The High Carbon Stock Approach: an update

An increasing number of supply chain companies have made commitments to eliminate deforestation from their sourcing of agricultural and forest commodities. However, to implement such commitments requires an agreed approach to distinguishing between forest areas that should be protected and non-forest areas that may be considered for conversion.

This briefing note introduces the High Carbon Stock (HCS) approach, which has been developed in response to this. The HCS Approach provides a clear and unified framework for identifying forest and other areas that should be protected, offering companies a coherent set of rules for implementing their 'no deforestation' commitments.

Download: The High Carbon Stock Approach: an update [ENGLISH] | [SPANISH] | [INDONESIAN] | [FRENCH]

This document is part of a series of briefing notes about responsible sourcing and production. Download the other briefing notes below. 

• 1 Delivering responsible sourcing in practice: an integrated approach [ENGLISH] | [SPANISH] | [PORTUGUESE] | [INDONESIAN] | [FRENCH]
• 2 Introduction to landscape or jurisdictional initiatives in commodity agriculture [ENGLISH] | [SPANISH] | [PORTUGUESE] | [INDONESIAN] | [FRENCH]
• 3 Implementing responsible sourcing – using landscape or jurisdictional initiatives [ENGLISH] | [SPANISH] | [PORTUGUESE] | [INDONESIAN] | [FRENCH]
• 4 Building on legality [ENGLISH] | [SPANISH] | [PORTUGUESE] | [INDONESIAN] | [FRENCH]
• 5 Smallholder engagement [ENGLISH] | [PORTUGUESE]
• 6 Geospatial risk assessment and 'no deforestation' commitments [ENGLISH]
• 8 Responsible sourcing in practice: supplier engagement [ENGLISH] | [SPANISH] | [PORTUGUESE]
• 9 Socio-environmental monitoring of the cattle sector in Brazil [ENGLISH] | [SPANISH] | [PORTUGUESE]
• 10 Delivering company commitments to zero deforestation commodity supply chains [ENGLISH] | [PORTUGUESE] | [FRENCH]
• 11 Practical assessment and monitoring of forest biodiversity [ENGLISH] 
• 12 Accelerating implementation of responsible sourcing commitments: A Framework for Progress to 2020 and Beyond [ENGLISH] | [PORTUGUESE]
• 13 Agricultural Commodity Responsible Sourcing (ACRES): taking action within and beyond supply chains [ENGLISH] | [SPANISH] | [PORTUGUESE]