Led by Dr Joanne Millar and Dr Rik Thwaites
The information on these pages is accurate to the end of 2016 when reporting for SRA was completed for the 2015-16 Biennial Report. All reporting for our projects is now found in relevant areas under the four research themes.
The information on these pages is accurate to the end of 2016 when reporting for SRA was completed for the 2015-16 Biennial Report. All reporting for our projects is now found in relevant areas under the four research themes.
Congratulations to SRA members, Dr Joanne Millar, Dr Rik Thwaites, Associate Professor Rosemary Black, Dr Richard Culas, Dr Lee Baumgartner and Dr Wayne Robinson, who have been awarded the Office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research, Development and Industry) Award for 'Excellence in Team Research for the SRA program on Improving Rural Livelihoods in Developing Countries', 2016.
CSU's Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research, Development & Industry) Professor Mary Kelly said the award recognises the team's outstanding contribution to ILWS, the DVC RDI portfolio and the University. Institute Director Professor Max Finlayson said the award was in recognition of both individual and wider research effort.
ILWS Adjunct Senior Researcher Fellow Dr Millar said the award recognised the dedication of the team to improving rural livelihoods and environments in developing countries. They have demonstrated passionate commitment to supervising postgraduate students from least developed nations in Asia and Africa, and are conducting applied research with positive outcomes for rural communities.
"Not many research programs can claim to have reduced poverty through better environmental management, but this award acknowledges that our research program has contributed to international development using multi-disciplinary research and training methods," said Dr Millar.
This SRA undertook interdisciplinary and integrated research with international partners, to deliver effective development programs and policies that improve rural people's livelihoods and environmental management.
Research was aimed at understanding complex social-environmental relationships and influencing outcomes for rural and regional people. A major feature of this SRA was the high level of impact in community engagement, capacity building and governance.
The objectives of current and future research activities were to:
This SRA had 19 members made up of both senior ILWS staff and Institute adjunct researchers from other tertiary institutions, government agencies, and private enterprise. These researchers have expertise in:
Members have research experience in many developing countries including Laos, Indonesia, Bhutan, East Timor, Fiji, Nepal, India, Pakistan, Vietnam, China, Nepal, Vanuatu, Malaysia and Cambodia.
There were a number post-graduate students associated with this SRA including from the developing countries of Nepal, Bhutan, Pakistan, Indonesia and Zimbabwe, who undertook research on a diverse range of topics from property rights and rangeland management to communication in agricultural development.
Current projects include:
Completed projects for this SRA include:
Rural people in developing countries are highly dependent on their natural resources to provide food, shelter, income and cultural needs.
However population pressures and inequitable distribution of wealth create competition for resources, land and water degradation and loss of biodiversity.
Land uses such as agriculture, forestry and fisheries can impact on ecosystem services creating trade offs between food or wood production and provision of quality water, soil and air.
Causes of poverty and erosion of natural capital in developing countries can be geographical remoteness; war and resettlement; rapid urbanisation; unsustainable timber logging, cropping or fishing; climate change causing drought, landslides or flooding; foreign ownership and investment in resources; trade policies; poor governance and lack of education opportunities. The complexity of these issues requires interdisciplinary research to determine social, economic, environmental, agricultural and cultural factors at play, and to develop solutions.
Members | Expertise |
---|---|
Dr Joanne Millar | Agriculture and Extension (Laos/Indonesia/ Bhutan) |
Dr Rik Thwaites | Community ecotourism and Sustainable Development. (East Timor/Fiji/ Nepal/India/Vietnam/China) |
Professor Max Finlayson | Wetlands conservation and livelihoods (Asia/Africa) |
Professor Manohar Pawar | Social Research |
Associate Professor Rosemary Black | Ecotourism, Sustainable tourism, Communication and Education in Natural Resource Management (Nepal, Vanuatu, Malaysia, Bhutan) |
Dr Lee Baumgartner | Fisheries (Lao PDR) |
