High Conservation Values Forests of the European North of Russia Approaches to conservation and sustainable use Workshop Syktyvkar, 1 st April Dr Christopher Stewart – HCV Network Manager

HCV Network aims for this meeting Sustainable forest management - status in N. Russia Broad discussion of HCVF in N. Russia – evolving definitions, identification, management Sharing experience of HCV identification and management in rest of world Understanding what HCV concept can, and cannot achieve within FSC certification context in N. Russia Seek consensus on HCV definitions and management in Russia Seek consistency with rest of world Seek ways for HCV Network to support Russian stakeholders to progress conservation and sustainable use goals

High Conservation Values A powerful tool for promoting conservation within productive landscapes Syktyvkar, 1 st April Dr Christopher Stewart – HCV Network Manager

History Devised by Forest Stewardship Council in 1999 –Solution to debates over ‘primary forest’, ‘old-growth forest’, ‘well-developed forest’… –Focuses on exceptional values and how to maintain them –Implications: all forests have a value but some are more important than others –If HCVs are present, specific precautions are necessary Toolkit developed by ProForest in 2003 HCV concept very widely adopted in other (non-FSC) schemes Now entering a critical phase of testing in non- forest and conversion contexts

What is the HCV 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

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+ of the 6 values) and HCV Management Area- The area that needs to be appropriately managed to maintain or enhance HCVs

Ecosystems HCV3 - Rare, threatened or endangered ecosystems. The six High Conservation Values (I) Biodiversity HCV1 - Significant concentrations of biodiversity values (RTE species, endemics, migratory etc). Landscapes HCV2 – Landscape-level areas (e.g. forests) where species exist in natural patterns of distribution and abundance.

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 The six High Conservation Values (II)

Consultation Manage Monitor Identify The HCV process

HCV management HCVs are identified and located in space HCV management defined within specific areas (from punctual sites up to whole concessions) Management should be specific for each HCV, but some measures may maintain several HCVs Minimum requirement: must not damage HCVs Appropriate forest management operations are permitted (range of measures from conservation areas, restoration, to sustainable use of forest resources) Should be designed in consultation with forest stakeholders Should be monitored for continuous improvement

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

Major processes using HCV Active commodity certification schemes –FSC, MTCC, RSPO (Palm Oil) Natural resource sustainability standards –Basel Criteria + RTRS (soy), RTFO, RSB, Cramer Principles (Biofuels) –Climate Carbon and Biodiversity Alliance (Carbon) Purchasing and investment policies –Many banks, manufacturers, retailers National /regional land use planning –National/regional guidelines (Bulgaria, Romania… Russia*, China*, Indonesia*) –NGO national conservation priority mapping

A few organisations with a stake in HCV…

FSC certificates, Jan 09

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

Safeguards HCV is a decision- making framework, not a stand-alone guarantee of sustainability Precautionary approach Issues of land tenure and legality Requires governance and monitoring