National Interpretation of HCV Definitions - HCV Resource Network

National Interpretation of
HCV Definitions
www.proforest.net

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 (HCVF/HCVA) - An area possessing one or
more HCV attributes
HCV Management Area (HCVMA) - The area that needs to be
appropriately managed to maintain or enhance an HCV

Defining the Six HCVs
• Species
• Landscapes
• Ecosystems
• Ecological functions
• Local community
livelihoods
• Sites of cultural
importance

Toolkit Approach
• To refine generic HCV
concepts into useful
guidelines
• ProForest Toolkit (2003)
written in three parts:
– Introduction
– National definitions
– HCV Identification and
Management
• NB: Global Toolkit was written for
forests & logging
• National Interpretation can apply
to other ecosystems and sectors
Generic definitions
Global toolkit
National definitions
& Guidelines
Assessment &
Management

National Toolkit Interpretation
• Bolivia
• Bosnia-Herzegovina
• Bulgaria
• Canada
• Cameroon (SLIMF)
• China (N.E.)
• Ecuador
• Gabon
• Ghana
• Indonesia
• Ireland (in prep.)
• Papua New Guinea
• Poland
• Caucasus region (Turkey-Georgia)
• Malaysia
• Mozambique (in prep.)
• Russia NW, FE Russia
• Romania
• Slovakia
• Vietnam

Defining HCVs
1. Need a process for deciding when a value
becomes HCV
– Who should decide?
– How should a decision be reached?
2. Need appropriate, clear definitions
– What are the critical features of your forest?
– What parameters define an HCV
– What thresholds can be used
3. Need guidance on how an area should be
managed & variables to monitor

1. Who and How?
• Defining thresholds often requires value
judgements
• Such judgements should be not only informed but
also representative (geography & culture)
• Requires (i) transparent consultative process with
balanced representation, (ii) technical working
group with expertise, range of views and practical
experience, or (iii) both

2. Definitions and Thresholds
• Identify the measurable features (parameters) that
define words such as critical, significant,
fundamental for each HCV
• Establish thresholds for when a value is a high
conservation value
• It must be possible to evaluate thresholds using
– Available data
– Primary data that national experts can collect
– Existing classifications
– Expert opinion

3. Guidance
• What guidance can be given to land use
managers?
– Guidance on identification, management and
monitoring
– Certain aspects are already addressed by the
relevant laws – this should be studied
– Certain aspects require additional planning
– Recommended targets for monitoring success

Notes on National Interpretations
• National interpretations have been widely reviewed
& critiqued
• No Toolkits are viewed as a definitive finished
product (e.g. revised Toolkit for Indonesia)
• Provide guidance for case-by-case decision
making… not decisions set in stone
• All are being developed in light of growing
experience

Setting the right thresholds
• HCVs are of global, regional or national conservation
importance
• Definitions must reflect attributes that are consistent
with these levels of priority
• Trade-offs for setting thresholds too high or too low
& implications for management
• Must balance data needs with practical consideration

Example HCV 3 - Vietnam
Forest type
Montane evergreen
NB Fokienia hodginsii
Natural Coniferous forest
Limestone karst forest
Mangrove Forest
Xeric dune forest
Lowland evergreen
Dry Dipterocarp forest
Semi-evergreen
Freshwater Swamp
Forest Condition
All forest of this type
regardless of area or condition.
Good condition, large area.
Good condition, part of matrix
of XXXX Ha
All over 100 Ha
All forest of this type
regardless of area or condition.
All forest of this type in forest
wholly or part of blocks of over
2,000 Ha
Good condition large area
Good condition large area
All forest of this type
regardless of area or condition.

Example HCV 3 - Indonesia
Ecosystems:
Past
Images courtesy of Daemeter Consulting 2008
Ecosystems:
Present
Future
expected

Example HCV 3 - Indonesia
Images courtesy of Daemeter Consulting 2008
Current (>50% ↓) Plus Future (>75% ↓)

Identifying presence of HCVs
• What information should form the
basis of a decision?
– What published/commonly accepted information
exists?
– Who is likely to have information about the area?
– Does additional data need to be collected, and is
that practical?
– How can this be done efficiently?

Example
1. “Areas identified on Map
‘1’ will be considered
potential HCV…
2. If reliable and up to date
faunal survey suggests
species ‘x’ is present, the
area will be HCV
3. If no data is available
local experts from
research institutions ‘X
and Y’ and NGO ‘Z’
should be consulted.”

‘…consult Relevant Experts’
‘Phone a friend’ phenomenon

Guidance on identification of HCVs
• Clear indication of when an area will be
considered to support an HCV
• But overly simplistic thresholds run the
risk of insufficient data or (flip-side)
insufficient credibility
• Useful to have multi-step process
– “When x is true and y is true, the
forest will be HCVF”

Example PNG HCV 2
• Large areas of forest that are:
– Contiguous with a PA
And…
– Together extend beyond 500,000ha
And…
– Have 5-10 breeding pairs of any one of a
named list of umbrella species
Will be considered HCV 2 forests

Guidance on monitoring
• Clear guidance on how maintenance of an
HCV can be measured
• What skills are required and how easily can
they be attained?
• What is appropriate evidence that this value
is being maintained?
– What can be cost-effectively monitored in a time sensitive
fashion that will provide the necessary guidance to the
manager

Example HCV 5 Ghana
• Rates of off-take of game, medicinal plants
and other NTFPs are agreed between village
and FM
• Villagers report back
• Regular survey by 3 rd party to confirm e.g.
distance travelled to find product, time
spent hunting

Summary
• Define parameters and thresholds for
determination of critical, fundamental, etc.
• Process must be well defined, informed and
representative, calling on a range of views
• Must balance aspirations to be robust and
practical
• Guidance must be targeted at the user and
the user’s access to resources