Dr Wayne Robinson | Wildlife ecology (Lao PDR) |
Dr Richard Culas | Environmental and Agricultural Economics |
Associate Professor Catherine Allan | Adaptive management, Social learning |
Associate Professor Branka Krivokapic-Skoko | Agriculture and social research (Africa) |
Professor John Blackwell | Agriculture and extension (Asia/Africa) |
Dr Michael Mitchell | Social Research |
Professor Jay Punthakey (Adjunct) | Agriculture and extension (Pakistan) |
Dr Robert Fisher (Adjunct) University of Sydney | Community based NRM |
Dr Ganga Dahal (Adjunct) Resource Rights Institute, Bangkok | Natural resource management |
Mr Horrie Poussard (Adjunct) Australian International Landcare, | Landcare |
Dr Popular Gentle, (Adjunct) Care International, Kathmandu, Nepal | Community forestry (Nepal) |
Dr Kuenga Namgay, (Adjunct) Ministry of Agriculture and Forests, Bhutan | Policy planner at Policy and Planning Division |
Dr Mohan Poudel Ministry of Forests, Nepal | Community forestry |
Dr Patrick Cobbinah (Adjunct) | Sustainable urban development and ecotourism in Ghana |
Key outcomes or examples of how the work of this SRA has made a difference include:
Improving groundwater management to enhance agriculture and farming livelihoods in Pakistan. Finlayson, M., Punthakey, J., Allan, C., Mitchell, M. (2016-2020) ACIAR & CSU ($100,000), Total value of the project $2,15M Project details
Quantifying improved fisheries productivity at fish passage rehabilitation sites in Lao PDR. Baumgartner, L., Robinson, W., McPherson, J. with Thorncraft, G. (National University of Laos), Phonekhampheng, O. (National University of Laos), Singhanouvong, D. (Living Aquatic Resources Research Centre) and Cooper, B. (UniSA) (2016-2020) ACIAR, $1,890,224 Project details
Sustainable rangeland management to protect red panda and herder livelihoods, Millar, J., Finlayson, M., & Tenzing, K. (2016-2019) Darwin Initiative Fund, $540,000 Project details
Farm Power and Conservation Agriculture for Sustainable Intensification, Finlayson, M., Blackwell, J. & Krivokapic-Skoko, B. (2013-17) ACIAR, via CIMMY (International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre), $544,000 Project details
Research Activities
Dr Rik Thwaites, along with co-editors and Institute Adjuncts Dr Bob Fisher, and Dr Mohan Poudel, is working on a new book Community Forestry in Nepal: Adapting to a changing world which draws together findings from the PhD projects of Dr Binod Devkota, Dr Popular Gentle, Dr Mohan Poudel and Eak Rana, along with other authors. The book is expected to be published by Earthscan towards the end of 2016.
Socio-economic study of fish harvesting and use by villagers around Pak Peung reservoir in Laos. Millar, J., Baumgartner, L. & Robinson, W. (2012-2015) (Part of ACIAR project on Development of fish passage technology to increase fisheries production on floodplains in the lower Mekong and Murray-Darling River Basins.) ACIAR $66,180 Project details Project Bulletin Final Socio-Economic Research Report
Development of fish passage technology to increase fisheries production on floodplains in the lower Mekong, Laos and Murray-Darling River Basins. Baumgartner, L., Millar, J. & Robinson, W. (2012-2015) (ACIAR, University of Lao, LARREC).
Optimising canal and groundwater management to assist water user associations in maximising crop production and managing salinisation in Australia and Pakistan. Blackwell, J., Punthakey, J., Culas, R., & Hafeez, M. (2008- 2015) with partners in Pakistan Punjab Irrigation Department & UAAR-PMAS Arid Agricultural University. ACIAR, $1,219,708 Project details
Socio economic study of farmer adoption of tilapia fish production in Aceh, Indonesia, Millar, J., Robinson, W. & staff from Ujung Batee Fisheries Research Centre (2010-2015) (Part of ACIAR project Diversification of smallholder coastal aquaculture in Indonesia) Project details
Strengthening livelihood security and adapting to climate uncertainties in Chilika Lagoon, India.. Bellio, M., Finlayson, M. (2012-2015) Wetlands International – South Asia (WISA) in partnership with Chilika Development Authority, $62,500
Developing agribusiness plan for Cambodian farmers to improve farm productivity and food security. Culas, R (Chief Investigator). Sokchea, A. (Co-investigator, World Vision, Cambodia). (2013-2014). The Crawford Fund $11,517 Project report
Delivery of training course on evaluation of social impacts of agricultural research and development in Bhutan for the Ministry of Agriculture and Council of RNR Research. Millar, J. & Black, R. (2014) ATSI Crawford Fund 2014. $13,380 Project News
Delivery of training course on pig nutrition and management in Lao PDR with NAFRI Livestock Research Centre. Millar, J. & Phengsavanh, P. (2013- 2014). ATSI Crawford Fund $8,883 (2013) and $8410 (2014).
