High Conservation Value Forest (HCVF)

Besides their economic value, forests also include environmental and social values, such as watershed and soil protection, habitats for wildlife, as well as areas important to the livelihood of local communities. Values of outstanding significance or critical importance are defined as High Conservation Values (HCV). In year 2011, the company has undertaken an assessment of High Conservation Values present in the Licenced Area, based on the WWF-Toolkit for Malaysia: A National Guide for Identifying, Managing and Monitoring High Conservation Value Forests, (WWF-Malaysia 2009). In year 2015 the HCVF concept was reviewed and further refined by a Consultant Team from Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS).  The study revealed that except for HCV 2 (Landscape level forest) all of the six HCV categories are present in FMU No. 11.  Management prescriptions for all identified HCV categories are described under the Future Forest Management Chapter.