August group update
Prof. John Herbohn attended the 2nd Asia-Pacific Rainforest Summit held in Brunei Darussalam between August 3-5, 2016 and speaks about community forestry in Australia. The 2016 Asia-Pacific Rainforest Summit in Bandar Seri Begawan brought together governments, private sector executives, leading practitioners from non-government organizations and world-class researchers to exchange knowledge and highlight leading practices to slow, halt and reverse deforestation in the Asia-Pacific region. The 2016 Summit built on the inaugural Summit that was held in Sydney, Australia, in November 2014. The program was hosted by the Government of Brunei Darussalam and supported by the Australian Government. [SAM / August 2016] |
July 2016 trip update in North Queensland
This year’s group trip to NQ was a fantastic success. Everyone learnt some new skills or refined existing ones. The group collected some excellent new data – the next challenge is to turn this into some group publications. The group also made further progress on the longer term objective of re-establishing the plot network – which will be a legacy for future forestry researchers. The trip also was a great opportunity for all to get together in one place and share some great experiences – both in the field and at night.
[JH/ July 28, 2016]
This year’s group trip to NQ was a fantastic success. Everyone learnt some new skills or refined existing ones. The group collected some excellent new data – the next challenge is to turn this into some group publications. The group also made further progress on the longer term objective of re-establishing the plot network – which will be a legacy for future forestry researchers. The trip also was a great opportunity for all to get together in one place and share some great experiences – both in the field and at night.
[JH/ July 28, 2016]
June group update
The new ‘Tropical Forests and People Research Centre’ has now formally announced by the Pro Vice-Chancellor for Research at University of the Sunshine Coast. This Centre will work closely with the Forest Industries Research Centre led by Mark Brown which will give a very strong ‘forestry’ research focus at USC and hopefully lead to the establishment of a Forestry Institute in the not too distant future.
The new centre will hopefully provide an excellent umbrella for all of us to continue and expand on our current collaborations. In the near future I hope that as many of us a possible will be able to get together for our first centre meeting. One of the first priorities will also be to set up a website to promote our activities.
Thanks to those of you who provided support and information for the application. I’m really excited about the opportunities that the new centre offers and look forward to working as part of the great group of people we have brought together!
[ JH / June 1, 2015 ]
The new ‘Tropical Forests and People Research Centre’ has now formally announced by the Pro Vice-Chancellor for Research at University of the Sunshine Coast. This Centre will work closely with the Forest Industries Research Centre led by Mark Brown which will give a very strong ‘forestry’ research focus at USC and hopefully lead to the establishment of a Forestry Institute in the not too distant future.
The new centre will hopefully provide an excellent umbrella for all of us to continue and expand on our current collaborations. In the near future I hope that as many of us a possible will be able to get together for our first centre meeting. One of the first priorities will also be to set up a website to promote our activities.
Thanks to those of you who provided support and information for the application. I’m really excited about the opportunities that the new centre offers and look forward to working as part of the great group of people we have brought together!
[ JH / June 1, 2015 ]
April group updates
We are delighted to share some recent achievements of our group:
Jing, Jarrah and Sohel were all successful in their grant applications to the Wet Tropics Management Authority for various research related to the long term permanent plot network in North Queensland. Congratulations – you are all now have a 1 from 1 (100%) success rate with grant applications!
Grahame Applegate has been appointed to the Board of Directors of the Asia-Pacific Network for Sustainable Forest Management (http://www.apfnet.cn) and is currently in China attending the first meeting.
Mark Annadale has been appointed as the Forest Stewardship Council as a Social Chamber representative member, to bring experience and expertise regarding Indigenous issues in forestry, for the development of the Forest Stewardship Council Australia (FSC) Australian National Forestry Standard
Nestor Gregorio and John Herbohn have been invited to a IUCN workshop in Washington DC from 5 to 8 May to present our group’s work on reforestation and food security in the Philippines. It was one of only 8 papers accepted out of 117 submissions (see attached) and will form part of a IUCN publication on reforestation and food security. Thanks to Robin Chazdon for bringing this opportunity to the attention of members of the PARTNERS network!