Implications of global environmental policies on land use and livelihoods in developing countries, Thwaites, R. Poudel, M., Fisher R, Sharma, K. Culas, R. (2012) Project details
Livestock movement and managing disease in Eastern Indonesia and Eastern Australia, Millar. J. (2007-2012). ACIAR, University of Sydney $36,812 Project details
Informing productivity and profitability of small-holder shrimp aquaculture and related agribusiness in Indonesia. Collaborator with University of Sydney. Millar, J. , Callinan, R. (University of Sydney), Herianto, A. (Gadjah Mada University, Indonesia) and Fachry, M. (Hasanuddin University, South Sulwesi) (2007 to 2011) ACIAR Project details
Extension approaches for scaling out livestock production in Lao PDR, Millar, J. Stelling, A & Photakoun, V. (2007 to 2011). ACIAR scholarship Project details Project Website
Delivery of training course on social dimensions of agricultural research projects to Indonesian scientists in West Sumatra. Millar, J. (June 2011) ATSI Crawford Fund 2011. $11,000
2017
Baumgartner, L.J., Thorncraft, G., Boys, C., Singhanouvong, D., Phonekhampheng, O. (2017) Effects of fluid shear on Silver shark; Implications for hydropower design. Fisheries Management and Ecology. DOI:10.1111/fme.12213
Black, R. & Cobbinah, P.B. (2017) On the rim of inspiration: performance of AWF tourism enterprises in Botswana and Rwanda. Journal of Sustainable Tourismhttp://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09669582.2017.1296454
Cobbinah, P. B., Poku-Boansi, M., & Peprah, C. (2017) Urban environmental problems in Ghana. Environmental Development. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envdev.2017.05.001
Poku-Boansi, M. & Cobbinah, P.B. (2017) Land use and urban travel in Kumasi, Ghana. GeoJournal. http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10708-017-9786-7
Cobbinah, P.B., Poku-Boansi, M. & Adarkwa, K.K. (2017) Develop first, make amends later: accessibility within residential neighbourhoods within residential neighbourhoods in Ghana. Journal of Housing and the Built EnvironmentDOI: 10.1007/s10901-017-9544-7
Cobbinah, P. B., & Niminga-Beka, R. (2017). Urbanisation in Ghana: Residential land use under siege in Kumasi central. Cities, 60, 388-401. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cities.2016.10.011
Cobbinah, P. B., & Aboagye, H. N. (2017). A Ghanaian twist to urban sprawl. Land Use Policy, 61, 231-241. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.landusepol.2016.10.047
Namgay, K., Millar, J. & Black, R. (2017). Dynamics of grazing rights and their impact on migrating cattle herders in Bhutan. The Rangeland Journal. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/RJ16052
2016
Black, R., & Cobbinah, P. B. (2016). Local attitudes towards tourism and conservation in rural Botswana and Rwanda. Journal of Ecotourism, 1-27. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/14724049.2016.1258074
Cobbinah, P. B., & Darkwah, R. M. (2016). Reflections on tourism policies in Ghana. International Journal of Tourism Sciences, 16(4), 170-190. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/15980634.2016.1212595
Cobbinah, P. B., Poku-Boansi, M., & Asomani-Boateng, R. (2016, December). Urbanisation of Hope or Despair? Urban Planning Dilemma in Ghana. Urban Forum (Vol. 27, No. 4, pp. 415-432). http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12132-016-9293-9
Cobbinah, P.B. & Darkwah, R.M (2016): Toward a more desirable form of sustainable urban development in Africa, African Geographical Review http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/19376812.2016.1208770
Cobbinah, P.B. & Darkwah, R.M (2016) Urban planning and politics in Ghana, GeoJournal, Vol 81, No 4 , DOI 10.1007/s10708-016-9750-yi
Korah, P.I. & Cobbinah, P.B. (2016) Juggling through Ghanaian urbanisation: flood hazard mapping of Kumasi, GeoJournal, Vol 81, No 4 DOI 10.1007/s10708-016-9746-7
Cobbinah, P.B. & Darkwah, R.D. (2016) African Urbanism: the Geography of Urban Greenery, Urban Forum DOI 10.1007/s12132-016-9274-z
Culas, R. J & Tek, K. (2016): Food Security in Cambodia: Trends and Policy Objectives, International Journal of Development Issues, 15(3): 306-327 http://www.emeraldinsight.com/doi/pdfplus/10.1108/IJDI-06-2016-0033
Gentle, P., Thwaites, R. (2016), Transhumant pastoralism in the context of socioeconomic and climate change in the mountains of Nepal. Mountain Research and Development. 36 (2): 173-182.
Silwal, T., Kolejka, J., Bhatta, B. P., Rayamajhi, S., Sharma, R. P., and Poudel, B. (2016) When, where and whom: assessing wildlife attacks on people in Chitwan National Park, Nepal. Oryx, doi:10.1017/S0030605315001489.
