About Us

The High Carbon Stock Approach began in 2014 as a collaborative initiative between pulp and palm oil producers and environmental and social justice NGOs to develop a methodology that would identify forests in need of protection from deforestation.

Today the HCSA is a global not-for-profit membership organisation dedicated to stopping commodity-driven deforestation in tropical rainforest landscapes while respecting the rights of indigenous peoples and local communities.

How we work

We are membership led. Collaboration has shaped the development of the High Carbon Stock Approach both as a methodology for implementing no deforestation commitments and as a multi-stakeholder organisation.

HCSA members have an equal voice in the development of the HCSA methodology. The broad range of interests represented in its membership results in a powerful and collective impact in key sectors, including agriculture and forestry sectors that are significant drivers of tropical deforestation.

Non-Governmental Organisations 38%

Commodity Users 31%

Technical Support Organisations 31%

HCSA Executive Committee

The Executive Committee (EC) is elected by HCSA members to represent each category of membership. EC decision-making is by consensus and covers all aspects of HCSA’s work, except for proposed changes to the methodology, which must be approved by the full membership.

Commodity Users

Non-Governmental Organisations

Technical Support Organisations

HCSA Governance

The Executive Committee directs and approves the work of HCSA committees, working groups and task forces in order to deliver the three main functions of the organisation: development of the HCSA Toolkit; quality assurance of HCSA assessment processes and support for the implementation of HCV-HCSA assessments; and monitoring the impact achieved by implementing the HCSA Toolkit.

Specialists and advisors support our work to ensure the methodology is scientifically robust and grounded in the latest scientific literature.

We warmly welcome new members to the HCSA – for information about how to join please visit Membership.

The HCSA Foundation RSIN 862017853 is located in the Netherlands and is the parent entity of non-profit organisations located in Malaysia and Singapore. See our offices on the Contact page.

The HCSA is committed to the highest standards of integrity and adheres to Anti-bribery & Anti-corruption Policy and an Anti-slavery & Child Protection Policy.