Nestor Gregorio, John Herbohn, Steve Harrison and Carl Smith just published a paper in Land Use Policy based on the work our group has been doing on improving the effectiveness of the tree nursery sector in the Philippines. Congratulations to Nestor on a great paper in a very good journal. To access the paper please follow the link.
[ JH / April 8, 2015 ]
We are delighted to share some recent achievements of our group:
Jing, Jarrah and Sohel were all successful in their grant applications to the Wet Tropics Management Authority for various research related to the long term permanent plot network in North Queensland. Congratulations – you are all now have a 1 from 1 (100%) success rate with grant applications!
Grahame Applegate has been appointed to the Board of Directors of the Asia-Pacific Network for Sustainable Forest Management (http://www.apfnet.cn) and is currently in China attending the first meeting.
Mark Annadale has been appointed as the Forest Stewardship Council as a Social Chamber representative member, to bring experience and expertise regarding Indigenous issues in forestry, for the development of the Forest Stewardship Council Australia (FSC) Australian National Forestry Standard
Nestor Gregorio and John Herbohn have been invited to a IUCN workshop in Washington DC from 5 to 8 May to present our group’s work on reforestation and food security in the Philippines. It was one of only 8 papers accepted out of 117 submissions (see attached) and will form part of a IUCN publication on reforestation and food security. Thanks to Robin Chazdon for bringing this opportunity to the attention of members of the PARTNERS network!
Nestor Gregorio, John Herbohn, Steve Harrison and Carl Smith just published a paper in Land Use Policy based on the work our group has been doing on improving the effectiveness of the tree nursery sector in the Philippines. Congratulations to Nestor on a great paper in a very good journal. To access the paper please follow the link.
[ JH / April 8, 2015 ]
2015 IUFRO Small-scale Forestry Conference
Small-scale and Community Forestry and the Changing Nature of Forest Landcsapes
11-15 October 2015, Sunshine Coast, Queensland
The conference will explores the important role that small-scale and community plays in afforestation and reforestation of rural landscapes. It will bring together researchers with an interest in small-scale and community forestry with a focus of understanding the issues associated with ecological, institutional and anthropogenic factors that influence the way forests and forests landscapes evolve and are managed. Further details can be found on the conference website: http://www.smallscaleforestry.org/
Call for papers
The first call for papers has opened and closes on 6 March. Abstracts should include a paper title, details of authors and their affiliations. The abstract should be no more than 150 words and indicate whether they are to be considered for oral or poster presentation. Abstracts should be submitted via the on line submission facility http://www.smallscaleforestry.org/call-for-papers.html
Presentation slots are limited and there are likely to be more papers submitted than slots available. A further call for papers will be made in early April, with additional papers accepted subject to remaining available presentation slots. Papers not accepted for oral presentation will be accepted for poster presentation. Potential presentation topics include, but not limited to:
Papers from both oral and poster presentations will be eligible for inclusion in the conference proceedings.
Due by: 6 March, 2015
Download 2015 Small-scale Forestry Conference Call for Papers PDF
The conference will explores the important role that small-scale and community plays in afforestation and reforestation of rural landscapes. It will bring together researchers with an interest in small-scale and community forestry with a focus of understanding the issues associated with ecological, institutional and anthropogenic factors that influence the way forests and forests landscapes evolve and are managed. Further details can be found on the conference website: http://www.smallscaleforestry.org/
Call for papers
The first call for papers has opened and closes on 6 March. Abstracts should include a paper title, details of authors and their affiliations. The abstract should be no more than 150 words and indicate whether they are to be considered for oral or poster presentation. Abstracts should be submitted via the on line submission facility http://www.smallscaleforestry.org/call-for-papers.html
Presentation slots are limited and there are likely to be more papers submitted than slots available. A further call for papers will be made in early April, with additional papers accepted subject to remaining available presentation slots. Papers not accepted for oral presentation will be accepted for poster presentation. Potential presentation topics include, but not limited to:
- Agroforestry & non-timber forest products
- Changing demographics & land tenure
- Community forestry
- Cross-boundary cooperation
- Education & communications
- Forest management
- Forest markets
- Forest policy & economics
- Landowner attitudes, practices & perceptions
- Landscape change, urbanization & parcellation
Papers from both oral and poster presentations will be eligible for inclusion in the conference proceedings.
