The Establishment of HCSA Foundation

The HCSA Steering Group and Secretariat are pleased to announce the establishment of the charitable HCSA Foundation.[1]  The HCSA Foundation is based in the Netherlands and will act in the public interest to fulfil HCSA’s Purpose:

To ensure there is a practical, transparent, robust, and scientifically credible approach that is widely accepted to implement commitments to halt deforestation in the tropics while ensuring the rights, livelihoods, and aspirations of local peoples are respected.

Established in 2014, the High Carbon Stock Approach (HCSA) is a methodology and toolkit that sets the standard approach for implementing no deforestation on-the-ground in tropical moist forest landscapes.  It is a methodology that distinguishes forest areas for protection from degraded lands with low carbon, social and biodiversity values that may be developed, whilst ensuring that the rights and livelihoods of communities and workers are respected.

The HCSA methodology can be used for integrated land use planning in any country and commodity grown in tropical moist forest landscapes[2] and was developed through a collaboration among private sector companies in the palm oil and pulp sectors, environmental and social NGOs, and technical support organisations. The HCSA is adapting its methodology for application by independent smallholders and their support-organisations or supply chain partners. Additionally, HCSA will soon have an open-access framework technical procedure for producing high-quality indicative HCSA-HCV maps at a landscape level.

As of December 2020, close to three million hectares of HCSA assessment area was registered just over 610,000 hectares of HCS forests were identified[3] using the HCSA methodology, and are in the process of, or have already been, set aside by companies for non-development and conservation. The HCS forest and HCV conservation and community use outcomes are reported via publicly available and independently reviewed stand-alone HCSA or HCV-HCSA assessments. The HCSA’s Global Forest Watch Pro platform will be used for monitoring the long-term maintenance of the conservation areas. 

If you are interested in supporting and/or learning more about the HCSA please contact: info@highcarbonstock.org

[1] As of 21st December 2020, the HCSA Foundation (RSIN 862017853) was classified as a Public Benefit Organisation (in Dutch it is called: Algemeen Nut Beogende Instelling, (ANBI)).  The HCSA also has two subsidiaries of the foundation located in Singapore (HCS Ltd.) and Malaysia (HCS Approach Sdn. Bhd.).

[2] As of October 2020, the HCSA Toolkit has been used or trialled in 12 countries (Malaysia, Indonesia, Liberia, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Nigeria, Cameroon, Gabon, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Mexico and Peru); for plantations of oil palm, pulpwood, cocoa and rubber.  See this link for more details on where the HCSA is being used and trialled.

[3] Correction, July 2021. For the latest HCSA infographic data, see https://highcarbonstock-org.red-giraffe.co.uk/communications-resources/

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Jalan Raja Chulan 50200,
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Development Manager

Natalia Merchan

Natalia Merchan joined HCSA as a Business Development consultant in 2020. She is responsible for fundraising in general and building relationships with new donors. Natalia has over 10 years of fundraising experience with foundations, major donors, institutional and corporate donors. Prior to joining HCSA, she worked with Greenpeace as a major gifts’ advisor raising funds for the forests campaign. She holds an MSc. in Environmental development from the University of Amsterdam.

Digital Designer & Communications Officer

Kirsti Drain

Kirsti joined in 2022 and is responsible for visual digital content production for HCSA’s new website, digital assets for all communication channels, as well as design for corporate reports and bids. She has over 20 years of experience in design and content across web, digital and print channels in a broad range of sectors. She previously worked as senior graphic designer for Capital City College Group in London and digital designer and content editor for the Commonwealth. She has a BA in Film and Photographic Arts from the University of Westminster.

Outreach Executive

Saffira Mohamed

Saffira Mohamed joined the High Carbon Stock Approach in 2022 as Membership Officer. She supports the Membership Outreach Manager and Membership Committee. Saffira has experience in avifauna surveying and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Forestry from University Putra Malaysia with a focus on Forest Management.

Communications Manager

Leslie Jewell

Leslie is responsible for producing and managing HCSA’s internal and external communications. Her background is journalism, starting as a reporter and then current affairs producer with BBC World Service Radio and BBC Radio 4. She moved into international TV news, working in Russia, Ukraine and Central Asia as Bureau Producer in Moscow for BBC News and covered New York and Washington as North American Bureau Producer for Reuters. She studied politics at Cardiff University and speaks French, Italian and Russian.

Head of Development

Jesús Cordero

Jesús Cordero is our Head of Development. He leads on the development and deployment of our Membership Strategy, coordinates the Membership Committee, and supports the development of our Information Management, Communications, Fundraising and HR functions. Jesús has extensive experience with membership and communications management and innovations as well as promoting smallholders’ livelihoods in the tropics via sustainable land use management approaches. Jesús speaks English and Spanish, and he holds a degree in Forestry, an MSc. in Agroforestry (Cranfield University), an MSc. in Communications for Innovation and Development (University of Reading) and an M.A. in Translation Studies (University of Portsmouth).

Landscape and monitoring manager

Jonathan Byers

Jonathan Byers is responsible for managing the HCSA Global Forest Watch Pro monitoring platform. Jonathan has a diverse background in natural and physical science research, cartography and GIS, non-profit management, education, and digital storytelling. Most recently he led a National Geographic funded project to study the habitat and behaviour of the endangered Matschies’s tree-kangaroo in Papua New Guinea to assist community conservation efforts. He previously worked on cartography projects for Panthera to provide high-resolution maps for tiger anti-poaching efforts in Malaysia, and for the National Park Service mapping glacier retreat in California and Alaska. Jonathan holds an MSc. Degree in Geography from the University of Montana.

Administrative Officer

Anis Farhana Wahab

Anis Farhana Wahab is the Administrative Officer of the High Carbon Stock Approach. She supports the HCSA Executive Director, HCSA Executive Committee and working groups on HCSA governance and priority workstreams. She holds a Bachelor of Science (Major in Biology with Minor in Psychology) from Carleton University.

Quality manager

Daneetha Muniandy

Daneetha Muniandy joined the HCS Approach in 2020 as the Quality Assurance Officer. She is responsible for supporting HCSA Grievance Mechanism Unit, HCSA trial applications and other HCSA QA work. Daneetha has experience in forest conservation and holds both, a diploma and degree in Forestry from University Putra Malaysia (UPM).

Finance Manager

Lee Kuan Lih

Lee Kuan Lih joined HCSA as a Finance Manager in 2020. He is responsible for the company’s bookkeeping, budgets, and cash flow control. Prior to joining HCSA, he was a finance manager in Helikonia. He was also in charge of financial matters at Apple Crumby & Fish, a start-up e-commerce platform for essential baby products and had previously worked as an auditor. Kuan Lih holds a Bachelor of Business and Commerce (majoring in accounting and finance) from Monash University, Malaysia. He is also a Certified Practising Accountant as a member of CPA, Australia.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Adrian Choo

Adrian Choo is the Executive Director of the High Carbon Stock Approach. He leads the development and implementation of HCSA’s strategic business plan, oversees the HCSA membership and Secretariat and fosters partnerships to drive HCSA’s impact and growth. Adrian has extensive experience in tropical forest certification, palm oil sustainability and high conservation value areas. He led the Sustainable Markets Programme Strategy at WWF-Malaysia and was Chair of FSC Malaysia for several years. Adrian has a BA in Forestry and a PhD in Biocomposite Technology from Universiti Putra Malaysia, where he was also a Post-doctoral Research Fellow.