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Agroforestry & Rangelands

Agroforestry broadly studies how woody-perennial species in agricultural and pastoral systems can be managed to enhance their productivity and the ecosystem services they provide. This can include activity that is quite different from what is conventionally considered as ‘forestry’. For example, some research projects currently being pursued by this group

• Short-rotation fuelwood production systems in PNG (ACIAR funded)
• Effective irrigation of tea in Sri Lanka
• Genetic risk of agroforestry species (Acacia saligna)
• Impact of livestock and other herbivores on rangeland trees and shrubs.

The ACIAR fuelwood project has 7 participating landholder groups in the highlands and 3 in the region surrounding Port Moresby. This group, the Mt Sinai Bible College community group near Mt Hagen in the Western Highlands are looking forward to planting their multi-purpose, short-rotation, coppicing woodlots from which they will sell fuelwood, charcoal and building poles. They will also experiment with different tree species and spacings to determine the best system for their needs

Researchers: Dr Ian Nuberg, Dr Desmond Coleman

Postgraduate researchers: Mr Shyamantha Bandara, Ms Melisa Millar

Collaborators: Mr Brian Gunn (CSIRO-Ensis), Mr Roy Banka (PNG Forest Research Institute), Prof Janendra De Costa (University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka), Dr Margaret Byrne (DEC-WA)

For information about studying in this field please visit our Student Services page.