High Conservation Value Forest (HCV)

At present , forest management should not only focus on maintaining production forest resources, but forest management is more focused on the management of various resources that includes the economic, environmental and social . Therefore, to meet the needs of forest conservation, forest managers need to identify the areas in the forest that is considered unique or very high levels of significance values ​​based on some criteria that have been agreed and the area is defined as High Conservation Value Forest (HCVF). HCVF was introduced by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) in 1999, where it is stated in Principle 9 of forest certification requirements or the Malaysian Criteria & Indicators (MC&I). FSC HCVF were categorized as forest area that contains the following values ​​: -

HCV-1 : Biodiversity Values ; Forest area contains globally, regionally or nationally significant biodiversity values (e.g. endemism, endangered species, sites of temporal use).

HCV-2 : Landscape-Level Forest ; Forest area contain or is part of a globally, regionally or nationally significant large landscape level forest where significant populations of most if not all naturally occurring wildlife species exist in natural patterns of distribution and abundance.

HCV-3 : Ecosystems ; Forest area contain or is part of a threatened or endangered ecosystem.

HCV-4 : Services of Nature ; Forest area provides basic services of nature in critical situations.

HCV-5 : Basic Needs of Local Communities ; Forest area is fundamental to meeting basic needs of local communities.

HCV-6 : Cultural Identity of Local Communities ; Forest area is critical to local communities' traditional cultural identity.

Sapulut has taken positive steps towards this by identifying the areas and sources of high value found in the wild in FMU 14 to be declared as HCVF . Until now in Sapulut , there is several identified potential areas to be declared as HCVF, in compartment 197B (Batu Saap) which Rafflesia species were found and potential endangered ecosystem (limestone area), Salt Lick, Kerengas Forest and in compartment 269 for water resource (water catchment) for local communities.

Gazetting these areas as HCVF will assist Sapulut in the control, monitoring and maintenance of habitats and unique resources available in the FMU. This is because, HCVF areas are not only confined to only care but it became the focus of researchers to study and become one of the attractions for Eco-tourism. Sapulut is also taking efforts to provide HCVF management plan in the near future to ensure the maintenance and monitoring of HCVF can be implemented in an orderly manner, and the unique resources available in it are protected and social needs of the local community and globally.