PUBLIC SUMMARY OF HIGH CONSERVATION VALUE FOREST (HCVF) IN GAAT-MENGIONG FMU
As part of the forest management certification process, Gaat-Mengiong FMU is required to identify High Conservation Value (HCV) areas and implement appropriate management and monitoring measures to ensure that forest management activities do not adversely affect the identified HCV attributes. The table below presents a summary of the HCV status categories identified within Gaat-Mengiong FMU from 2019 to 2025.
| HCV Classification | HCV Status | Remarks | |
|---|---|---|---|
| HCV 1 | Rare, Threatened and Endangered Species | Present | Present within Gaat-Mengiong FMU |
| Endemism | Present | Present within Gaat-Mengiong FMU | |
| Critical Temporal Use | Present | Saltlicks | |
| HCV 4 | Erosion Control | Present | Terrain IV, Stream, River |
| Barrier to Destructive Fire | Present | River, Stream, Shifting agriculture areas | |
| HCV 5 | Basic Need of Local Community | Present |
|
| HCV 6 | Cultural Identity of Local Community | Present | Community burial sites |
Table 1: Status Categories of High Conservation Value (HCV) Areas within Gaat-Mengiong FMU
Following the identification of High Conservation Values (HCVs) within Gaat-Mengiong Forest Management Unit (FMU), the corresponding HCV areas (HCV 1.4, HCV 4, HCV 5, and HCV 6) were demarcated and monitored to support their management and protection. The demarcation of conservation areas was carried out through clear identification of boundaries on maps used for harvesting planning, as well as clear and easily identifiable markings on trees or landmarks on the ground.
Based on the 2025 management and monitoring results, no changes to the existing management and monitoring recommendations were required. The monitoring results further confirmed that no encroachment was observed within the community's shifting agricultural areas (SA), water catchment areas, or burial sites (HCV 5 and HCV 6).
Monitoring of the conservation areas was carried out to ensure that no encroachment or unauthorized activities occurred within the designated areas. The monitoring activities conducted include:
- Verification during pre-harvesting planning to ensure that proposed harvesting areas do not overlap with the designated conservation areas.
- Periodic monitoring of harvesting coupes to ensure that harvesting activities are not carried out within designated conservation areas.
- Forest patrolling to control and prevent hunting, fishing, trapping, collecting forest resources activities, and other unauthorized activities within the FMU.
- Wildlife monitoring to continuously monitor species present within Gaat-Mengiong FMU, particularly Endangered, Rare, and Threatened (ERT) species and endemic species.
- Annual monitoring of HCV areas to identify and record any signs of encroachment. All monitoring data and records are maintained and documented in the annual report.
In addition to monitoring activities, education and preventive measures were carried out for employees, contractors, and local communities within the FMU area. These initiatives included providing awareness on the location of conservation areas, the purpose of conservation, and the activities that are permitted or prohibited within these areas.
Contractors were informed of the relevant requirements during the contract signing process, where adherence to the protection and proper management of environmental conservation areas is included in the contract terms and conditions.
Posters on wildlife species conservation were distributed to employees, contractors, and local communities while HCV locations were mapped to support conservation awareness and prevent encroachment into designated conservation areas.
