Expertise in
High Conservation Value (HCV), Environmental Management, and
Impact Assessments


At HCV Africa, we offer a wealth of experience and expertise in environmental management, which allows us to successfully conduct High Conservation Value (HCV) and High Carbon Stock (HCS) assessments, as well as comprehensive environmental and social impact assessments (ESIA). Our multidisciplinary team ensures that every project we undertake complies with regulatory and sustainability standards, promotes biodiversity conservation, and minimizes environmental impact.

Our specialists are recognized leaders in their respective fields, with senior members registered as scientists in Africa and Europe. With extensive hands-on experience, we have executed complex assessments in challenging and remote environments with limited infrastructure and constrained local capacity. Our track record includes numerous projects across Africa and globally, with specific expertise in large-scale agribusiness, renewable energy, and other sectors.

HCV Africa’s project portfolio includes several IFC-compliant assessments, and our team deeply understands the International Finance Corporation (IFC) Performance Standards, particularly those related to biodiversity, ecosystem services, and community involvement. We ensure our assessments align with these global benchmarks to meet the most stringent requirements. We are skilled in designing environmental management plans (EMP) tailored to meet client needs while ensuring compliance with both local and international regulations, including the Equator Principles (EP4) and the Environmental, Health, and Safety (EHS) Guidelines set by the IFC.

Our team comprises a diverse range of professionals, including ornithologists, botanists, mammologists, aquatic ecologists, terrestrial ecologists, anthropologists, and social scientists. These experts have collectively completed HCV and HCS assessments in various regions, including Africa and Asia, showcasing our global reach and adaptability to diverse ecosystems and cultural settings.

Our integrated approach combines rigorous scientific methodology with practical insights gained from extensive fieldwork, ensuring that each project achieves the highest relevant sustainability standards, environmental stewardship, and corporate responsibility. With a proven track record in sectors ranging from mining and oil & gas to agribusiness and renewable energy, HCV Africa is committed to helping our clients meet their environmental and social goals while protecting critical ecosystems and promoting community well-being.

High Conservation Value

High Conservation Value, biodiversity, environmental impact assessments

High Carbon Stock

Identifying High Carbon Stock forest areas for protection and ongoing management

Environmental and Water administrative legal processes and advice

Administrative law pertaining, opinions and advice relating to Environmental and Water Law

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 and project managers that work as associates to fulfil the disciplines required to conduct successful HCV and HCS assessments and ESIAs/ESMPs.

Botanists and vegetation specialists

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Mammologists

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Aquatic ecologists

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Social scientists

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Ornithologists

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Herpetofauna specialists

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Soil scientists

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Anthropologists

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Registered Environmental Assessment practitioners

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Legal opinions and advice

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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

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Contact us

We welcome all enquiries