Latest

HCV-HCSA Assessor Training Course by the HCV Network (May 2025)

Register to the self-paced online HCV-HCSA Assessor Training Course that will be imparted by the HCV Network Secretariat.

We are hiring a Senior Quality Officer based in Indonesia!

Collaborative Conservation: How Sintang is Building a Sustainable Future

This blog explores how the Sintang District, together with WWF Indonesia, compiled and used landscape data on High Conservation Value (HCV) and High Carbon Stock (HCS) to guide planning and promote joint management for balanced growth and environmental and social protection.

Public statement on appropriate use of HCV screening reports

Upcoming Remark Asia HCV-HCSA Public Training with Licensed Assessor Training Course

RSPO and HCVN to advance High Conservation Value Protection for Sustainable Palm Oil

Join our Refresher Course for Prospective Licensed Assessors

Protegiendo el carácter ambiental y social único del sureste de México con el Enfoque de AVC

Hace dos años, HCVN y FEMEXPALMA firmaron un acuerdo de cooperación para promover prácticas sostenibles de producción de aceite de palma a través de la conservación, el desarrollo de capacidades y la divulgación. Hoy, el involucramiento de los pequeñosproductores se ha vuelto esencial en la protección de los Altos Valores de Conservación.

Protecting southeastern Mexico’s unique environmental and social character using the HCV Approach

Two years ago, HCVN and FEMEXPALMA signed a cooperation agreement to promote sustainable practices in palm oil production through conservation, capacity building, and outreach. Today, the contributions of small-scale producers have become essential in the protection of High Conservation Values.

Débloquer des incitations pour des solutions fondées sur la nature avec les communautés forestières

L'outil Forest Integrity Assessment (FIA) est une approche de liste de contrôle simple et conviviale conçue pour permettre aux gestionnaires de terres et à d'autres non-biologistes d'effectuer des estimations rapides et efficaces de l'état de la biodiversité forestière.

Unlocking incentives for Nature-based Solutions with forest communities

The Forest Integrity Assessment (FIA) tool is a simple and user-friendly checklist approach designed to allow land managers and other non-biologists to carry out quick and effective estimates of the condition of forest biodiversity.

Principles of the HCV Approach: A guide to identify and protect the world’s most unique and significant ecological and social values

The new Principles of the High Conservation Value (HCV) Approach are designed to provide consistency in the use of the HCV Approach across various contexts, geographies, commodities and scales.

New Year, New Reporting Requirements: The ESRS

It’s 2024, and the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS) will now start to affect many businesses in Europe and beyond. Did you know there are ways that information on High Conservation Values - HCVs - could help businesses meet their reporting requirements?

HCV-HCSA Assessor Training Course in Indonesia by Remark Asia

Remark Asia will impart an HCV-HCSA Assessor Training Course in Bogor City, Indonesia in February 2024.

Happy Holidays from the HCVN Secretariat Team!

We are delighted to share with you a message from our Global Director, Belinda Bowling.

A training course on the long-term protection of HCVs through Management and Monitoring

We are looking for a Finance Assistant

The HCV Network Secretariat is recruiting a Finance Assistant. Reporting to the Finance Manager, this position is an exciting opportunity to take on the day-to-day finance function and assist in the financial management of HCVN and help develop, maintain and improve our financial systems and controls in a period of growth.

HCV Screening and TNFD’s LEAP Framework: getting a good start in identifying and managing nature-related risks

Continuous improvement approach for better focus, clarity and efficiency: The 2023 HCV-HCSA Assessment Manual

Newly published HCV-HCSA Assessment Manual

Taking stock of the experience of evaluating over 100 HCV-HCSA assessment reports and with >340 comments received during the three-week public consultation, the HCV-HCSA assessment manual has been updated. Approved by the HCVN Management Committee and the HCSA Executive Committee, it is now published in English, Bahasa Indonesia, and Spanish.

HCV-HCSA for producers Online Course by Proforest

Proforest will impart an online course on the High Conservation Value and High Carbon Stock Approaches for producers in August 2023.

