Through his PhD, Sugeng conducted research on the topic of 'Restoration Planning of Tropical Secondary Forest: Maximizing Outcomes for Carbon, Biodiversity and Socio-economic in context of REDD'.

He focused on the knowledge gaps required in the context of climate change mitigation and the extensive areas of land degradation in tropical countries. Advanced theories and decision support tools from systematic conservation planning were used to create an effective forest rehabilitation plan using spatially explicit data and based on ecological theories of tropical forest succession. This planning system, combined with the potential of the REDD+ scheme, will be used to develop various scenarios for tropical forest rehabilitation with the objective of not only delivering carbon benefits but also delivering socio-economic and biodiversity outcomes.

He submitted in January 2016 and was jointly supervised by Dr. Kerrie Wilson, Professor Hugh Possingham and Dr. Peter Erskine.

Sugeng continues to work closely with CEED researchers, but has now returned to his office at at the Indonesian Institute of Sciences, East Java.

Key Publications

Budiharta, S., Widyatmoko, D., Irawati, Wiriadinata, H., Rugayah, Partomihardjo, T., Ismail, Uji, T., Keim, A. and Wilson, K.A. 2011. The processes that threaten Indonesian plants. Oyrx, 45 (2): 172-179

Budiharta, S. 2010. Floristic composition at biodiversity protection area in Lubuk Kakap, District of Ketapang, West Kalimantan. Biodiversitas, 11 (3): 151-156.

Soejono. 2011. Tree species for water spring ecosystem rehabilitation (Editors: Soejono & Sugeng Budiharta). Purwodadi Botanic Garden, Indonesian Institute of Sciences. Indonesia: Pasuruan.

Soejono, Budiharta, S., Arisoesilaningsih, E. 2011. Developing alternative model for rehabilitation in degraded lowland areas surrounding water spring. Presented in The National Congress of Science. Jakarta, 8-10 November 2011.