Enviro News Asia, Shenzhen – Indonesia and Australia have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation in forestry, focusing on timber legality, sustainable forest products trade, and sustainable forest management. The commitment was discussed during a bilateral meeting held on the sidelines of the 30th APEC Experts Group on Illegal Logging and Associated Trade (EGILAT) Meeting in Shenzhen, China, on July 29.
The Indonesian delegation was led by Krisdianto, Director of Forest Product Revenue and Administration at Indonesia’s Ministry of Forestry, while the Australian delegation was headed by Guy Bursle, Assistant Secretary of the Agvet Chemicals and Forestry Branch at the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF).
During the meeting, both countries reaffirmed their shared interest in ensuring that forest products are traded legally, sustainably, and in ways that generate mutual economic benefits. Krisdianto emphasized that closer collaboration would further strengthen forest governance while enhancing international confidence in legally sourced forest products.
The bilateral discussion aligns with Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni’s policy direction to expand international forestry cooperation in support of transparent, accountable, and sustainable forest governance. Indonesia continues to promote higher standards of timber legality and traceability, broader market access for sustainable forest products, and partnerships that benefit local communities while supporting forest conservation.
Officials also reviewed progress in implementing the Cooperation Arrangement on Forestry signed in 2025, which serves as the foundation for Indonesia–Australia forestry collaboration through the Australia–Indonesia Working Group on Forestry. Indonesia welcomed the successful inaugural Working Group meeting in January 2026, where both countries discussed forestry policies, timber legality systems, international forest product trade regulations, the development of Country Specific Guidelines (CSG), and opportunities for cooperation in international forestry forums.
A key topic of discussion was the completion of the Indonesia–Australia Country Specific Guidelines, which are expected to facilitate more efficient bilateral timber trade while maintaining strict standards for legality and product traceability.
The two countries further explored opportunities to expand cooperation in sustainable forest management, forest protection and law enforcement, human resource capacity development, and collaboration within international organizations, including the International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO), the United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF), and the Committee on Forestry (COFO).
Indonesia also introduced the development of the World Mangrove Center (WMC), a global platform designed to promote research, knowledge exchange, capacity building, and international collaboration on sustainable mangrove conservation and management. Australia was invited to participate through joint research initiatives, scientific innovation, technical exchanges, and capacity-building programs for coastal ecosystem management.
Krisdianto noted that the Indonesia–Australia partnership offers significant opportunities for further expansion and expressed hope that the collaboration would contribute not only to the two countries but also to stronger sustainable forest management and legal forest product trade across the Asia-Pacific region.
Both governments concluded the meeting by committing to intensify policy dialogue, technical cooperation, and knowledge sharing to strengthen sustainable forest governance. The enhanced partnership is expected to facilitate legal forest product trade while reinforcing Indonesia’s and Australia’s contributions to sustainable forest management throughout the Asia-Pacific. (*)
