Pekanbaru, January 30, 2026 — Amidst the increasingly complex challenges of land management and the climate crisis, the need for open, accurate, and easy-to-understand environmental information is becoming increasingly crucial. To address this need, the GREEN for Riau Initiative (G4RI) has initiated steps to strengthen public communication by building collaborations with the media and various stakeholders in Riau Province.
This collaboration was launched through a hybrid public communication meeting and workshop held at the Riau Province Bappeda Office. This event brought together regional government agencies (OPD), media, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), customary institutions, heads of Forest Management Units (KPH), and G4RI partners to discuss the role of public information in supporting the environmental and climate agenda in Riau.
Riau is recognized as a key region in Indonesia's climate agenda. The dynamics of land management in this province not only impact the local environment and communities but also contribute to achieving national climate targets and global commitments. In this context, strong public communication serves as a crucial link between policy, scientific data, and public understanding.
In his remarks, Bambang Arifatmi, Country Coordinator of the UNEP UN-REDD Programme in Indonesia, emphasized the scale and complexity of program management in Riau, which encompasses a vast area and hundreds of villages, necessitating a planned and collaborative communication approach.
“This program covers a vast area and involves many parties, so information dissemination cannot be done in isolation. Therefore, collaboration with the media and various parties is crucial to ensure information reaches the public and supports sustainable public engagement,” he said.
The workshop was designed as a two-way dialogue. The discussion began with a Focus Group Discussion (FGD) facilitated by Green Radio Line, exploring the media's challenges in reporting on environmental issues and the need for information from a public perspective. The session continued with a brainstorming session on key G4RI messages, aimed at developing a shared narrative so that environmental information can be delivered consistently and easily understood.
Strengthening the G4RI and FGRM Information Platforms In addition to discussing communication strategies, the workshop also served as part of an assessment of information system development needs. Participants reviewed a mockup of the G4RI Platform and Feedback and Grievance Redress Mechanism (FGRM) presented by a G4RI Information Systems Expert. The platform is designed to provide program data and information, as well as a public feedback channel regarding environmental management in Riau.
In this session, participants provided input regarding the flow of information presentation, ease of access, and prioritized features deemed essential for the platform's effective use by various user groups. The discussion also highlighted the need for integration with the media so that available information can be translated and disseminated more widely.
Input from this workshop will be used as a basis for refining the public communication strategy and developing the G4RI information system going forward. This approach is aimed at ensuring that information is not only readily available but also usable as a reference by the media, civil society organizations, and the general public.
Through collaboration with the media and various stakeholders, G4RI hopes that strengthening public communication will support broader public involvement in environmental management and the climate agenda in Riau Province, while also encouraging more open and responsive information governance.