2015
Weiler, B., & Black, R. (2015) The changing face of the tour guide: one-way communicator to choreographer to co-creator of the tourist experience, Tourism Recreation Research, Vol. 40, Iss. 3, http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/02508281.2015.1083742
Chirozva, C. (2015) Community agency and entrepreneurship in ecotourism planning and development in the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Conservation Area, Journal of Ecotourism, http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14724049.2015.1041967
Cobbinah, P.B. & Korah, P.I. (2015) Religion gnaws urban planning: the geography of places of worship in Kumasi, Ghana, International Journal of Urban Sustainable Development, DOI: 10.1080/19463138.2015.1074581
Cobbinah, P.B. (2015) Contextualising the meaning of ecotourism. Tourism Management Perspectives. Volume 16, pages 179-189 http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2211973615000756
Cobbinah, P.B., Black, R. & Thwaites, R. (2015) Ecotourism implementation in the Kakum Conservation Area, Ghana: administrative framework and local community experiences, Journal of Ecotourism, ttp://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14724049.2015.1051536
Cobbinah, P.B., Gaisie, E., & Owusu-Amponsah, L. (2015) Peri-urban morphology and indigenous livelihoods in Ghana. Habitat International, Vol 50. pages 120-129.http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.habitatint.2015.08.002
Cobbinah, P.B. & Anane, G.K. (2015) Climate change adaptation in rural Ghana: indigenous perceptions and strategies, Climate and Development, http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17565529.2015.1034228
Cobbinah, P. B., Erdiaw-Kwasie, M.O. & Amoateng, P. (2015) Africa's urbanisation: Implications for sustainable development. J. Cities, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cities.2015.03.013
Cobbinah, P.B. (2015) Local attitudes towards natural resources management in rural Ghana, Management of Environmental Quality: An International Journal, Vol. 26 Iss 3 pp. 423 - 436 http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/MEQ-04-2014-0061
Cobbinah, P.B., Black, R., & Thwaites, R. (2015) Biodiversity conservation and livelihoods in rural
Ghana: Impacts and coping strategies. Environmental Development ,
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.envdev.2015.04.006
Cobbinah, P. B., Erdiaw-Kwasie,M. O., & Amoateng, P. (2015) Rethinking sustainable development within the framework of poverty and urbanisation in developing countries. Environmental Development, 13, 18-32
Sokchea, A . & Culas, R.J. (2015) Impact of Contract Farming with Farmer Organizations on Farmers' Income: A Case Study of Reasmey Stung Sen Agricultural Development Cooperative in Cambodia, Australasian Agribusiness Review, 23(2005): 1-11
Chapagain, B. and Gentle, P. (2015) Withdrawing from agrarian livelihoods: Environmental migration in Nepal. Journal of Mountain Science 12 (1) 1-13. http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs11629-014-3017-1
Millar, J., Abdurrahman, M., Toribio,J., Ambarawati, I., Yusuf, R.P., Suadnya, W. (2015) Informal inter-island poultry movement in Indonesia: Does it pose a risk to HPAI H5N1 transmission? Tropical Animal Health and Production. Volume 47, Issue 7, pp 1261-1269
Kurcheid, J., Millar, J., Abdurrahman, M., Ambarawati, I., Suadnya, W., Yusuf, R.P., Toribio, J . (20150 Knowledge and perceptions of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) among poultry traders in live bird markets in Bali and Lombok, Indonesia. PLOS One. 10(10):e0139917; DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0139917 IF 3.50
Sharma, S.K., Deml, K., Dangal,S., Rana, E. & Madigan,S. (2015) REDD+ framework with integrated measurement, reporting and verification for Community Based Forest Management Systems (CBFMS) in Nepal, Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability ,Volume 14, June 2015, Pages 17–27
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1877343515000123
Sharma, K. & Davaakhuu, O. (2015) Trade Policymaking in a Resource-rich Landlocked Country: The WTO Review of Mongolia, The World Economy, Vol 36, Iss. 9. pp 1350-1367. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/twec.12271/full
2014
Amoateng, P., Cobbinah, P.B., & Kwasi, O. (2014) Towards creation of sustainable enclaves for small and medium-size enterprises in Kumasi, Ghana. International Journal of Social, Human and Science Engineering, Vol 8, No 1
Napari, P.N. & Cobbinah, P.B. (2014) ) Environmental Sanitation Dilemma in the Tamale Metropolis, Ghana, International Journal of Social, Human and Science Engineering, Vol 8, No 1
Amoako, C., Cobbinah, P.B., & Rockson, M. (2014) Urban Infrastructure Design and Pedestrian Safety in the Kumasi Central Business District, Ghana. Journal of Transportation Safety & Security. 6:3, 235-256. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/19439962.2013.861887
Culas, R. 2014 Causes of deforestation and REDD+ policies: A cross country analysis. IUP Journal of Applied Economics
Gentle, P., Thwaites, R., Race, D., & Alexander, K. (2014). Differential impacts of climate change for communities in the middle hills of Nepal. Natural Hazards (published online: http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs11069-014-1218-0 ).
Namgay, K., Millar, J., Black, R., and Samdup, T. (2014). Changes in transhumant agro-pastoralism in Bhutan: A disappearing livelihood? Human Ecology. Volume 42, Issue 5, pp 779-792.
Poudel, M., Thwaites, R., Race, D., Dahal, G.R. (2014) REDD+ and community forestry: implications for local communities and forest management-a case study from Nepal: - International Forestry Review, 16(1), 39-54.
