HCSA and WCF Collaborate to Halt Deforestation in Cocoa

The High Carbon Stock Approach (HCSA) Steering Group and the World Cocoa Foundation (WCF) have signed a memorandum of understanding to advance commitments to ending deforestation and forest degradation in the cocoa supply chain. This collaboration will contribute to the implementation of multilateral policy and corporate commitments in the cocoa sector to conserve High Carbon Stock (HCS) forests and High Conservation Value (HCV) areas that have high carbon, biodiversity and social values in tropical forest countries.

Judy Rodrigues, Executive Director of the High Carbon Stock Approach welcomes the collaboration and states, “The HCSA is excited to partner with the WCF and stand ready to work together to expand its impact in the cocoa sector. We are keen to build upon the HCSA’s success of preventing the deforestation of several million hectares of tropical forests and the conservation of over 575,000 hectares of HCS forests in the palm oil and pulp and paper sector to the cocoa sector.’’

She continues, “This collaboration will engage public and private sector stakeholders to facilitate and accelerate implementation of the HCSA methodology by companies and smallholder farmers in cocoa production landscapes.”

Ethan Budiansky, WCF’s Director of Environment said, “The HCS Approach is a proven methodology to identify forest areas that should be a priority for protection as part of a broader landscape-level approach. The partnership will be integral to supporting the implementation of the Cocoa & Forests Initiative in Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana and advancing the cocoa sector’s commitments to no-deforestation, responsible land use management and conservation.”

The partnership will: identify key stakeholders in cocoa expansion frontiers with active deforestation and forest degradation, map the most effective areas for rights-based forest conservation, restoration and creation of forest corridors, engage with companies, governments, civil society and other stakeholders to pilot the HCS Approach in the field, and share learnings to identify opportunities for scaling-up the application of the HCS Approach including in new tropical forest regions in Africa, Asia and Latin America.

The memorandum of understanding was signed on 29 March 2019.

About the World Cocoa Foundation

WCF is a non-profit international membership organisation whose vision is a sustainable and thriving cocoa sector – where farmers prosper, cocoa-growing communities are empowered, human rights are respected, and the environment is conserved. WCF has more than 100 members that represent 85 percent of the global cocoa and chocolate sector.

In November 2017, the Governments of Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana and the world’s leading cocoa and chocolate companies entered a public-private partnership called the Cocoa & Forests Initiative with the aim to end deforestation and promote forest restoration and protection in the cocoa supply chain. The Cocoa & Forests Initiative has been organised by the World Cocoa Foundation, IDH – the Sustainable Trade Initiative, and The Prince of Wales’s International Sustainability Unit, in partnership with the Governments of Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana. For further information, please visit www.worldcocoafoundation.org.

About the HCS Approach

The HCS Approach is the first practical, field-tested methodology for distinguishing forest areas that should be protected or restored, from degraded lands that may be developed, using an integrated land use planning approach. The methodology was developed with the aim to ensure 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 and livelihoods of local peoples are respected. The HCS Approach has allowed major plantations and supply chain actors to reduce their impact by not clearing or purchasing goods from HCS forests and High Conservation Value areas. For further information, please visit www.highcarbonstock.org.

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn

HCSA Foundation, Suite 18-01A,
Plaza See Hoy Chan
Jalan Raja Chulan 50200,
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

General Enquiries and media requests:
info@highcarbonstock.org

Tel: +603 2702 4631

Quick Links

Useful Links

Follow Us

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.