Why Become a HCSA Member

Why Join the HCSA?

The initial impetus for the HCSA concept in 2014 was to create a practical tool that plantation companies and land managers could use to ensure they do not contribute to deforestation with new plantations and do not violate the rights of indigenous peoples and local communities.

We are proud to have grown into an international not-for-profit organisation whose members include some of the world’s largest companies and brands, environmental and social justice NGOs, forest community representatives and conservation and monitoring experts.

Our members are responsible for developing the guidance and requirements of the HCSA Toolkit and use it to implement their No Deforestation commitments. Being a member of the HCSA is to share cross-sector insights, expertise and understanding of the complex issues driving deforestation and contribute to improving the HCSA to reduce and halt commodity-driven deforestation on a global scale.

Download our membership leaflet

Cross-cutting benefits of HCSA membership

Our members created the HCSA methodology and continue to have an equal voice in determining its future development. Members elect an Executive Committee (EC) to represent each category of membership in the HCSA governance and decision-making processes. The EC meets regularly and its decisions cover all aspects of HCSA’s work, except for proposed changes to the HCSA methodology, which is approved by the full membership.

Our members lead the work of the HCSA committees, working groups and task forces with their respective remits to drive development of HCSA toolkits; to ensure the quality assurance processes of assessments; and to monitor the impact of HCSA Toolkit implementation.

HCSA members collaborate with partners in individual commodity-producing countries as well at international levels, contributing to joint working groups aligning international sustainability standards of key commodity crops and goods. 

Benefits for HCSA category members:

Plantation Companies

  • HCSA Alert & Monitoring Platform – provides free alert and monitoring services, protocols and expertise for members to monitor and protect High Carbon Stock forest in and around plantation concession areas.
  • Training courses that strengthen staff capacity to apply the HCSA Toolkit including areas such as HCSA assessments, social requirements and restoration and remediation.

Smallholder/Farmer Support Organisations

  • Collaboration opportunities for grants that support simplified smallholder toolkit development and funds to support long-term forest conservation management.
  • Participate in developing benefits and incentives to assist smallholders and independent farmers to conserve tropical forests.
  • Networking opportunities with growers and businesses seeking deforestation-free agricultural and forestry raw materials.

Commodity Users

  • HCSA Alert & Monitoring Platform – provides free monitoring services, protocols and expertise to protect High Carbon Stock forest in global supply chains.
  • Collaboration and partnership with global businesses and organisations to overcome common challenges of HCSA implementation.

Non-Governmental Organisations

  • Multistakeholder global platform to advocate and leverage NGO priorities for companies to implement No Deforestation commitments.
  • Collective NGO voice to negotiate within a multistakeholder global network committed to end commodity-driven deforestation.

Technical Support Organisations

  • Unique technical knowledge of HCSA implementation and key role developing quality assurance and implementation initiatives.
  • HCSA accreditation to lead assessments and provide technical services to companies and organisations using the HCSA Toolkit.