BASELINE/ BIODIVERSITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT

This unit provides the foundation for sustainable, holistic decision making regarding environmental management. The baseline studies, of which biodiversity studies form a core part,
provide the reference against which current and future impacts are evaluated.
The information obtained from the baseline studies informs environmental management aspects
such as:

  1. Environmental Screening
  2. Scoping Phase
  3. Environmental Impact Assessment Phase
  4. Rehabilitation/ Biodiversity Enhancement/ Restoration

The above processes rely on the available information on either a regional – or local scale. Regional scale information is extracted from in-house datasets obtained from various government and academic institutions. Local scale information is obtained through the network
of professional registered experts in the fields of geology, pedology, botany, zoology, visual, social, heritage and engineering. The information obtained on a regional – or local scale is evaluated, modelled or presented using Geographic Information Systems (GIS).

This information is compiled either for the in-house Environmental Assessment Practitioner (EAP)
facilitating environmental authorisations or external EAP’s/ consulting firms.

This unit also facilitates:

  1. Wetland Delineation
  2. Flora And Fauna Surveys
  3. Biodiversity Action Plans
  4. Alien Invasive Management Plans
  5. Land Capability Assessments
  6. Wildlife Management Plans
  7. GIS/ CAD integration
  8. Eco-tourism Infrastructure

Unit Manager: Willem de Frey
Company Resource Level: Managing director
Email: willem.df@eiaa.co.za

Willem de Frey is a registered scientific professional in the fields of ecological – and botanical science. He has a Master’s degree in Wildlife Management, with more than 20 years’ experience in the environmental industry. He is a self-taught GIS user with expertise in mapping, modelling and remote sensing.