Due by: 6 March, 2015
Download 2015 Small-scale Forestry Conference Call for Papers PDF
Kangaroo's at USC campus - our common companions !
|
January group meeting at University of Sunshine Coast
Tropical Forestry Research Group members reunite again on January 20 at USC campus. Group members welcomes new member Mr. Will Unsworth (from UK) who will begin his PhD project shortly within the PNG Community Forestry project. Meeting agendas were: updates on the new Forests and People Centre within USC, IUFRO Small-scale Forestry Conference organization (to be hosted by the group between 11-15 Oct, 2015), updates on north Queensland's rain-forests data, data analysis and possible grant applications to facilitate future research there. Hon'ble Pro-vice Chancellor (Research), USC - Prof. Roland De Marco also joined the meeting and share his plans and strategies to expand research capacity and excellency at USC. [SAM / Jan 30, 2015] |
Reaching to a broader scientific community !
Tropical Forestry Research Group website recently got featured by renowned Prof. Robin Chazdon (U Connecticut), the acting executive director of the Association of Tropical Biology and Conservation (ATBC) in PARTNER's (People and Reforestation in the Tropics) facebook platform. Following her share in social media, on the following three days the group's website has been accessed by more than 100 unique visitors from across the world with more than 600 hits in different pages! Follow the story on facebook here. [SAM / Jan 8, 2015] |
November rainforest retreat and fieldwork in far north Queensland
Tropical Forestry Group members participated in a two weeks extensive fieldwork exercise in the Wet Tropics Rainforest area in far north Queensland in the last two weeks of November. Prof. Jerry Vanclay (SCU) and Dr. Robert Congdon and wife (JCU) accompanied the team members and helped in developing protocols for the forthcoming surveys in the area. The area has been measured and monitored regularly since 1948 by the Queensland Forest Department and abandoned on late 1990's immediately after designating the area as a UNESCO World Heritage site. One of the main objective of this tour was to resurrecting the old plots that has been monitored for long and rarely been published, with additional objective of giving new PhD students with an opportunity to develop their fieldwork skills.
In the photo (from left behind): Ms. Liz Ota, Ms. Hu Jing, Mr. Shawkat Sohel,
Prof. John Herbohn, Mr. Sharif Mukul, Mr. Jarrah Wills and Dr. Jack Baynes. [SAM / Dec 2, 2014]
Tropical Forestry Group members participated in a two weeks extensive fieldwork exercise in the Wet Tropics Rainforest area in far north Queensland in the last two weeks of November. Prof. Jerry Vanclay (SCU) and Dr. Robert Congdon and wife (JCU) accompanied the team members and helped in developing protocols for the forthcoming surveys in the area. The area has been measured and monitored regularly since 1948 by the Queensland Forest Department and abandoned on late 1990's immediately after designating the area as a UNESCO World Heritage site. One of the main objective of this tour was to resurrecting the old plots that has been monitored for long and rarely been published, with additional objective of giving new PhD students with an opportunity to develop their fieldwork skills.
In the photo (from left behind): Ms. Liz Ota, Ms. Hu Jing, Mr. Shawkat Sohel,
Prof. John Herbohn, Mr. Sharif Mukul, Mr. Jarrah Wills and Dr. Jack Baynes. [SAM / Dec 2, 2014]
Lab meeting and field tour at Sunshine Coast
Our October lab meeting was held at University of the Sunshine Coast campus on October 22. Agenda includes ongoing research projects and possibilities and upcoming tour to the north Queensland long term permanent sample plots. Group also welcomes Jing and Liz, two new PhD students from China and Brazil.
