High Conservation Value
High Conservation Value, biodiversity, environmental impact assessments
High Carbon Stock
Identifying High Carbon Stock forest areas for protection and ongoing management
Monitoring & Auditing
Environmental auditing and impact assessments – mining, agriculture, renewable energy

HCV Africa
What are HCV’s?
HCV’s are biological, ecological, social or cultural values which are considered outstandingly significant or critically important, at the national, regional, or global level.
All natural habitats possess inherent conservation values, including the presence of rare or endemic species, provision of ecosystem services, sacred sites, or resources harvested by the local community.
The HCV African team has the experience and technical knowledge to identify the HCV’s relating to their respective specialist fields
The Six HCV’s
HCV ONE
Species diversity – Concentrations of biological diversity including endemic species, and rare, threatened or endangered species, that are significant at global, regional or national levels.
HCV TWO
Landscape level ecosystems – Large landscape-level ecosystems and ecosystem mosaics that are significant at global, regional or national levels, and that contain viable populations of the great majority of the naturally occurring species in natural patterns of distribution and abundance.
HCV THREE
Ecosystems and habitats – including habitats and refugia that are rare, threatened, and endangered.
HCV FOUR
Ecosystem services – Basic ecosystem services in critical situations, including protection of water catchments and control of erosion of vulnerable soils and slopes.
HCV FIVE
Community needs – Sites and resources fundamental for satisfying the basic necessities of local communities or indigenous peoples (for livelihoods, health, nutrition, water, etc.), identified through engagement with these communities or indigenous peoples.
HCV SIX
Cultural values – Sites, resources, habitats and landscapes of global or national cultural, archaeological or historical significance, and/or of critical cultural, ecological, economic or religious/sacred importance for the traditional cultures of local communities or indigenous peoples.
Our MISSION
Why Us?
HCV Africa is an environmental platform based in Africa.
It provides international-standard environmental and social services, biodiversity assessments, environmental impact assessments, environmental auditing, implementation, and advisory services through a number of highly qualified specialists all of whom have extensive experience working in Africa as reputable scientists.

Specialist Scientists
HCV Africa has a number of specialist scientists that work as associates to fulfil the disciplines required to conduct successful HCV and HCS assessments.
ABOUT OUR FOUNDER
Philip Patton
HCV Licensed Assessor and HCS Registered Practitioner
Philip Patton is the founder of HCV Africa.
He is a licensed High Conservation Value Assessor (ALS15041PP).
Philip holds a B.Sc. Hons (Environmental Science) from the University of Cape Town, and a B.Sc. (Geology and Botany) from the University of Port Elizabeth
Contact us
We welcome all enquiries