Ecology and Biodiversity

Our Expertise

• Ecological services

  • Ecological baseline surveys
  • Ecological clerk of works
  • Ecological impact assessment (EcIA)
  • Ecological management plans
  • Ecological mapping
  • Ecological mitigation strategies, including licensed method statements for European protected species and other protected species
  • Ecological research, monitoring, modelling and analysis
  • Long-term ecological monitoring
  • Preliminary ecological appraisal (PEA)
  • Scoping studies in preliminary ecological appraisals
  • Specialist ecological survey and input to facilitate renewable energy projects such as wind, hydro and solar

• Biodiversity

  • Biodiversity action and management plans for construction and landscapes
  • Biodiversity compensation and offsetting

• Habitats, species and vegetation management

  • Aquatic habitat surveys and diffuse pollution walkover surveys
  • eDNA testing
  • Extended Phase 1 habitat survey and desk study
  • Fish health checks and surveys, and fisheries management and stocking advice
  • Fish passage and screening assessments
  • Habitat restoration and management
  • Invasive plant species advice and management
  • Invasive, non-native species surveys and advice
  • Protected species surveys and services for a range of species, including great crested newt, reptiles, birds, bats, dormice, otter, water vole and badger
  • Rare species translocations
  • Vegetation survey and classification
  • Macroinvertebrate surveys
  • River restoration surveys and advice
  • Protected species surveys, mitigation measures and licensing

• Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM)

  • BREEAM support
  • BREAAM assessments

• Biodiversity risk management

  Early integration of biodiversity management into a project’s lifespan in alignment with the mitigation hierarchy is integral to minimising biodiversity risks. Rapid mobilisation and early identification of biodiversity values and potential impacts facilitate project planning, design and development.

• Critical habitat assessment

  The presence of critical habitat has implications for a project in terms of mitigation measures, restoration and offsetting. Our team is competent and experienced at evaluating and identifying the high biodiversity values within the zone of influence that qualifies as critical habitat, a key component when aligning a project with IFC PS6/European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) Performance Requirement 6/European Investment Bank (EIB) Standard 3, through a combination of desktop reviews, stakeholder engagement, GIS analysis and habitat modelling, and field studies. Early indication of potential critical habitat minimises project-based risks and increases opportunities for our clients.

• World heritage impact assessments

  We are experienced at delivering natural world heritage assessments in line with IUCN requirements and UNESCO guidelines.

• Offsetting and developing conservation programmes

  We are experienced at developing offset strategies and programmes for projects based in Australia, the EU and Africa that are driven by regulatory or environmental policies and corporate biodiversity commitments, including projects that comply with IFC/EBRD/EIB requirements. We offer a pragmatic, transparent and technically viable approach to the sustainable offsetting of residual project-related impacts that is based on sound scientific knowledge. We also help projects to form partnerships and gain stakeholder support, which are critical for success and offset longevity.

• Biodiversity action and monitoring plans

  We develop biodiversity action and monitoring plans that provide a framework for a project to implement mitigation and monitoring measures. This enables our clients to track and evaluate the effectiveness of these actions and inform adaptive management. Biodiversity action and monitoring plans are leading industry practice and necessary for international lender compliance; effective and strategic monitoring are key to ensuring and demonstrating that biodiversity-related commitments are met, which is often essential as part of permitting and operation.

• Stakeholder engagement and consultation

  Effective and meaningful stakeholder engagement and consultation are vital for successful project design and delivery. The biodiversity team, with support from RSK’s social team, is skilled at supporting projects to initiate and sustain constructive engagement and consultation with governments, non-governmental organisations, affected communities, the private sector and other stakeholders to minimise risks and maximise opportunities. We also help our clients to build the partnerships and relationships necessary for offsetting and establishing conservation programmes.

• Capacity building

  We provide bespoke training and mentoring in biodiversity surveying and monitoring techniques, equipment use, health and safety in the field, GIS tools and data management and interpretation with the aim of building our clients’ in-house capabilities to support post-permitting commitments and minimise their ongoing consultancy costs.

• Scoping, terms of reference and biodiversity baseline assessments

  In collaboration with in-country partners, we design and deliver cost-effective and scientifically robust scoping, terms of reference and terrestrial and aquatic ecology baseline assessments to inform decision making during project development. We use a combination of techniques to identify the biodiversity values of a project, existing threats and natural resource use. We work with specialists to minimise costs and delays, and fill knowledge gaps.

• Biodiversity impact assessment

  We are experienced at delivering terrestrial and aquatic biodiversity, and ecosystem services impact assessments in alignment with legislative requirements, lender compliance and international best practice. We offer an integrated approach to environmental and social impact assessments, standalone biodiversity assessments and reviews of existing impact assessments for quality assurance and compliance.