Overview
ACIAR has supported sandalwood research activities in Vanuatu in close collaboration with the Vanuatu Department of Forests since 2002. This impact assessment focuses on two major ACIAR projects on sandalwood genetics and plantation management. It analyses the situation around 7 years prior to harvest of the first significant volumes of plantation-grown sandalwood, arising from the projects.
This publication reports that the overall impact of the ACIAR investment is positive, with a benefit:cost ratio of 5.7:1. The study also found that the research projects have had a clear, positive and enduring impact on institutional capacity and smallholder capacity.
