Dr Sang Phan is a Research Fellow in the Centre for Mined Land Rehabilitation at the Sustainable Minerals Institute at The University of Queensland. Sang is a field ecologist and a community development practitioner specializing in ecosystem assessment, forest and mangrove restoration, and carbon dynamics in forestry and agriculture. His work focuses on sustainable land management, land rehabilitation, and the development of low-emission, community-based solutions.
Currently, Dr Sang Phan leads research on the carbon footprint and advancement of high-tech horticulture systems in protected cultivation structures across Vietnam and Australia. He also spearheads projects on mangrove ecosystem service valuation and REDD+ emission reduction strategies in Southeast Asia.
Sang actively engages with local communities and stakeholders, coordinating development initiatives and delivering training programs to enhance sustainable livelihoods and land-use practices. He employs rigorous survey and analytical methods to assess forest biomass, soil carbon, and ecosystem health, aligning his work with international carbon standards such as VCS, Gold Standard, and Plan Vivo.
Since earning his PhD in Ecology from The University of Queensland in 2009, Sang has worked across Vietnam, Australia, Myanmar, Indonesia, Cambodia, Laos, and Thailand. He has served as a consultant for global organizations including the World Bank, ADB, FAO, GGGI, and WWF.
Researcher biography
Featured Research Activities and Projects
- Carbon footprint assessment and advancement of high-tech horticulture systems in Protected Cultivation Structures (greenhouses)
- Mangrove ecosystem service valuation in the Ayeyarwady Delta (Myanmar) and Indonesia’s new capital city (IKN)
- Restoration of terrestrial forests and mangroves in Vietnam and Myanmar
- Emission reduction from REDD+ activities in northern Vietnam
- Environmental monitoring system for mangrove aquaculture in Cà Mau Province (AQUAM)
- Sustainable forestry and agroforestry, including growth and yield modeling, species selection, and carbon sequestration.
Collaborations and Funding: Sang Phan manages a portfolio of research and development projects and has been involved in projects funded by:
- Landesa Rural Development Institute
- Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) through the Business Partnership Program (BPP) and Aus4Innovation.
- SK Forest, SK Group, South Korea
- The World Bank
- Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI)
- Asia-Pacific Network for Sustainable Forest Management and Rehabilitation (APFNet)
Books and Book Chapters
- Manh Tran, Phan, S., 2016 Forest Restoration in Vietnam – Lesson Learned and New Approaches (In Vietnamese). Agriculture Publishing House, Ha Noi, Vietnam.
- Manh Tran, Phan, S., Huong, N., Trung, N., & Tran, M, 2016. Tree species for forest restoration – local and international knowledges and experiences (In Vietnamese). Agriculture Publishing House, Ha Noi
- Phan, S. 2014. Forest Restoration at Landscape Level in Vietnam in “Forest Landscape Restoration for Asia-Pacific Forests” . Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO).
- Tran, C., Nguyen, S., Phan, S., Nguyen, Q., Chu, Q. & Le, T, 2006. Chapter: “Sustainable Forest Management”. In “Vietnam Forestry Handbook”. 57 pages. Agricultural Publishing House, Ha Noi, Vietnam.
- Phan, S. & Luu, T. 2006. Chapter: “Carbon Sequestration in Forestry”. In “Vietnam Forestry Handbook”. 80 pages. Agricultural Publishing House, Ha Noi, Vietnam.