Online HCV-HCSA Assessor Training Course by RemarkAsia

RemarkAsia will be imparting an online HCV-HCSA Assessor training Course for prospective licensed assessors.

2022 Annual Report Highlights

2022 was a busy year for the HCV Network Secretariat. We recruited new employees to support our Landscapes workstream, new training courses were offered, new partnerships and alliances were formed, new tools were trialed, and the Secretariat continued to engage users of the HCV Approach such as financial institutions, commodity producers, and voluntary sustainability standards. Our 2022 Annual Report provides the highlights.

Secretariat Team Retreat 2023

The HCV Network Secretariat team recently gathered for a week-long retreat in the United Kingdom.

Consultation: HCV-HCSA Assessment Manual update

The HCVN is conducting a 15-day public consultation to gather input from interested stakeholders.

HCV-HCSA Assessor Training Course by the HCV Network (May 2023)

An online HCV-HCSA Assessor Training Course will be imparted by the HCV Network Secretariat in May 2023.

In-person HCV Assessor Training Course in Tawau, Malaysia

The HCV Network together with WWF-Malaysia's Sustainable Palm Oil Team and WWF-Singapore will be imparting an in-person HCV Assessor Training Course in Malaysia.

Thank you and goodbye to our Supporters

On December 31st, 2022, the Supporter and Advisor categories were phased out. From January 1st, 2023 onwards, the Network will only have Members.

HCV Assessor Training Course by ASTRAcademy (May 2023)

ASTRAcademy will be imparting its first HCV Assessor Training Course of the year for prospective licensed assessors.

Upcoming Webinar: Applying HCV Approach at Landscape Scale: From Screening to Protection

This webinar, which is organised by the Tropical Forest Alliance (TFA) and the High Conservation Value Network (HCVN), will showcase examples of HCV screening and assessments at landscape scale to support land use planning and forest protection. The webinar will also highlight upcoming guidance and tools to complement HCV Screening and support better identification, management, and monitoring of HCV at large scale.

IPBES Youth Workshop: Envisioning positive futures for people and nature

Ana Sofia Lorda from the HCV Network Secretariat was selected to participate in the IPBES Youth Workshop that took place from 19-23 October, 2022 in the Isle of Vilm, Germany. In this blog she explores how the HCV Approach can help achieve transformative change.

Shaping solutions for resilient forests – our key takeaways from the FSC General Assembly 2022

The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) General Assembly explored how FSC can continue to strengthen local and global forest stewardship, reinforce the role of forests as Nature-based Solutions, and redefine the credibility and value of FSC globally.

Protecting High Conservation Values in the long-term through practical and adaptive management

A new discussion paper explores how social and environmental values may change over time and calls for the consistent and credible protection of High Conservation Values over the long term.

HCV-HCSA Assessor Training Course by the HCV Network (Oct 2022)

Register to the self-paced online HCV-HCSA Assessor Training Course that will be imparted by the HCV Network Secretariat.

HCV-HCSA Assessor Training Course by Remark Asia (Sep 2022)

Remark Asia, one of HCV Network’s Registered Training Providers, will be imparting an online HCV-HCSA Assessor Training Course in September 2022.

Piloting Nature Positive Farming with smallholder producers in Indonesia

Last year, Nature Positive Farming programme was first piloted in an oil palm production landscape in Indonesia, within the Siak Pelalawan Landscape Programme (SPLP).

Results of our online HCV-HCSA Assessor Training Course

Over the last two years, the Secretariat, through its Learning workstream, has been taking a more proactive role in designing and imparting training courses. This is aligned with the Network’s broader strategy to ensure that users of the HCV Approach understand the methodology and implement it robustly in all regions and commodity contexts.

Large-scale mapping of HCVs and HCS forest for Sumatra Island, Indonesia – an input to the new Hamurni tool for supply chain mapping and traceability

How the HCV Approach can help restore ocean health

Ocean health depends greatly on freshwater ecosystem health, which in turn depends on good land management practices. To restore oceans, we must also look at what is happening on land. We envision two ways in which the HCV Network could contribute to restore ocean health: 1) by identifying priority coastal and marine areas for intervention, and 2) by promoting accountability amongst various users in the land-sea interface.

