Our vision
Around the world forests are central to the lives of billions of people, and they continue to be degraded.
Our vision is to work with communities and local stakeholders who rely on forest resources to improve environmental sustainability, economic viability, and livelihoods through evidence-based policy, supporting the long-term wellbeing of people and the environments they co-exist in.
Our geographic focus is in tropical and subtropical regions, mostly in the Asia–Pacific region. These forest areas are critical for livelihoods of many millions of people and provide critical environmental goods and services such as water, carbon storage and biodiversity.
Our mission rests on four pillars:
1. Excellence in inter- and trans-disciplinary research:
TFAP Team members advance scientific knowledge and participate in a range of capacity-building activities to support improved forest-related decision-making and on-ground actions. Topics are at the intersection of social-ecological systems with due attention to arrangements for natural and cultural resource management and support of local livelihoods.
2. The generation and practical application of new knowledge:
TFAP’s approach involves testing existing tools and mechanisms for change while developing new ways of thinking and doing, reflecting on activities’ implementation through evaluation, monitoring, and continued learning.
3. Broad range of partnerships and collaborations:
TFAP’s activities are fundamentally collaborative and include a wide range of stakeholders across several countries including local communities, governments at various levels, and the private sector.
4. Research, synthesis, integration:
TFAP serves as a hub for discussion of well grounded research and experience and exploration of new ideas on critical topics related to the conservation and development dilemmas faced by tropical forests and people.
Tropical Forests and People Research Centre projects
Re-establishing the permanent plot network in Northern Queensland
We aim to restore some of the long-term rainforest plots that were established 70+ years ago by the Qld Dept of Forestry to study the effects of different forestry and silviculture practices on tree growth.
Health, safety, security and environment (HSSE) agendas in community-based reforestation for carbon
The project's goal is to identify key health and safety risks for community-based reforestation projects in the tropics and effective mitigation measures to protect people and the environment.
Grass management and direct seeding for safe and efficient reforestation of remote areas
This research will help us understand grass-seedling interactions and Imperata cylindrica ecology to maximise labour investment during tree planting and maintenance for improved seedling growth and survival.
Research focus areas
Forest restoration with communities
Through Project Tarsier, we are restoring deforested and degraded landscapes in the Philippines to learn more about implementing reforestation projects in tropical countries.
Forest ecology
To enhance forest management by investigating the biological and environmental interactions that affect the way that forests function.
Tropical silviculture
Research which explores post-logging recruitment of tree biodiversity and the potential role of underplanted seedlings and small scale nurseries for reforestation.
Get involved
Contact us
Our members include social and biophysical scientists with expertise in forest reforestation and rehabilitation, ecology, forest science, silviculture, hydrology, soil science, anthropology, livelihood systems, economics, supply chains, finance and policy.
Collaborations
We collaborate with several research partners who are invaluable to our research.
Research students
We provide exciting and rewarding research opportunities for Higher Degree by Research students, early and mid-career researchers, research fellows and our collaborating partners.