Baseline/Biodiversity Management
This unit provides the foundation for sustainable, holistic decision-making regarding environmental management. 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 baseline studies informs environmental management of aspects such as:
- Environmental Screening
- Scoping Phase
- Environmental Impact Assessment Phase
- Biodiversity Enhancement, Rehabilitation, or Restoration
These 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 a 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) or external EAPs/consulting firms facilitating environmental authorisations.
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 and more than 30 years’ experience in the environmental industry. He is a self-taught GIS user with expertise in mapping, modelling, and remote sensing.