Following presentations, discussions and lunch, group members attend a field tour organized by Dr. John Meadows to a typical mixed-species rainforest plantation established by QLD Timber Plantations.
In the photo (from left behind): Dr. Huong Nguyen, Dr. Robert Fisher, Dr. John Meadows, Mr. Sharif Mukul, Dr. David Lamb, Mr. Shawkat Sohel, Dr. Steve Harrison, Ms. Hu Jing, Ms. Liz Ota, Mr. Jarrah Wills, Prof. John Herbohn, Dr. Jack Baynes.
[SAM / Oct 24, 2014]
Our October lab meeting was held at University of the Sunshine Coast campus on October 22. Agenda includes ongoing research projects and possibilities and upcoming tour to the north Queensland long term permanent sample plots. Group also welcomes Jing and Liz, two new PhD students from China and Brazil.
Following presentations, discussions and lunch, group members attend a field tour organized by Dr. John Meadows to a typical mixed-species rainforest plantation established by QLD Timber Plantations.
In the photo (from left behind): Dr. Huong Nguyen, Dr. Robert Fisher, Dr. John Meadows, Mr. Sharif Mukul, Dr. David Lamb, Mr. Shawkat Sohel, Dr. Steve Harrison, Ms. Hu Jing, Ms. Liz Ota, Mr. Jarrah Wills, Prof. John Herbohn, Dr. Jack Baynes.
[SAM / Oct 24, 2014]
Sharif Mukul attended IUFRO 2014 World Congress in Salt Lake City, USA
Sharif Mukul recently attended IUFRO XXIV World Congress held in Salt Lake City to present a talk from his PhD project with title - Biodiversity and ecosystem carbon budget in the upland landscapes following shifting cultivation by small-holder kaingin farmers in the Philippines. He has also received an IUFRO student award for excellence in forest science for the year 2014 which partially covers his attendance in the conference, and participated in a panel discussion with other awardee.
IUFRO 2014 congress took place between October 5-11 and had more than 2500 participants from across the world. The next congress will be held in Brazil on 2019. More about the conference can be found here: http://iufro2014.com/
Download Mukul's presentation here.
More about Mukul's PhD project can be found here.
Sharif Mukul recently attended IUFRO XXIV World Congress held in Salt Lake City to present a talk from his PhD project with title - Biodiversity and ecosystem carbon budget in the upland landscapes following shifting cultivation by small-holder kaingin farmers in the Philippines. He has also received an IUFRO student award for excellence in forest science for the year 2014 which partially covers his attendance in the conference, and participated in a panel discussion with other awardee.
IUFRO 2014 congress took place between October 5-11 and had more than 2500 participants from across the world. The next congress will be held in Brazil on 2019. More about the conference can be found here: http://iufro2014.com/
Download Mukul's presentation here.
More about Mukul's PhD project can be found here.
Dr. Huong Nguyen published in Forest Ecology and Management journal
Congratulations to Dr. Huong for publishing her latest paper in Forest Ecology and Management journal with title - Wood density: A tool to find complementary species for the design of mixed species plantations.
In her paper Dr. Huong investigates whether wood density can be a useful and readily accessible trait for choosing complementary species for mixed species plantations.
Dr. Huong's paper can be accessed here.
[SAM / Sept 25, 2014]
Congratulations to Dr. Huong for publishing her latest paper in Forest Ecology and Management journal with title - Wood density: A tool to find complementary species for the design of mixed species plantations.
In her paper Dr. Huong investigates whether wood density can be a useful and readily accessible trait for choosing complementary species for mixed species plantations.
Dr. Huong's paper can be accessed here.
[SAM / Sept 25, 2014]