Associate Professor Grahame Applegate is a forestry specialist at the University of the Sunshine Coast (UniSC), Queensland, Australia. He holds roles as Deputy Coordinator of Project Tarsier and Team Leader of Reforestation & HSSE within the Forest Research Institute. With over 40 years of experience, his expertise spans tropical forest management, peatland restoration, and community-driven initiatives in Asia and the Pacific. Applegate's work includes large-scale REDD+ projects, fire management strategies, and carbon sequestration research in Indonesia and the Philippines. Education: M.Nat Res from the University of New England (UNE) B.Sc For. from the Australian National University (ANU) Research focuses on tropical rainforest ecology, peatland rehabilitation, and smallholder forestry. His projects emphasize sustainable practices such as agroforestry business models for peatlands and community-based carbon initiatives. Key contributions include methodologies for GHG emissions estimation in peat swamp forests and silvicultural criteria for tropical reforestation. Recent publications analyze biomass dynamics in spotted gum plantations and fire behavior in peatlands. His work bridges ecological science with policy, addressing challenges in informal forestry markets and governance frameworks. Applegate leads interdisciplinary teams in projects like Project Tarsier, integrating health, safety, and environmental stewardship.
