With deep sorrow, we remember the passing of Yana Suryadinata, a conservation practitioner and natural resource management expert who dedicated his life to the protection of forests, biodiversity, and sustainable development in Indonesia.
For more than three decades, Yana Suryadinata was widely recognized for his strong commitment to advancing responsible and sustainable forest management practices. His professional experience covered a broad range of critical areas, including sustainable forest management, REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation), forest certification, High Conservation Value (HCV) assessments, social forestry, biodiversity conservation, and protected area management.
His contributions extended beyond fieldwork into the development of important conservation standards, guidelines, and frameworks that have become key references in Indonesia. Yana served as a technical member of the HCV Network Panel in Oxford, United Kingdom, an expert panel member in the development of the HCV Forest Toolkit (2007–2008), and part of the expert team responsible for developing High Conservation Value forest management guidelines with the RSPO HCV Working Group Indonesia. He also served as a Board Member of HCV Network Indonesia in 2011 and later as a Supervisory Board Member in 2015.
Among colleagues and peers, Yana was known as a humble and thoughtful individual who consistently sought to bridge conservation priorities with community needs and sustainable development goals. His dedication, knowledge, and leadership have left a lasting impact on many individuals and organizations working in forestry, conservation, and natural resource governance across Indonesia.
His passing is a significant loss for Indonesia’s conservation community. Nevertheless, the values, knowledge, and spirit he championed will continue to live on through the initiatives, best practices, and future generations inspired by his life and work.
The family of EcoNusantara extends its deepest respect and gratitude for Yana Suryadinata’s invaluable contributions to forest conservation and Indonesia’s sustainable future.
May he rest in peace, and may his family and loved ones be given strength and comfort during this difficult time.