Indonesia trains officials in forestry diplomacy and international trade

Indonesia's Ministry of Forestry is bolstering its international standing by equipping government officials with advanced public diplomacy and negotiation skills. A recent training program, held August 4-5, 2026, in Bandung, focused on enhancing strategic communication for global forestry governance.

The "Public Diplomacy and Negotiation Training (Beginner Cohort)" brought together participants from the Ministry of Forestry, Ministry of Environment and Forestry, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Trade, Ministry of Industry, and the National Development Planning Ministry (Bappenas). The initiative, a collaboration between the Ministry of Forestry and the Multistakeholder Forestry Programme Phase 5 (MFP5), received support from the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) and Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM).

Ristianto Pribadi, Head of the Public Relations and International Cooperation Bureau at the Ministry of Forestry, emphasized that modern diplomacy relies heavily on building trust, calling it "the most valuable currency in diplomacy." He highlighted Indonesia's significant natural assets, including the world's third-largest tropical rainforest, extensive mangrove areas, and high biodiversity. However, he stressed the need for effective communication to gain international recognition for its sustainable forest management achievements.

"Diplomacy is not just about conveying information or winning arguments, but about building public and international trust in Indonesia's commitment to sustainable forest management," Ristianto stated. He urged Indonesian representatives at international forums to deliver consistent, credible, and data-driven messages. The training also focused on four key forestry diplomacy agendas: expanding international recognition for the Timber Legality and Sustainability Verification System (SVLK+), strengthening the International Tropical Peatland Center (ITPC), developing the World Mangrove Center (WMC) as a global collaboration hub, and enhancing Indonesia's position in the High-Quality Carbon Market.