GCS Administration
Global Conservation Standard
The GCS e.V. is a not-for-profit Non-Governmental Organization (NGO).
GCS Technical Panel
The Technical Panel (TP) is comprised of recognized global experts with specialized skills in the areas of conservation biology and economics. The role of the TP is to provide technical steering and guidance of the GCS, assist the approval of GCS documentation, methodologies, entities and projects, provide technical review / feedback of project documents and 3rd party assessment reports and assist in the awareness raising of the GCS and its partner organizations. Meeting minutes are publicly accessible.
Stakeholder Foundation
Stakeholder Foundations are established in each country where the GCS has a presence, using a standardized, transparent and highly structured framework. Pending on the geographical size of the country, the GCS may establish more than one foundation for ease of facilitation of in-country projects.
The Foundation is designed to bring capital, technology and commercial expertise to the neighborhood of conservation areas. It helps mitigating poverty and improves sustainable livelihoods of rural communities through:
- The establishment of sustainable timber plantations;
- The establishment of sustainable agroforestry practices;
- The establishment of ethical and sustainable cash crops;
- Providing training and capacity building opportunities to local and rural communities;
- Increasing awareness of the realities of global climate change and its mitigation.
Auditing and Monitoring
Accredited independent auditors independently control GCS projects and services. Monitoring of the conservation management plan documentation and its application on the ground is carried out annually, which coincides with CCU registration and project administration. The process is supported by modern satellite technology and data imagery. Documentation is publicly accessible, most of it in real time (to come).
GCS Registry
The project registry is owned, operated and maintained by the GCS. It lists all projects validated under the GCS and provides access to their complete documentation and monitoring results.
Partners & Alliances
Sustainable Growth Group
Sustainable Growth Group (SGG) is a UK-based company focusing on the development of natural land use based assets that contribute towards sustainable development through sustainable economic, social and environmental means. SGG have a wide array of environmental and financial products such as climate change mitigation projects, agroforestry investments, clean technology and ethical, responsible investment opportunities.
Double Helix Tracking Technology
Double Helix Tracking Technology (DHTT) have developed the world’s first global timber DNA library, mainly used for the purpose of tracking of timber from production areas to ensure traceability from stump to store. DHTT uses reliable, scientifically proven methodologies to collect samples and catalogue commercial timber species from registered conservation projects. Complementing real-time satellite monitoring carried out in GCS certified projects, it is possible to trace batches of illegal timber and test them against the DNA library, thus providing front line-state of the art technology to reduce illegal logging, reduce the risk of encroachment and increase conservation project robustness to international investors.
