Indonesia, EU strengthen cooperation on sustainable forest trade

Photo archive - A forest farmer clears undergrowth on fire-scarred land near Bukit Tigapuluh National Park in Jambi. (ANTARA FOTO/Wahdi Septiawan)

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Indonesian government is seeking to strengthen cooperation with the European Union on environmental sustainability, reaffirming its commitment to sustainable forest management and trade in legally and responsibly sourced forest products.

Director General of Sustainable Forest Management at the Ministry of Forestry Laksmi Wijayanti said Indonesia and the EU explored ways to strengthen partnership during the 11th meeting of the Joint Implementation Committee of the Forest Law Enforcement, Governance, and Trade Voluntary Partnership Agreement (FLEGT-VPA) on August 14.

She noted in a statement on Monday that the bilateral forum served as an opportunity for Indonesia and the EU to evaluate the cooperation and exchange views on global issues related to trade and forestry regulations.

According to Wijayanti, Indonesia remains committed to strengthening efforts to ensure that forests are managed and utilized sustainably, transparently, and accountably.

“Indonesia is implementing the Legality and Sustainability Verification System (SVLK) and FLEGT-VPA as part of efforts to ensure the legality and traceability of forest products while providing certainty for international markets,” she said.

The official underscored the importance of intensifying dialogue between Indonesia and the EU to align perspectives and build a common understanding of market developments, particularly those related to the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR).

“Through this committee meeting, we expect to strengthen technical communication and cooperation between Indonesia and the European Union, enabling trade and sustainability policies to advance hand in hand while benefiting Indonesian businesses, communities, and forest managers,” she said.

EU Ambassador to Indonesia and Brunei Darussalam Denis Chaibi stressed that the FLEGT-VPA remains relevant amid the implementation of the EUDR, noting that forest products with a FLEGT license are recognized under the regulation's legality requirements.

He also expressed support for Indonesian exporters in their access to the European market through the FLEGT mechanism