Davaakhuu, O.,Sharma, K. and Bandara, Y (2014), 'Foreign investment in transition economics: Lessons from the experience of Mongolia, Global Business Review, 15 (4), 663-675.
2013
Bricker, K. S., Black, R. and Cottrell, S. (eds.) (2013) Sustainable Tourism and the Millennium Development Goals: Effecting Change. Jones & Bartlett Learning, Burlington, MA.
Black, R.S. & Weiler, B. (2013) Current themes and issues in ecotour guiding in Ballantyne, R. & Packer, J. International Handbook on Ecotourism, pp. 336-350, Edward Elgar, Northampton, MA.
Cobbinah, P.B., Black, R. & Thwaites, R. (2013). Dynamics of poverty in developing countries: Review of poverty reduction approaches. Journal of Sustainable Development, 6(9), 25-35.
Cobbinah, P.B., Black, R. & Thwaites, R. (2013). Tourism planning in developing countries: Review of concepts and sustainability issues. World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology International Journal of Social, Human Science and Engineering, 7(4), 211-218.
Culas, R. J. (2013) The Trends and the Drivers of Deforestation: A Cross-country Seemingly Unrelated Regression Analysis for the REDD+ Policies - Chapter 3, In: Bouza, C. N (edited) Deforestation: Conservation Policies, Economic Implications and Environmental Impact, Nova Science Publishers, Inc. Hauppauge, NY, USA. ISBN: 978-1-62948-241-5.
Fisher, R. & Lyster, R. (2013) "Land and resource tenure: the rights of indigenous peoples and forest dwellers." In Rosemary Lyster, Catherine MacKenzie and Constance McDermott (eds) Law, Tropical Forests and Carbon: The Case of REDD+. Pp 187-206. Cambridge University Press: Cambridge etc.
Finlayson, M., Bunting, S.W., Beveridge, M., Tharme, R. & Nguyen-Khoa, S. (2013) Wetlands. In Boelee, E. (ed), Managing water and agroecosystems for food security. United Kingdom: CAB International, Wallingford, UK, pp 82-103.
Gentle, P., Thwaites, R., Race, D. & Alexander, K. 2013, 'Changing role of local institutions to enable individual and collective actions for adapting to climate change', IASC2013 Abstracts: the 14th Global Conference of the International Association for the Study of the Commons, IASC, Japan, pp. 40-40.
Khair, S. M. and Culas, R.J. (2013): Rationalizing Water Management Policies: Tube Well Development and Resource Use Sustainability in Balochistan Region of Pakistan, International Journal of Water, 7(4): 294-316.(ERA: ranked-B).
Lei, Y., Finlayson, M., Thwaites, R. And Shi, G. 2013. Migration drivers in mountain regions in the context of climate change: A case study in Shangnan County of China. Chinese Journal of Population, Resources and Environment (3), 1-10.
Mustapha, U. M. and. Culas, R.J. (2013). Causes, Magnitude and Consequences of Price Variability in Agricultural Commodity Market: An African Perspective, Proceedings of the 42nd Australian Conference of Economists (ACE2013), Murdoch University, Perth, Australia. 7-10 July 2013. p. 26. ISBN: 978-1-921877-12-4.
Namgay, K., Millar, J. Black, R. and Samdup, T. (2013) Transhumant agro-pastoralism in Bhutan: Exploring contemporary practices and socio-cultural traditions. Pastoralism: Research, Policy and Practice journal. 3 (1): 13 http://www.pastoralismjournal.com/content/pdf/2041-7136-3-13.pdf
Sharma, K., & Bhattaria, B. (2013) Aid, Policy and Growth in Nepal. Journal of Economic Issues, 47(4), 895-910
2012
Photakoun, V, Millar, J., Race, D. (2012) Factors influencing capacity building for livestock development in Lao PDR: strategies to improve outcomes for upland rural development. Journal of Mekong Societies.Vol 8 (1) pp 137-159.
2011
Cobbinah, P.B., Black, R. & Thwaites, R. (2011) Reflections on Six Decades of the Concept of Development: Evaluation and Future Research. Journal of Sustainable Development in Africa,13(7). pp.143-158.
Millar, J. and Sengdala, B. and Stelling, A. (2011) The role of livestock in changing upland livelihoods in Lao PDR: Facilitating farmer learning according to ethnicity and gender. Journal of Mekong Societies Vol 7 (1) pp.55-71.
