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High Conservation Values Forests of the European North of Russia

High Conservation Values Forests of the European North of Russia Approaches to conservation and sustainable use Workshop Syktyvkar, 1 st April 2009. Dr Christopher Stewart – HCV Network Manager. christopher@hcvnetwork.org www.hcvnetwork.org. HCV Network aims for this meeting.

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High Conservation Values Forests of the European North of Russia

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  1. High Conservation Values Forests of the European North of Russia Approaches to conservation and sustainable use Workshop Syktyvkar, 1st April 2009 Dr Christopher Stewart – HCV Network Manager christopher@hcvnetwork.orgwww.hcvnetwork.org

  2. 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

  3. High Conservation Values A powerful tool for promoting conservation within productive landscapes Syktyvkar, 1st April 2009 Dr Christopher Stewart – HCV Network Manager christopher@hcvnetwork.orgwww.hcvnetwork.org

  4. 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

  5. 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

  6. 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

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

  8. 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

  9. Identify Consultation Manage Monitor The HCV process

  10. 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

  11. 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

  12. 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

  13. A few organisations with a stake in HCV…

  14. FSC certificates, Jan 09

  15. 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

  16. 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

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