Specialists in
Aquatic, Terrestrial, Botanical & Faunal Biodiversity
Assessments and Water Use Authorisations
About Us
We provide specialist biodiversity assessment services covering all disciplines (aquatic, estuarine, terrestrial, botanical and faunal) to agricultural, industrial, mining, tourism and private sectors in South Africa and the rest of Africa. All assessments comply to protocols as required by the National Environmental Management Act (NEMA). We also prepare and submit Water Use License Applications and General Authorisations for water uses legislated under the National Water Act (NWA).
Over 20 years experience in aquatic and environmental research and consulting backed by M.Sc and PhD degrees and an extensive scientific publication track record (almost 40 publications in national and international peer-reviewed scientific journals). Our scientists are SACNASP accredited and are also associated with the University of Pretoria and Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University.
Our Values
Our values are based on two core principles – scientific integrity and reliability. We aim to assist in the environmentally responsible development and use of natural resources in South Africa and the rest of Africa, by providing high quality research and consulting services that are within budget and on time and based on sound science.
Services
We conduct specialist biodiversity assessments for scoping studies, Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs), Environmental Management Plans (EMPs), Water Use License Applications (WULAs) and environmental rehabilitation projects. All specialist reports comply with the requirements of the the protocols specified in GN 320.
(Procedures for the Assessment and Minimum Criteria for Reporting on Identified Environmental Themes in Terms of Sections 24(5)(A) and (H) and 44 of the National Environmental Management Act, 1998, when Applying for Environmental Authorisation)
Aquatic Biodiversity Assessments
- Instream and riparian habitat assessments (IHI, IHAS, VEGRAI)
- Macroinvertebrate biomonitoring (SASS5, MIRAI)
- Fish assessments using electro-fishing and seine netting
- Diatom sampling and analysis
- River rehabilitation
- DWS Risk Assessment (required for Section 21 (c) and (i) water uses
Wetland Assessments
- Wetland classification
- Wetland delineation and mapping
- Wetland health assessment (WET-Health 2)
- Ecosystem services assessments
- Wetland rehabilitation
Water Quality Assessment
- Design of water quality monitoring programmes
- Water quality modelling
- Statistical analysis of water quality monitoring data
- Interpretation of water quality data
- Derivation of water quality guidelines
Botanical Assessments
- Plant species identification
- Vegetation assessments and mapping
- Plant search and rescue plans
- Alien invasive plant management plans
Faunal Assessments
Surveys of small and large mammals, avifauna, insects, amphibians and reptiles using a variety of techniques, including:
- Visual species counts,
- Vocal sound recordings
- Camera trapping
- Sweep netting
- Endoscopic photography (for burrowing species).
Ecological Risk Assessment
- Exposure assessment (source, fate and transport of pollutants)
- Effect assessment (analysis of toxicity data)
- Species sensitivity distributions
- Probabilistic and deterministic risk assessments
Water Use Authorisations
- Water use assessments
- Water Use License Applications (WULAs)
- General Authorisations (GAs)
- Validation and verification (V&V) assessments
Water Resource Management
- Hydrological modelling – (WRSM/Pitman & SWAT)
- Crop irrigation requirements (SAPWAT)
- Nonpoint source pollution modelling (nutrients, pesticides and sediments)
- Historical firm yields and long-term stochastic yields of dams
- Dam sizing analysis