ACIAR funds collaborative forestry research in Asia across four thematic areas - tree growing, sustainable forest management, efficient and sustainable forest industries, and climate change mitigation and adaptation - with a main focus on smallholder livelihoods, germplasm, agroforestry, plantations, pests and diseases, value-adding processing, and non-timber forest products. ACIAR has assisted forestry research in Vietnam, Indonesia, Laos, China, and Nepal, building research capacity and generating high returns, with research in Vietnam achieving a 32% internal rate of return and 79:1 benefit-cost ratio, and research in Indonesia achieving a 54% internal rate of return and 322:1 benefit-

1. ACIAR’s contributions to
forestry research in Asia
Tony Bartlett -Forestry Research Program Manager
Funding collaborative research - to enhance
sustainable forestry contributions to economic
development and rural livelihoods
4 Thematic Areas for research:
► Tree Growing
► Sustainable Forest Management
► Efficient and Sustainable Forest Industries
► Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation
Main focus of research is on smallholder
livelihoods, germplasm, agroforestry, plantations,
pests and diseases, value-adding processing, and
non-timber forest products

2. ACIAR
Investing in Forestry Research
• Australia has assisted Vietnam, Indonesia, Laos, China, Nepal
• Building research capacity in partner countries
• In Vietnam, research on improved genetics, silviculture and
utilisation generated IRR of 32% and BCR of 79:1
• In Indonesia, research on improved genetics, management
and generated IRR of 54% and BCR of 322:1
• Research is needed all along the forestry value chain
• Getting research results to farmers, companies and policy
makers is on ongoing challenge;
Forestry science is a good investment
with large scale adoption improving
the lives of millions of farmers