The HCSA Pass-Fail Template for the HCSA Quality Review Process has been approved by the HCSA EC for implementation effective 15th April 2024. Thus, any upcoming HCSA Quality Review request will be conducted as per the latest Pass-Fail Template.  

The HCSA peer review process for standalone HCSA assessments provides an independent review of the assessment’s quality and alignment with the HCSA Toolkit, as well as recommendations for improvement, before the HCSA assessment report is published on the HCSA website. Until now, the completion of the process did not provide a formal approval, or rejection, of a HCSA assessment through a pass/fail marking. 

To overcome these issues, the new HCSA peer review template includes a formal approval/rejection process as the outcome of the QA process for HCSA assessments. A clearer categorisation of the follow-up measures/requirements for each recommendation depending on the severity of the issues found is required. This will provide assessors and companies clear guidance on the compulsory measures required for submitting HCSA assessments prior to ICLUP submission. 

This is in line with the upcoming implementation of Integrated Conservation and Land Use Plans (ICLUP) also requires a more formal approval of the HCSA assessment. With a formal approval of the HCSA assessment, all outstanding issues identified in the assessment will need to be resolved at the peer review stage and will be reviewed independently by the assigned peer reviewer.     

A detailed document outlining the process of the review will be shared soon. Any further questions or concerns, please email us at qa@highcarbonstock.org.