Environmental guidance for your business in Northern Ireland & Scotland
To manage your site and protect biodiversity you should start by carrying out an ecological survey and establish a baseline. You should use a qualified and experienced ecologist, such as a Member of the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (CIEEM), to survey the biodiversity of your business site. You can search a directory of ecologists on the IEEM website.
To survey certain protected species the ecologist will also need a survey licence from the Northern Ireland Environment Agency, Scottish Natural Heritage or the Scottish Government . You should check that the ecologist has an appropriate licence.
To collect baseline biodiversity data on your site, the ecologist will carry out a desk study.
The desk study will collect existing information on your site and the surrounding areas. This will establish if it is protected or designated in any way, and whether it contains protected or notable species, or non-designated areas that are important for nature conservation.
Your ecologist may also recommend undertaking a Phase 1 habitat survey on your site. They will assess habitat types and the suitability of your site for protected or notable species, and present the survey results on a colour-coded map of habitats.
If the desk study and Phase 1 survey indicate that certain protected or priority species may be present on the site, a more detailed Phase 2 survey will be required.
Society for the Environment: Chartered Environmentalists
How conservation and biodiversity relate to your business
How businesses rely on natural resources and services
Protected sites and priority habitats
Protected and priority species
Environmental damage to biodiversity
Managing biodiversity: Establish the baseline
Managing biodiversity: Create a site action plan
Managing biodiversity: Measure performance
Groundwater in Northern Ireland, DAERA have produced a leaflet to raise awareness about this untapped resource
EU Exit, EU Exit useful information
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