We are recruiting a Project Manager to support our landscapes work!

The HCV Network Secretariat is looking for a well-qualified and highly motivated Project Manager who can help implement and further develop our landscapes and jurisdictional workstream.

HCV Network has joined the TNFD Forum

We are very pleased to announce that the HCV Network recently joined the TNFD Forum.

The social and cultural role of nature for local communities, São Tomé Island

Vasco Ferreira da Costa, Intern at the HCV Network Secretariat, looks at the importance of considering social and cultural values in efforts to protect nature. This article is based on his experience with the HCV Approach in São Tomé Island.

Upcoming HCV-HCSA online course for producers

Proforest, one of our Registered Training Providers (RTPs) will be imparting an HCV-HCSA Training Course for producers.

HCSA has a new Restoration and Remediation Guidance

The new guidance sets out HCSA principles and criteria for ecological restoration and social remedy in HCSA and HCV degraded areas.

Upcoming HCV-HCSA Assessor Training Course (May 2022)

Register to the self-paced online HCV-HCSA Assessor Training Course that will be imparted by the HCVN Secretariat in May.

HCV Network and FEMEXPALMA sign Cooperation Agreement

The High Conservation Value Network (HCVN) and the Mexican Oil Palm Federation (FEMEXPALMA) have signed a 5-year cooperation agreement to promote sustainable production of palm oil in Mexico through three strategic lines of work: Conservation, Capacity Building and Outreach.

HCV Screening Case Study: Rio Doce Watershed (Brazil)

In 2020, the HCV Network worked with Lactec, Nativa Meio Ambiente and Proforest to conduct an HCV Screening in the Rio Doce watershed. The objective of the screening was to identify and map all potential HCVs and the threats they face to set priorities and recommendations on mitigating the social and environmental damages of the mining collapse and providing restoration recommendations.

HCV-HCS Screening Case Study: Kapuas Hulu District (Indonesia)

Over two million hectares of forest remain in Kapuas Hulu District, of which less than 40% is located inside National Parks. This means there is a significant amount of forest, supporting biodiversity conservation, ecosystem services and support for local livelihoods, that is potentially at risk.

HCV Screening Case Study: Mbangassina (Cameroon)

This HCV Screening focused on the municipality of Mbangassina, Cameroon, located within the Grand Mbam landscape, about 120 km north of Yaoundé.

HCV Assessor Training Course

Astra Academy is imparting an HCV Assessor Course in April.

New EU rules for deforestation-free products: Great for forests, a double-edged sword for smallholders

The proposed new regulation to curb EU-driven deforestation aims to reduce the EU’s climate and deforestation footprints. However, while large companies with integrated mills may be able to produce deforestation-free commodities with relative ease, low capacity smallholder suppliers in the tropics may find it much more difficult to demonstrate compliance. Big buyers may react by shifting to lower risk regions, or even substitute materials, rather than work with local farmer suppliers in areas of ongoing deforestation. Nature Positive Farming is a simple tool to help companies engage, rather than withdraw, balance conservation and development goals, and achieve the aim of the Regulation without unintended side-effects.

Banking on the HCV Approach

Can the HCV Approach boost the financial world’s drive for biodiversity conservation?

Beyond land: rethinking the HCV Approach for aquatic ecosystems

Experts are looking at how the HCV Approach could be adapted to help better protect ocean and river ecosystems.

New: HCV Screening info note

HCV Screening scales up the use of the HCV approach in landscapes and jurisdictions to help plan and implement sustainable sourcing initiatives, inform and guide land use planning and advise the revision of spatial plans or green growth initiatives.

Happy birthday! Here’s to six years of the HCV Network Ltd. and our Secretariat

HCV Network Ltd. and its Secretariat are celebrating their 6th anniversary! Since its launch, the Secretariat team has been actively working to help people understand and implement the HCV Approach by providing advice and technical support to stakeholders, coordinating projects, securing funding and cultivating collaborative relationships with member and non-member organisations. Read about some of the highlights of the Secretariat's activities.