2010
Rebelo, L.M., McCartney, M.P., & Finlayson, C.M. (2010) Wetlands of Sub-Saharan Africa: distribution and contribution of agriculture to livelihoods. Wetlands Ecology and Management 18:557–572
Millar, J. & Connell, J. (2010) Strategies for scaling out impacts from agricultural systems change: the case of forages and livestock production in Laos. Agriculture and Human Values. 27: 213–225
Photakoun, V., Millar, J., & Race, D. (2010) Evaluating capacity building methods to strengthen livestock extension outcomes in Laos. Extension Farming Systems Journal 5 (2) 91-100
2009
Millar, J., (2009) Adapting extension approaches to cultural environments in South East Asia: experiences from Laos and Indonesia. Extension Farming Systems Journal 5 (1): 143-148
Millar, J., & Photakoun, V., (2008) Livestock development and poverty alleviation: revolution or evolution for upland livelihoods in Lao PDR? International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability 6(1) 89–102
Alexander, K., Millar, J., & Lipscombe, N., (2009) Sustainable Development in the Uplands of Lao PDR Sustainable Development
Race, D., Stewart, H., Sumirat, B. et al. (2009) Partnerships for involving small-scale growers in commercial forestry: lessons from Australia and Indonesia. International Forestry Review ,Vol.11(1): 88-97
Sharma, K. (2009) Labour standards and WTO rules survey of the issues with reference of South Asia, Journal of Economic Issues, Vol. XLIII (1),
Stelling, A., Millar, J., Phengsavanh, P., & Stur. W., (2009) Establishing learning alliances between extension organisations: Key learnings from Laos. Extension Farming Systems Journal 5 (1): 43-52.
Morrissey, O., Lopez, R., & Sharma, K. (Eds.) (2015) Handbook on Trade and Development. Cheltenham, UK: Edward Elgar Publishing
Black, R. & Brickar, K.S. (2015) Adventure Programming and Travel for the 21st Century. Venture Publishing
Weiler, B. & Black, R. (2014) Tour Guiding Research: Insights, Issues and Implications, Channel View Publications
Pawar, M. (2014) Social work practice with local communities in developing countries: Imperatives for political engagement. SAGE Open, ,4(2). DOI: 10.1177/2158244014538640 http://sgo.sagepub.com/content/spsgo/4/2/2158244014538640.full.pdf
Bricker, K. S. Black, R. and Cottrell, S. (eds.) (2013) Sustainable Tourism and the Millennium Development Goals: Effecting Change. Jones & Bartlett Learning, Burlington, MA.
Bricker, K.S.; Black, R. and Cottrell, S. (2012) Sustainable Tourism and the Millennium Development Goals: Effecting Change. Jones & Bartlett Learning, Burlington, MA.
Cobbinah, P.B., Thwaites, R, Black, R. (2015). Ecotourism as a Mechanism for Achieving a Green Economy in Developing Countries: Experiences from Ghana. In: Reddy, M. V. and Wilkes, K. (Eds.) Tourism in the green economy. Routledge.
Pawar, M. (2013). International Community Practice: Local-Global issues and strategies. In Marie, Weil, Michael Reisch and Mary Ohmer, Handbook of Community Practice. California: Sage.
Bricker, K.S., Cottrell, S. & Black, R. (2012) An introduction to tourism and the millennium development goals in Bricker, K. S.; Black, R. and Cottrell, S. (2012) Sustainable Tourism and the Millennium Development Goals: Effecting Change. Jones & Bartlett Learning, Burlington, MA.
Bricker, K.S., Cottrell, S. & Black, R. (2012) An introduction to tourism and the millennium development goals in Bricker, K. S.; Black, R. and Cottrell, S. (2012) Sustainable Tourism and the Millennium Development Goals: Effecting Change. Jones & Bartlett Learning, Burlington, MA.
Black, R. (2012) Partnerships in practice: Ecotourism and sustainable tourism accreditation and certification programs in Bricker, K S.; Black, R. and Cottrell, S. (2012) Sustainable Tourism and the Millennium Development Goals: Effecting Change. Jones & Bartlett Learning, Burlington, MA.
Black, R.S., Bricker, K.S. & Cottrell, S. (2012) Ecotourism and sustainable tourism: Transitioning into the new millennium with future opportunities and challenges in Bricker, K. S.; Black, R. and Cottrell, S. (2012) Sustainable Tourism and the Millennium Development Goals: Effecting Change. Jones & Bartlett Learning, Burlington, MA.
Baumgartner, L. et al (2017) Sustainable Fisheries and Irrigation Expansion in Lao PDR, ACIAR Policy Brief
Millar, J. (2015) Socioeconomic research pre and post fishway development in Lao PDR. Final report to ACIAR FIS/2009/041
Ward, W., Millar, J., Southwell, A. (2013) The role of communication between scientists involved in agricultural development in South East Asia ILWS Report 69
Amoateng, P. (2015). Urbanisation and the loss of inland water systems: evidence from Kumasi, Ghana. Paper presented at New Zealand Freshwater Society (NZFS) and Australian Society of Limnology Conference, Nov 23-26, Wellington, New Zealand.
Poudel, M., Thwaites, R., Race, D., Dahal, G.R. (2013) Analysing REDD+ in Community Forestry: Has it Been Experienced Differentially at Different Households? IASC2013 Abstracts: the 14th Global Conference of the International Association for the Study of the Commons, IASC, Japan.
