Who we are

Our Network brings together the world’s most influential NGOs, producers, supply chain companies, technical service providers and voluntary sustainability standards.

The Network is a member-based organization that promotes the High Conservation Value (HCV) Approach, a pragmatic methodology to identify and protect ecosystems, biodiversity, and the needs of indigenous peoples and local communities where development takes place.

Governance

The Network was founded in 2005 to set the standard for implementation of the High Conservation Value (HCV) Approach. It is governed by Members from four constituencies.

  • Non-profit organizations

    Forest Peoples Programme
    Forest Peoples Programme
    Primary Representative
    Name of Person
    Contact Me
    World Resources Institute
    World Resources Institute
    Primary Representative
    Name of Person
    Contact Me
    WWF
    WWF
    Primary Representative
    Name of Person
    Contact Me
  • Producer/Supply Chain Companies

    April
    April
    Primary Representative
    Name of Person
    Contact Me
    Olam
    Olam
    Primary Representative
    Name of Person
    Contact Me
    Golden Agri Resources
    Golden Agri Resources
    Primary Representative
    Name of Person
    Contact Me
  • Standards

    Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil
    Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil
    Primary Representative
    Name of Person
    Contact Me
    Forest Stewardship Council
    Forest Stewardship Council
    Primary Representative
    Name of Person
    Contact Me
  • Technical Service Providers

    Proforest
    Proforest
    Primary Representative
    Name of Person
    Contact Me
  • Non-profit organizations

    SE Asia Rainforest Research Partnership
    SE Asia Rainforest Research Partnership
    Primary Representative
    Name of Person
    Contact Me
    Kaleka
    Kaleka
    Primary Representative
    Name of Person
    Contact Me
    Global Platform for Sustainable Natural Rubber
    Global Platform for Sustainable Natural Rubber
    Primary Representative
    Name of Person
    Contact Me
    The Wilderness Society Australia
    The Wilderness Society Australia
    Primary Representative
    Name of Person
    Contact Me
    GIZ
    GIZ
    Primary Representative
    Name of Person
    Contact Me
    Forest Peoples Programme
    Forest Peoples Programme
    Primary Representative
    Name of Person
    Contact Me
    Fauna & Flora International
    Fauna & Flora International
    Primary Representative
    Name of Person
    Contact Me
    Centro de Producción Nacional Más Limpia de Honduras
    Centro de Producción Nacional Más Limpia de Honduras
    Primary Representative
    Name of Person
    Contact Me
    World Resources Institute
    World Resources Institute
    Primary Representative
    Name of Person
    Contact Me
    WWF
    WWF
    Primary Representative
    Name of Person
    Contact Me
  • Producer/Supply Chain Companies

    April
    April
    Primary Representative
    Name of Person
    Contact Me
    Olam
    Olam
    Primary Representative
    Name of Person
    Contact Me
    Asia Pulp and Paper (APP)
    Asia Pulp and Paper (APP)
    Primary Representative
    Name of Person
    Contact Me
  • Standards

    Bonsucro
    Bonsucro
    Primary Representative
    Name of Person
    Contact Me
    Better Cotton
    Better Cotton
    Primary Representative
    Name of Person
    Contact Me
    Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil
    Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil
    Primary Representative
    Name of Person
    Contact Me
    Round Table on Responsible Soy Association
    Round Table on Responsible Soy Association
    Primary Representative
    Name of Person
    Contact Me
    Rainforest Alliance
    Rainforest Alliance
    Primary Representative
    Name of Person
    Contact Me
    Forest Stewardship Council
    Forest Stewardship Council
    Primary Representative
    Name of Person
    Contact Me
  • Technical Service Providers

    PT Gaia Eko Daya Buana
    PT Gaia Eko Daya Buana
    Primary Representative
    Name of Person
    Contact Me
    Tropenbos Indonesia
    Tropenbos Indonesia
    Primary Representative
    Name of Person
    Contact Me
    Preferred by Nature
    Preferred by Nature
    Primary Representative
    Name of Person
    Contact Me
    Ecotrop
    Ecotrop
    Primary Representative
    Name of Person
    Contact Me
    BioAp
    BioAp
    Primary Representative
    Name of Person
    Contact Me
    Nativa Meio Ambiente
    Nativa Meio Ambiente
    Primary Representative
    Name of Person
    Contact Me
    Earthworm Foundation
    Earthworm Foundation
    Primary Representative
    Name of Person
    Contact Me
    Remark Asia
    Remark Asia
    Primary Representative
    Name of Person
    Contact Me
    Proforest
    Proforest
    Primary Representative
    Name of Person
    Contact Me
    Ekologika
    Ekologika
    Primary Representative
    Name of Person
    Contact Me
    Daemeter
    Daemeter
    Primary Representative
    Name of Person
    Contact Me
    Aksenta
    Aksenta
    Primary Representative
    Name of Person
    Contact Me

Our History

The HCV Approach was born in the 1990s. A decade later, the Network was founded to steward and promote global uptake of the methodology.

The concept of ‘High Conservation Value forests’ was born in the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC).

1999

The concept of ‘High Conservation Value forests’ was born in the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC).

1999
With the adoption of the HCV Approach beyond sustainable forestry came the need for operational guidance. The first ‘HCV Toolkit’ was published by Proforest with support from the WWF-IKEA partnership.

2003

With the adoption of the HCV Approach beyond sustainable forestry came the need for operational guidance. The first ‘HCV Toolkit’ was published by Proforest with support from the WWF-IKEA partnership.

2003
The Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) was established and required the protection of High Conservation Values in its Principles and Criteria.