MOU with the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC)

In addition to identifying High Conservation Values for forestry and agriculture, it is now also possible to do so for aquatic ecosystems and aquaculture.

Independent review of the Assessor Licensing Scheme (ALS)

In 2021, an independent review of the Assessor Licensing Scheme was commissioned to provide recommendations for continuous improvement.

The HCV Network wraps up its successful first Global Summit

The HCV Summit 2021, brought together more than 200 participants, including commodity producers, technical organizations, certification schemes, and nongovernmental organizations. We had the chance to talk about about HCV Landscape Screening, smallholders involvement in global food production, the role of the finance sector on ensuring safeguards in commodities.

The HCV Screening Guide – Two years on

The recent uptake of landscape and jurisdictional initiatives has increased the interest of companies, governments and multilateral institutions in applying the High Conservation Value (HCV) approach at larger scales.

Nature Positive Farming: a win-win for smallholders and nature

Smallholders are responsible for 90% of rubber production and for up to half of the world’s palm oil production. Through Nature Positive Farming, HCV Network empowers small farmers to embed ecosystem and biodiversity protection in their work.

The HCV Approach – the case of standards

Across the world, multiple certification schemes are using the HCV approach to strengthen their efforts to preserve areas of key value for people and ecosystems within commodities production and trade.

HCV Network clarification regarding Mongabay’s article ‘Palm oil giant Wilmar unfazed as watchdogs cry foul over Papua deforestation’ and to Wilmar’s response to the article

HCV Network clarifications to Wilmar’s ‘Response to Mongabay Article on PT Medco Papua Hijau Selaras’ and Mongabay’s ‘Palm oil giant Wilmar unfazed as watchdogs cry foul over Papua deforestation’

License to protect – the workings of the HCVRN ALS

A look at the licensing scheme helping companies protect nature and communities

PRESS RELEASE: Strategic HCSA-HCVRN collaboration to strengthen conservation of tropical forests and boost critical values for nature and people

HCVN and HCSA strengthen their collaboration to increase conservation of tropical forests and boost critical values for nature and people

Rainforest Alliance’s revamped standard to strengthen protection of High Conservation Value areas

Rainforest Alliance launches its revised Sustainable Agriculture Standard, with the HCV approach providing extra safeguards for highly valuable areas for people and nature.

Protecting people and nature at a bigger scale: how HCV screening can help

HCV Screening helps authorities at all levels identify those areas that are important for ecosystem services and livelihoods.

Members elect new Management Committee

The HCVN is happy to feature its new Management Committee, represented by Non Profit Organisations, Producer/Supply Chain companies, Technical Service Providers and Standards

Interview with Ellen Watson - Global Landscapes Forum Accra 2019

At the Global Landscape Forum in Accra in 2019, Ellen Watson had the opportunity to speak about the HCV approach and its role in landscape planning

Quality Assurance Newsletters

This newsletter is sent bi-monthly to those interested in our Quality Assurance work. If you would like to receive this newsletter, please email us at secretariat@hcvnetwork.org

National Interpretations of High Conservation Values – new guide

A new guide on how to develop national/regional HCV interpretations, for use as part of site-level HCV assessments and/or HCV screening at landscape and jurisdictional levels has been published.

HCV-HCSA Assessor Training Course in Mexico

Jimena Frojan, ALS Senior Quality Manager, attended the training course in Mexico which was co-organised by Proforest, Pepsico and Femexpalma as part of their efforts to build local capacity for HCV and HCV-HCSA Assessments

Statement on ‘Who watches the Watchmen? 2’

A report released by the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) and Grassroots provides recommendations for improvement of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) assurance systems.

HCV-HCSA Assessor Training Course in Malaysia

From October 21-25, 2019, Haryo Ajie Dewanto, ALS Junior Quality Officer attended an HCV-HCSA Assessor Training Course imparted by Proforest in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia as part of their efforts to build local capacity for HCV and HCV-HCSA Assessments.

Help is at hand for Licensed Assessors

We are delighted to be able to offer training opportunities for licensed assessors on HCV and integrated HCV-HCSA assessments

Peter Gardiner steps down after four years as Legal Director

Peter was one of the original founders of the HCV Network and we are very grateful for his support and guidance throughout the years.

