Bob Fisher

Dr Bob Fisher is a Senior Research Fellow at the University of the Sunshine Coast (UniSC), specializing in social science research and PhD supervision related to Project Tarsier. His work focuses on community forestry, natural resource management, and poverty reduction in Asia-Pacific regions. Fisher holds a PhD in Anthropology (Sydney University) and a BA (Sydney University), with over 35 years of experience in Nepal, India, Mongolia, and other countries. He previously served as Deputy Director of the Regional Community Forestry Center for Asia-Pacific (RECOFTC) and as an advisor to IUCN on land tenure and conservation.

His research emphasizes the intersection of forest governance, Indigenous rights, and socio-economic dynamics. Key areas include community forestry’s role in biodiversity conservation, climate adaptation, and the impact of migration and remittance economies on resource management. He has contributed to landmark publications on Nepal’s community forestry model, adaptive collaborative management frameworks, and case studies in Thailand and the Philippines.

Advising and grants: Supervises PhD students on Project Tarsier, with extensive consultancy work for international organizations. His affiliations include the Forest Research Institute and Tropical Forests and People Research Centre at UniSC.

Labs/Teams: Active at the Forest Research Institute, collaborating on global conservation initiatives and participatory resource management strategies.