RRI.CO.ID, Bandung - The Ministry of Forestry improves human resource capacity in the fields of public diplomacy and international negotiation to bolster Indonesia's leadership in global forest governance. This step is taken to expand global recognition of various Indonesian sustainable forest management practices while also supporting efforts to address climate change, conserve biodiversity, and promote green economic development.

The commitment was realized thru the organization of the Public Diplomacy and Negotiation Training in Bandung on August 4-5, 2026. The training organized by the Ministry of Forestry in collaboration with the Multistakeholder Forestry Program Phase 5 (MFP5) was supported by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) and Gadjah Mada University (UGM), and attended by representatives from several ministries and agencies to strengthen strategic communication and negotiation capacities in international forestry and trade forums.

The Head of the Public Relations and International Cooperation Bureau of the Ministry of Forestry, Ristianto Pribadi, said that modern diplomacy no longer relies solely on negotiation skills, but also on the ability to build public and international partners' trust in Indonesia's commitment to sustainable forest management.

"Trust is the most valuable currency in diplomacy," Ristianto said.

He added that Indonesia has strong capital to emerge as a global reference in forest management, starting from the world's third-largest tropical forest, the largest mangrove area, to its rich biodiversity. However, these various achievements need to be communicated effectively to gain recognition and trust from the international community.

"Indonesia has vast tropical forests, the largest mangrove forests in the world, an extraordinary wealth of biodiversity, and various best practices in sustainable forest management. However, all these achievements will not have a maximum impact if they cannot be effectively communicated to the world. A good product must be known, trusted, and recommended," he said.

According to the Ministry of Forestry, strengthening public diplomacy aligns with the direction of the Minister of Forestry, Raja Juli Antoni, for Indonesia to act as a solution provider in various global forestry issues. This focus is realized thru the strengthening of international recognition of the Legal and Sustainable Verification System (SVLK+), the development of the International Tropical Peatland Center (ITPC), the establishment of the World Mangrove Center (WMC), and the strengthening of Indonesia's position in the development of high-quality carbon markets.

Thru the strengthening of public diplomacy and international negotiation capacities, the government hopes that state apparatus can convey Indonesia's forestry policies consistently, data-based, and credibly. This effort is expected to expand international partnerships while strengthening Indonesia's position as a global leader in sustainable forest management and achieving global climate targets.