Growing partnership ‘Down Under’: CIFOR-ICRAF signs MoU with Flinders University, Australia

21 August 2025, Australia: In a move set to deepen and broaden the scope and impact of global research on forests and sustainability, the Center for International Forestry Research and World Agroforestry (CIFOR-ICRAF) has entered a new strategic partnership with Flinders University in Adelaide, South Australia.

On 7 August 2025, Robert Nasi, Director General of CIFOR and the Director of Science of CIFOR-ICRAF, visited Flinders’ Bedford Park campus to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the university.

Flinders University is internationally recognized for its work and research excellence in climate adaptation, biodiversity, marine and freshwater systems and ecological restoration. These strengths are shaped by Australia’s unique biodiveristy and diverse ecosystems, Nasi noted.  “This MoU opens the door to an impactful alliance and reinforces CIFOR-ICRAF partnerships in South Australia, a leader in sustainability,” Nasi said.

South Australia, one of the oldest and driest landscapes on Earth, is renowned as a global leader in climate change action. It has cut its emissions by more than half since 2005, achieved negative net emissions from land use and forestry since 2008-2009 and is now on track for 100% net renewable electricity generation by 2027.

“For CIFOR-ICRAF, this agreement signals an increased attention and focus on the region. The organization currently operates in 25 countries,with research spanning over 60 — mainly in Africa, Europe, Asia and Latin America. With this new partnership, the impact of across the Asia-Pacific region will be magnified,” said Nasi. 

Flinders’ Pro Vice-Chancellor for Research Performance and Impact, Vincent Bulone, also acknowledged the MoU’s potential to strengthen the University’s global reach—as well as to foster and broaden beneficial collaboration across shared topics of interest.

“Flinders University and CIFOR-ICRAF share a strong record of long-term collaboration, with global experts from both institutions jointly leading groundbreaking research that has shaped international, regional and national policies on climate change and environmental justice,” Bulone said.

Given CIFOR-ICRAF’s global leadership in forestry and agroforestry science and Flinders’ transdisciplinary research strengths in climate resilience, environmental sustainability and social inclusion, the new partnership holds huge potential to advance these connected—and critical—causes further, Bulone said.

Thuy Pham, professor in public policy at Flinders, highlighted the educational benefits. Her research covers global carbon markets, gender-responsive climate policies, finance and low-emission food systems. She said CIFOR-ICRAF’s decades of work and partnerships in the Global South will allow Flinders to integrate “cutting-edge, real-world experiences” into its teaching—giving students practical opportunities to address global challenges.

“Through this collaboration, students gain invaluable hands-on learning, preparing them to become the next generation of global leaders and innovators in climate, biodiversity and sustainability,” Pham said.

The signing was followed by a research showcase with Flinders experts and a roundtable to align joint priorities and funding pathways. The showcase highlighted the university’s wide-ranging expertise in drought-resilient agriculture, ecological restoration, marine and coastal ecosystems, groundwater systems, climate-smart land-use strategies, artificial intelligence and machine learning, invasive species management and sustainable value chains.

Nasi shared his take on the potential of the partnership to bring about much needed and meaningful global change. “Together, CIFOR-ICRAF and Flinders University will help shape a more sustainable future for communities and the environment, both at the local and global levels,” he said.

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