International visitors to ILWS during 2013 -2014 included:
Dr Tashi Samdup, Director of the Council for Research on Renewable Natural Resources, Bhutan and co-supervisor of two ILWS PhD students, Kuenga Namgay and Karma Tenzing. From that linkage, a collaborative research and capacity building plan has been developed which has resulted in delivery of training on social research methods in Bhutan, and a grant application to the Darwin Initiative for a Community Rangeland Care project.
Two international researchers Dr Mardiana Fachry, Senior Lecturer in Socioeconomics of Fisheries from Hasanuddin University, Indonesia, and Dr Malavan Chittavong, Faculty of Agriculture, National University of Laos. Both are working with Dr Joanne Millar on ACIAR funded projects in their respective countries.
2016
Dr Joanne Millar contributes to Fish Conservation Monitoring Workshop in Laos
Dr Joanne Millar attended a workshop in Vientiane from 7-8 November 2016 on the invitation of FISHBIO, a US company that conducts research and development on fisheries. They are developing a guidebook on how to monitor effectiveness of fish conservation zones in the Mekong region. Participants identified suitable indicators (social, ecological and governance) to measure, and methods that would be appropriate for local communities. Dr Millar contributed her expertise with using social and cultural indicators to evaluate fisheries interventions based on her experience with research for development projects in Laos and Indonesia. Amongst the social indicators workgroup, there was unanimous agreement that people's local knowledge, values, beliefs and wellbeing needed to be monitored alongside the more standard socio-economic indicators which can be influenced by other developments. The guidebook will be tested at a few sites in Laos in 2017 and released in 2018. For more information go to http://fishbio.com/field-notes/the-fish-report/vital-signs-assessing-health-fish-conservation-zones
Fish tagging in Laos
Dr Lee Baumgartner and Honours student Bettina Grieve spent a week in Laos in the beginning of June implanting microchips (PIT tags) into Mekong catfish and barbs as part of a collaborative effort between Charles Sturt University, Living Aquatic Resources Research Centre (Laos), National University of Laos and the Research Institute for Aquaculture (Vietnam.)
Breaking new ground in Laos
The Lao fish migration team (Dr Lee Baumgartner, Jarrod McPherson and Dr Wayne Robinson) facilitated the installation of the first ever fish-friendly irrigation gate in the Lower Mekong Basin on June 24, following four years of targeted research and development. The team worked with an Australian company, AWMA Solutions, to come up with a design that helps alleviate fish welfare issues. Field assessments will be performed to ensure fish are passing downstream successfully. The team are co-investigators in a project led by Dr Craig Boys, Fisheries NSW, "Improving the design of irrigation infrastructure to increase fisheries production in the floodplain wetlands of the Lower Mekong and Murray-Darling Basins."
Workshop in Pakistan
A workshop was held, February 3 to 6, at the University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan as part of a scoping mission to finalise a proposal for the ACIAR funded project Improving groundwater management to enhance agriculture and farming livelihoods in Pakistan. It provided an opportunity for Dr Richard Culas, Associate Professor Catherine Allan , Dr Michael Mitchell and Professor Jay Punthakey (Adjunct) to meet with the project's in-country partners and the ACIAR support team.
2015
Australian Landcare International AGM
Dr Joanne Millar addressed the AGM of the Australian Landcare International committee in Melbourne on 15th November 2015. She presented examples of her research and development work in Laos, Indonesia and Bhutan.
ATSI Crawford Fund 2015
Delivery of social science training courses in October on evaluation of social impacts of agricultural research and development in West Timor and Timor Leste with assistance from Mataram University, West Timor Agricultural Research Institute, Timor Leste Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries and the National University of Timor Leste. Funded by ATSI Crawford Fund ( $25,620)
Protecting red panda habitat and yak herder livelihoods in Bhutan
Dr Joanne Millar and PhD student Karma Tenzing visited the Brokpa community in Bhutan in April to
discuss the problem of yak/cattle numbers which are causing overgrazing,tree lopping and severe gully erosion leading to declining livestock production and loss of biodiversity. A project plan has been developed to fence off gullies, plant native trees and pasture plots, research red panda populations, trial a biogas unit and install fuel efficient stoves. A grant application will be submitted to the Darwin Initiative (a UK funding program focused on biodiversity and poverty alleviation). Partners include the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and WWF Bhutan.
Could Landcare work in West Sumatra?
Dr Joanne Millar, Victoria Mack from The Secretariat for International Landcare (SILC) and Malachy Turpey from Australian Landcare International (ALI) went a scoping trip to West Sumatra in March to investigate land degradation, farming and community issues there. The visit was hosted by an NGO called Green Indonesia. Three sites were visited to see if the landcare approach could potentially
be applied and what research might be needed.
