Rabiul Islam, Mr Ian Mannock and Professor John Hicks. The purpose of the project is to find out to what extent and how selected flood-prone communities in Bangladesh and Australia (Molong) perceive the risk of flooding in their communities and the role and response of government and voluntary organisations, and informal community arrangements, in flood prevention, preparation, management and recovery.