Indonesia, Australia deepen sustainable forestry cooperation
Photo caption: Indonesian and Australian delegations hold a discussion on the sidelines of the 30th APEC Experts Group on Illegal Logging and Associated Trade (EGILAT) Meeting in Shenzhen, China, on Wednesday (July 28, 2026).
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesia and Australia agreed to strengthen forestry cooperation, focusing on timber legality and sustainable forest-product trade while protecting forest ecosystems, the Indonesian Forestry Ministry said Friday.
Delegations from both countries discussed the cooperation on the sidelines of the 30th APEC Experts Group on Illegal Logging and Associated Trade meeting in Shenzhen, China, earlier this week.
“Indonesia and Australia share interests in ensuring forest-product trade is legal and sustainable while delivering benefits to both countries,” said Krisdianto, a Forestry Ministry director.
Stronger bilateral cooperation would help the countries improve forest governance and build mutual trust in forest products moving through international trade, Krisdianto said.
He said reaffirming the shared vision with Australia supports Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni’s directive to expand international cooperation for transparent, accountable and sustainable forest management.
“We hope this cooperation will benefit both countries and strengthen sustainable forest management and legal forest-product trade across the Asia-Pacific region,” Krisdianto said.
Indonesia is committed to expanding partnerships that improve forest-product legality and traceability, widen market access for sustainably sourced products, benefit local communities and strengthen forest protection, he said.
The two countries also reviewed ongoing joint forestry initiatives, including the Australia-Indonesia Working Group on Forestry, during the Shenzhen meeting.
They explored deeper cooperation in sustainable forest management, forest protection and law enforcement, human-resource development and multilateral forums, according to the ministry.
Indonesia and Australia could also expand cooperation to sustainable management of coastal ecosystems, Krisdianto said.
Indonesia highlighted its plan to develop the World Mangrove Center as a global platform for research, knowledge exchange, capacity building and international cooperation on mangrove conservation and sustainable management.
