HCSA and Farmers for Forest Protection Foundation Announce Future Stewardship of the HCS–HCV Simplified Smallholder Toolkit for Indonesia

HCSA and the Farmers for Forest Protection Foundation (4F) have reached an agreement for 4F to become the future steward of the HCS–HCV Simplified Smallholder Approach Toolkit for Indonesia

[Kuala Lumpur, 14 May 2026] — The High Carbon Stock Approach (HCSA) and the Farmers for Forest Protection Foundation (4F), an Indonesian not-for-profit organisation focused on supporting smallholders to map and protect their forests, jointly announce an agreement under which 4F will become the future steward of the HCS–HCV Simplified Smallholder Approach Toolkit for Indonesia.

“The availability and accessibility of localised cost-effective tools for mapping and managing valuable forest patches are crucial for communities and small farmers to prevent deforestation linked to the production of agricultural commodities and contribute to their conservation. As future stewards, and because of their mission to supporting smallholders to map and protect the forests in their communities, the Farmers for Forest Protection Foundation (4F) are the perfect partner for HCSA to ensure that this accessible tool is not only readily available but also adequately promoted and widely used in Indonesia.” said Jesús Cordero, Executive Director of HCSA.

“Now more than ever small farmers need support to map and protect their remaining forests, as well as secure their traditional rights. The HCS-HCV smallholder toolkit is an important part of the practical implementation of that support.” said Tirza Pandelaki, 4F Executive Director.

Figure 1. Poster presentation of the HCS-HCV Simplified Smallholder Approach Toolkit for Indonesia as a practical guide for implementing the High Carbon Stock–High Conservation Value approach for smallholder farmer groups in Indonesia.

The agreement was formally endorsed by the HCSA Steering Group Executive Committee on 29 January 2026, with the change of governance taking effect on 14 May 2026.

From this date, 4F will assume full ownership and stewardship of the Smallholder (SH) Toolkit, including oversight for its use, further development, modification, and promotion. 4F will also safeguard the toolkit as a key resource supporting Indonesian smallholders and other relevant stakeholders in forest protection and sustainable land management.

Under the new governance arrangement:

• 4F will serve as the primary point of contact for all enquiries and requests related to the SH Toolkit;
• 4F will take over governance of the application, including any future review, consultation on and evolution of the toolkit to ensure it remains relevant to field realities and smallholder needs;
• The toolkit will continue to be made publicly available.

Figure 2. Field verification activities (one of the stages in the implementation of the simplified HCS-HCV approach for smallholders) in Kenawan Village, Sukamara Regency.

The HCS–HCV Simplified Smallholder Approach Toolkit for Indonesia is available in Bahasa Indonesia and English. It is currently hosted on the 4F website, and HCSA intends to continue making the latest version of the toolkit available on its website as a downloadable resource, with a clear link to the Farmers for Forest Protection Foundation (4F) website and contact details.

This transition reflects HCSA’s commitment to ensuring continuity, accessibility, and effective governance of its tools as the organisation prepares to conclude its operations as a membership body. Entrusting stewardship of the SH Toolkit to 4F supports its continued relevance and long-term impact for Indonesian smallholders.

For further information, please contact:
📧 info@highcarbonstock.org
📧 secretariat@farmers4forest.org/ adm.petanipelindunghutan@gmail.com