2004

The Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) was established and required the protection of High Conservation Values in its Principles and Criteria.

2004
The Network was founded by Forest Peoples Programme, the Forest Stewardship Council, Greenpeace, IUCN, Mondi, the Nature Conservancy, Proforest, Tetra Pak, the World Bank, WBCSD, and WWF. A Steering Group of 17 organizations governed the Network until 2014.

2005

The Network was founded by Forest Peoples Programme, the Forest Stewardship Council, Greenpeace, IUCN, Mondi, the Nature Conservancy, Proforest, Tetra Pak, the World Bank, WBCSD, and WWF. A Steering Group of 17 organizations governed the Network until 2014.

2005
The first Network Charter was adopted and included guiding principles for the use of the HCV Approach.

2006

The first Network Charter was adopted and included guiding principles for the use of the HCV Approach.

2006
Good Practice guidelines for High Conservation Value assessments were published for the first time.

2008

Good Practice guidelines for High Conservation Value assessments were published for the first time.

2008
WWF Chile used the HCV Approach to support blue whale protection.

2009

WWF Chile used the HCV Approach to support blue whale protection.

2009
The Network collaborated with the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) in amending the HCV definitions.

2012

The Network collaborated with the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) in amending the HCV definitions.

2012
The Network became a member-based organization. The Common Guidance for HCV Identification was published.

2013

The Network became a member-based organization. The Common Guidance for HCV Identification was published.

2013
The Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) started requiring Quality Assurance of all HCV assessments prior to new oil palm plantations. A new entity was set up in the UK to host the Secretariat after 10 years of being hosted by Proforest.

2015

The Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) started requiring Quality Assurance of all HCV assessments prior to new oil palm plantations. A new entity was set up in the UK to host the Secretariat after 10 years of being hosted by Proforest.

2015
The Network and the High Carbon Stock Approach (HCSA) Steering Group agreed to develop guidance on joint use of the HCV and HCS Approaches. It was then decided that all HCV-HCSA assessments would be evaluated by the Network.

2016

The Network and the High Carbon Stock Approach (HCSA) Steering Group agreed to develop guidance on joint use of the HCV and HCS Approaches. It was then decided that all HCV-HCSA assessments would be evaluated by the Network.

2016
The HCV-HCSA Assessment Manual was published.

2017

The HCV-HCSA Assessment Manual was published.

2017
The Network started evaluating HCV-HCSA assessment reports. RSPO started requiring HCV-HCSA assessments prior to new plantations. Better Cotton Initiative adopted the HCV Approach into V2 of their Production Standard. The Soil Association adopted the HCV Approach into their Farm Standard.

2018

The Network started evaluating HCV-HCSA assessment reports. RSPO started requiring HCV-HCSA assessments prior to new plantations. Better Cotton Initiative adopted the HCV Approach into V2 of their Production Standard. The Soil Association adopted the HCV Approach into their Farm Standard.

2018
The HCV Screening Guide was published to guide prioritization of HCV areas, and protect and restore valuable and vulnerable ecosystems in landscapes and jurisdictions. Better Cotton Initiative and the Soil Association joined the HCV Network as Members.

2019

The HCV Screening Guide was published to guide prioritization of HCV areas, and protect and restore valuable and vulnerable ecosystems in landscapes and jurisdictions. Better Cotton Initiative and the Soil Association joined the HCV Network as Members.

2019
The Network pilots HCV Screenings in Indonesia and Brazil. The Network and the High Carbon Stock Approach Steering Group sign a Memorandum of Understanding.

2020

The Network pilots HCV Screenings in Indonesia and Brazil. The Network and the High Carbon Stock Approach Steering Group sign a Memorandum of Understanding.

2020
The Network signed an MOU with the Aquaculture Stewardship Council. HCV Summit took place with more than 200 participants. Bonsucro joined the HCV Network as Member. Science-Based Targets Network included no-conversion of HCV areas in interim targets. EU taxonomy for sustainable activities included HCV protection in forestry.

2021

The Network signed an MOU with the Aquaculture Stewardship Council. HCV Summit took place with more than 200 participants. Bonsucro joined the HCV Network as Member. Science-Based Targets Network included no-conversion of HCV areas in interim targets. EU taxonomy for sustainable activities included HCV protection in forestry.

2021

Secretariat

The Secretariat runs the Network’s day-to-day operations. It provides quality assurance, learning opportunities, tools and guidance, and technical support to ensure robust implementation of the methodology in all ecosystems (land-based, aquatic), scales (local, regional, national), and development contexts (forestry, agribusiness, other).

Ana Sofia Lorda

Project Manager

Arie Soetjiadi

Quality Manager & Southeast Asia Representative

Arif Prasetyo

Senior Quality Officer

Arkian Suryadarma

Senior Quality Officer & System Administrator

Belinda Bowling

Global Director

Celia Pearson

Finance Manager

Dongdong Xiao

Operations Manager

Felicia Lasmana

Senior Quality Officer & Project Manager

Jimena Frojan

Senior Quality Officer

Julia Young

Deputy Director, Policy & Standards

Neville Kemp

Landscapes Lead

Olivia Scholtz

Deputy Director, Implementation & Legal Director

Rifat Aldina

Project Manager

Rod Taylor

Legal Director

Ruth Silva

Deputy Director, Assurance

Stephan Wulffraat

Senior Quality Officer

Yamila Barasch

Senior Quality Officer

Our Partnerships

Get Involved

The Network is always looking for partners who are interested in supporting our work, for talented professionals who can join the growing Secretariat team, and for professionals who can lead assessments globally.

Get Involved