Putera is a forester by training and graduated from Gadjah Mada University. He then received his Master and PhD degrees from Michigan State University, USA, in 1990 and 1995 respectively. He is currently Senior Adviser to Minister of Forestry on Economic Affairs and International Trade. In addition, he is also the Acting Director General of Indonesia’s Forestry Research and Development Agency (FORDA), which also makes him an ex-officio member of CIFOR Board of Trustees and an ASOF (ASEAN Senior Officer on Forestry) Leader for Indonesia.