Human Development and Sustainability
The ILWS partially sponsored an international seminar on Human Development and Sustainability:
Challenges and Strategies for the Asian Century, organised by the Asia-Pacific Branch of the International Consortium for Social Development (ICSDAP) and hosted by the Department of Social Work, Visva-Bharati, Sriniketan, West Bengal, India, January 16-18, 2015. The seminar was co-lead by Professor Manohar Pawar, member of the ILWS and President of the ICSDAP.
2014
SRA leader, Dr Joanne Millar and Mr Horrie Poussard from Australia Landcare International gave a presentation to Yea Wetland Group and Upper Goulburn Landcare Network on the fish passage project in Laos. The Yea group provided funding for planting of 500 trees and grasses on World Environment Day 2014 to stabilise the banks of the new Fish Passage at Pak Peung wetland near the Mekong River.
Associate Professor Rosemary Black provided technical assistance to Birdlife Botswana on environmental education and avitourism. Dr Black also presented a public lecture at the University of Botswana on the role of the tour guide in creating a sustainable tourism industry. The lecture was attended by government policy makers, tour guides, tour operators and the general public.
Current Students | Research Topic |
---|---|
Mei Mei Meilani | Community Eco-tourism in Indonesia |
Vu Vi An (An) Australia Award Scholarship | Fish migration in the Mekong Delta Supervised by Dr Lee Baumgartner, Dr Wayne Robinson, Dr Martin Mallen-Cooper (Fishway Consulting Services) and Professor Ian Cowx (University of Hull, UK) |
PhD and Masters student completions | |
Naveed Aslam | Development of quality control protocols for implementation of smallholder dairy farmers. |
Dr Chaka Chirozva | Power relations in multi-stakeholder engagement for governance of transfrontier conservation areas: the case study of Greater Limpopo Park, Zimbabwe. (2016) |
Dr Patrick Brandful Cobbinah | Towards poverty reduction in developing countries: An analysis of ecotourism implementation in the Kakum Conservation Area, Ghana. (2014) |
Dr Oyunbadam Davaakhwa | Development Strategies and Structural Change: An analysis of Trade Orientation and Foreign Direct Investment in Mongolia. (2013) |
Dr Binod Devkota | Socio-economic outcomes from community forestry in Nepal. (2012) |
Dr Popular Gentle | Equipping poor people for climate change: Can community forestry be a proper adaptation for rural communities in Nepal. (2014) |
Dr Sosheel Godfrey | Traditional milk marketing domestic supply chains and dairy policy environment in Pakistan. (2016) |
Dr Yinru Lei (Ruby) | Human Migration Decision-making in Response to Climate Change-A case study in Shangnan County, China (2015) |
Dr Syed Muhammad Khair | The Efficacy of Groundwater Markets on Agricultural Productivity and Resource Use Sustainability: Evidence from the Upland Balochistan Region of Pakistan.(2014) |
Vijay Kuttapan | Rural to urban migration of tank irrigation communities in South India. (Masters 2015) |
David McGill | Breeding dairy animals in Pakistan: Modifying selection and analysis for a more profitable future. |
Dr Yustina Murdiningrum | The capacity of non-government organisations to be catalysts for community forestry in Indonesia. (2015) |
Dr Umar Musa Mustapha | Impact of Climate Change and Bio-Fuel Production on Agricultural Commodity Price Variability in Nigeria and Niger and Possible Alternative Strategies for Food Production, Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development. (2014) |
Dr Kuenga Namgay | Transhumant agropastoralists in Bhutan. Do they have a place in the 21st century? (2014) |
Dr Eak Rana | REDD+ and ecosystem services trade-offs and synergies in community forests of central Himalaya, Nepal (2016) |
Dr Mohan Poudel | Integrating Climate Change into Community Forestry: assessing and modelling potential livelihood implications of REDD+ in Nepal. (2015) |
Sahibzada Shaffiulah Khan | The development of a simulation model to analyse the productivity and financial viability of dairy farms. |
Muhammad Shoaib Tufail | Development of Village-based forage seed production system for the sustainability of smallholder farmers of Pakistan. |
Michelle Smith | Linking food security and conservation. Capacity and sustainability of enclave villages within Nakai Nam Theun National Protected Area in Lao PDR. (Masters 2014) |
Bugi Sumirat | "Social capital of forest farmer groups in Indonesia." (Masters 2015) |
Dr Karma Tenzing | The role of property rights in high altitude rangeland management in Bhutan (2016) |
Dr Kristiana Tri Wahyudiyati | Forest Community Development: Enhancing corporate social responsibility in Indonesia's forestry sector.(2014) |
Dr Wes Ward | Communication in agricultural development in South East Asia: pathways, problems and possibilities. (2016) |
Dr Lukas Wibowo | Optimising the policy and institutional settings for community-based forestry in Indonesia. (2012) |