Workshop in Ghana on applying the HCV Approach at scale

HCV Network Secretariat Senior Manager, Olivia Scholtz, participated on a workshop with local partners in Ghana on applying the HCV Approach at landscape and jurisdictional scales

Casa da Floresta found Jaguars in monitored HCV areas in Brazil

On three occasions, recordings of jaguars have been observed in HCV areas during monitoring exercises in Brazil!

Better Cotton Initiative is the most recent Member to join the HCV Network

Better Cotton Initiative just joined the HCV Network as a Member, we look forward to collaborate with them !

New guidance for using the HCV approach at landscape and jurisdictional scales

HCV Screening is largely a remote desktop exercise to assesses the likelihood that HCVs are present at the landscape or jurisdictional level

How to make biodiversity management simple for smallholder cotton farmers around the world

Last year we collaborated with BCI to develop a simple risk-based High Conservation Value procedure for smallholder cotton farmers

Meeting with the Forest Stewardship Council

In April 2019, the HCV Network met the Forest Steward Council (FSC) to talk about new projects and priorities

We are founding members of the Global Platform for Sustainable Natural Rubber

As of March 7th, the HCV Resource Network Secretariat is a Founding Member of the Global Platform for Sustainable Natural Rubber (GPSNR).

Newly released HCV manual and templates

The HCV Network Secretariat has worked in collaboration with ALS staff, Quality Panel members (QP), and Licensed Assessors to produce an updated HCV Assessment Manual and reporting templates

APRIL Group conservation staff training

In February, Olivia and Arie from the HCV RN Secretariat, trained 30 forest protection staff from APRIL Group in the Riau Province of Sumatra, Indonesia

Webinar for WWF staff

To reach out to and engage with this wider community, a series of learning webinars were offered to WWF’s international staff over the last few months

The HCV approach at landscape and jurisdictional scales

The HCV Network is developing guidance on using the HCV approach at landscape and jurisdictional scales

Engagement with the new Global Platform for Sustainable Natural Rubber

Last January, the HCV Network, represented by Arie Soetjiadi was part of the first GPSNR workshop in Singapore!

Management Committee meets in Kota Kinabalu

The HCV Network Management Committee met in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia, in November 2018.

General newsletters

Keep up with the HCV Network's latest news.

Introducing the HCV Approach into sustainable cotton

Last November, the HCV Network joined Better Cotton's annual training for Implementing Partners in Mozambique to train partners and field technicians on the HCV risk assessment.

New Report Template for Integrated High Conservation Value-High Carbon Stock Approach Assessments

The report template and guidance for integrated HCV-HCSA Assessments has now been published!

HCV-HCS Workshop for Guatemalan Oil Palm Growers

The HCV Network Secretariat gave a presentation on HCV-HCSA assessments to Guatemalan oil palm growers and other stakeholders.

Malaysian National Interpretation for the Identification of High Conservation Values

Very proud to share with you the Malaysian National Interpretation for the Identification of High Conservation Values!

Latest improvements to the Assessor Licensing Scheme

The HCV Network is pleased to invite you to a webinar on the lastest improvements to the Assessor Licensing Scheme (ALS).

2018 Management Committee meeting

In June 2018, the Management Committee met to discuss next strategy for the next years.

VII Latin American RSPO Conference

Last June, our Executive Director participated in the VII Latin American RSPO conference to introduce the HCV-HCS concept to various HCV users and participants.

Jurisdictional HCV workshop in Ecuador

In May, our Executive Director participated in a workshop with the objective of improving understanding on implementation of the HCV in RSPO in Quito, Ecuador.

Webinar HCV risk-based approaches

The HCV Resource Network Secretariat recently hosted a webinar on HCV identification and risk-based approaches.

HCV-HCSA Assessment Manual now available

We are happy to announce the publication of the new HCV-HCSA Assessment Manual

Study: HCV Management & Monitoring in RSPO-certified plantations

Study investigated the challenges to effective management and monitoring of HCVs in RSPO-certified oil palm plantations