Currently, the concept of High Conservation Values (HCVs) is applied to a very limited extent in the Congo Basin. Over the last five years, however, there have been a growing number of national initiatives aimed at better defining HCV criteria. This highlights the importance attributed to the HCV tool by various stakeholders. However, due to the lack of systematic analysis of the available data on HCVs and insufficient stakeholder involvement, these attempts have failed to produce a rigorous and contextually adapted frame of reference for interpreting, identifying, managing and maintaining HCVs. Furthermore, the outcomes have not been validated by FSC International.
National Forest Stewardship Standards are presently being developed for the Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon and the Republic of Congo. In order to develop regional HCV guidance and national interpretations that will be annexed to the National Forest Stewardship Standards, a roadmap project was drawn up in 2013. With the financial support of the Commission of Central African Forests through its Programme for Promotion of Certified Logging (funded by the German Development Bank), the project was launched in December 2015 and an HCV-Officer was appointed to execute the technical implementation of the project in May 2016.
After having established a chamber-balanced HCV Regional Working Group (RWG) comprised of 12 members, an initial workshop was held in Brazzaville from 15-18 June 2016. This workshop brought together 35 different experts from the fields of HCVs and Intact Forest Landscapes (IFLs). The purpose of this first meeting was to create a clear and shared vision amongst the members of the HCV-RWG with regards to:
• the HCV and IFL concepts;
• the expected final product – the FSC HCV Congo Basin Regional Guideline; and
• the working process for its development.
An initial day of training on HCV was presented by ProForest on Wednesday, followed by two days of inspirational presentations and lively discussions on the progress achieved in HCV guidance and assessments. The indigenous representatives of the HCV-RWG met on Thursday evening to discuss their involvement in the development of the HCV regional guidance document. They proposed that a group of indigenous people living in FSC certified forests should be trained on HCV concepts and related issues. The selected individuals would then report to and consult with indigenous people and local communities regarding the discussions and decisions taken by the RWG. This would facilitate feedback directly from indigenous and local communities to highlight concerns regarding forest management operations.
On Saturday 18 June, the 12 members of the RWG met for the first time behind closed doors to discuss the process and procedures to be followed to develop the Congo Basin HCV guidelines. Members decided that a draft guideline document -building on a synthesis of existing national HCV interpretations and HCV assessments from the Congo Basin- should be developed as a next step and to highlight areas that require expert input at the next workshop. The HCV-RWG mandated the HCV-Officer to develop this draft. The HCV-RWG also approved the proposals made by indigenous representatives regarding the involvement of forest dwelling indigenous people and local communities in the process.
Engagement with indigenous communities will hopefully take place before the next meeting of the HCV-RWG. An “indigenous expert group” will be created and they will be provides with thematic training on Principles 2 and 9, as well as general training on how to inform and consult in an empowering way. The HCV-RWG is expected to meet for a further two workshop during the course of 2016 in order to develop regional HCV definitions and indicators to identify and manage IFLs in the Congo Basin by the end of 2016.
For more information, contact:
Mathieu Auger-Schwartzenberg at m.schwartzenberg@fsc.org
Or
Olivia Rickenbach at o.rickenbach@fsc.org