Introduction to High Conservation Values (HCVs)

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• Introduction to High Conservation Values (HCVs)
• A tool for managing critical values within
  production landscapes
• World Forestry Congress, Buenos Aires 2009

Dr Christopher Stewart HCV Resource Network
christopher_at_hcvnetwork.org
www.hcvnetwork.org
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What is the High Conservation Value framework?

• A set of explicit criteria (the six HCVs)
• An assessment process for conservation priorities
• A management decision tool
• A key component of major sustainability standards

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History

• Devised by Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) in
  1999
• Alternative to circular debate about defining
  primary forest, old-growth forest,
  well-developed forest
• Focuses on exceptional values and how to maintain
  them
• Toolkit developed by ProForest in 2003
• Very widely adopted in other schemes
• Now entering a critical phase of testing in
  non-forest and agricultural contexts

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Definitions

• High Conservation Value (HCV) a biological,
  ecological, social or cultural value of
  outstanding significance or critical importance
  at the national, regional or global scale.
• HCV Forest or Area
• An area which possesses one or more HCV
  attributes (1 or more of the 6 values)
• and
• The area that needs to be appropriately managed
  to maintain or enhance HCVs (HCV management area)

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The six High Conservation Values (I)
Biodiversity HCV1 - Significant concentrations
of biodiversity values (RTE species, endemics,
migratory etc).
Landscapes HCV2 Large, landscape level
forests/areas where most species exist in natural
patterns of distribution and abundance.

• Ecosystems
• HCV3 - Rare, threatened or endangered ecosystems.

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The six High Conservation Values (II)

• Ecosystem services
• HCV4 - Basic ecosystem services in critical
  situations.
• Livelihoods
• HCV 5 - Basic needs of local communities.
• Cultural identity
• HCV6 - Local communities traditional cultural
  identity

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The HCV process
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Major processes using HCV

• Active commodity certification schemes
• FSC, MTCC, RSPO
• Natural resource sustainability standards
• Basel Criteria RTRS (soy), RTFO, RSB, Cramer
  Principles (Biofuels)
• Climate Carbon and Biodiversity Alliance, CCBA,
  Carbon)
• Schemes encouraged by EU Renewable Energy
  Directive?
• Purchasing and investment policies
• Many banks, manufacturers, retailers
• National /regional land use planning
• National/regional guidelines (Russia, China,
  Bulgaria, Romania Indonesia)
• NGO national conservation priority mapping (e.g.
  WWF, TNC)

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FSC certificates, Jan 09
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A few organisations with a stake in HCV
not to mention the certified producer
companies!
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HCV Challenges

• Increasing uptake poses challenges
• Consistent and credible use of the concept,
  including national interpretations
• Appropriate tools and methodologies
• Adaptation to non-forest ecosystems
• Training and technical capacity building
• Issues of scale and responsibility
• Safeguards for using HCV
• in a conversion context (including timber and
  pulp plantations and agri-commodities)
• outside of certification

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The HCV Resource Network

• A voluntary association of people and
  organisations using the HCV approach, bound by a
  Charter and its Guiding Principles
• Made up of
• Steering Group
• Technical Panel
• Secretariat
• Participants YOU!

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The HCV Resource Network

• 4 Key Strategic Aims
• Provide a credible central point of reference
• Support development and implementation of the HCV
  concept
• Provide a governance and quality control function
  
• Promote the use of HCV in emerging and potential
  applications

www.hcvnetwork.org
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Challenges for land use planning

• Context massive expansion of commodity crops
  (food fuel)
• Need to minimise adverse environmental and social
  consequences
• Critical areas must be identified prior to any
  clearance
• Consistent assessment process and criteria must
  be applied
• Management of conservation values at landscape
  scale
• Requires industry-focused, practical planning
  toolkit
• High Conservation Value approach has this
  potential

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HCVs and conversion

• The HCV approach can be used with any type of
  land cover (grassland, wetland, forest)
• No conversion where this would adversely impact a
  HCV
• Landscape context critical to decision making
• Need to deliver maps and guidance ahead of the
  expansion frontier
• Challenges include
• Shared and appropriate methodologies
• Consistency of application
• Capacity building

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HCV process at different scales

• At the project or site scale
• Requires that critical values are identified and
  managed
• Ensures they are not harmed or destroyed by
  management operations
• Industry-level responsibility
• At the landscape scale
• Systematic framework for identifying multiple
  conservation benefits
• Provides context for site-level HCV assessments
• Responsibility shared by many stakeholders

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HCV Case Study 1 Defining and mapping endangered
ecosystems (HCV 3) in Indonesia for Palm Oil
planning
Maps courtesy Daemeter Consulting, Bogor,
Indonesia
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RePPProT Land System

• Ecosystem proxy
• geology
• soils
• drainage
• terrain form
• rainfall
• vegetation

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Forest cover
Present
Past
Future
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Ecosystem Distribution
Present
Past
Future
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HCV 3 Rare Endangered Ecosystems
Current (gt50 ?)
Plus Future (gt75 ? )
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Outcomes of project

• Rigorous and transparent approach
• Used government data
• Driven by companys need for RSPO certification
• Basis for a powerful, fact-based argument on the
  high conservation value of small patches of
  remaining forest
• Part basis for a holistic landscape management
  plan

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HCV Case Study 2 Defining and managing critical
livelihood resources (HCV 5) in Komi Republic,
Russia
Maps courtesy Silver Taiga Project, Russia
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• Priluszky Leskhoz - Model Forest for SFM (800,000
  Ha)
• State- and NGO-driven initiative for FSC
  certification
• Pioneered interpretation and management of HCVs
  in Russian forests

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• Areas critical for subsistence (HCV5) identified
  through public hearings
• Komi Main Directorate of Natural Resources grants
  legal status to
• - Consultation process
• - NTFP collection areas in State Forests

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Case Study 3 Integrated forest management in a
massive concession in Congo-Brazzaville
Maps courtesy IFO, Danzer Group GMBH, Congo
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(1) UFA Unité Forestière dAménagement
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Production areas 69

• Strict Protection areas 19
• Swamp forests

Regenerating macaranga forests

• Conservation areas (no logging) 8
• Sangha river riparian forests and flooded forests

• Dry-land dense forest islands between Djoubou and
  Ebangui
• Conservation of fishing and hunting resources,
  cultural sites and riparian ecosystems of Lengué

• Communauty forests 4
• Ngombé town and other villages

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1. Zoning for conservation and production
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2 - RIL techniques, community initiatives and
poaching control
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Conclusions

• HCV is a powerful tool for bringing together
  stakeholders
• Solutions based on science, traditional
  knowledge, transparent stakeholder negotiations
  and consent
• A system in evolution
• Requires safeguards to be in place

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Safeguards

• HCV is a decision-making framework, not a
  stand-alone guarantee of sustainability
• Precautionary approach
• Legality, secure land tenure and consent
• Special consideration of conversion issues
• Consideration of non-HCV values through good
  management
• Requires governance and monitoring

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• To find out more and to join our Network
• www.hcvnetwork.org