Services and Expertise
Latitude 42 Environmental Management Consultants Pty Ltd
offers a comprehensive environmental assessment service incorporating preliminary
investigations and baseline studies, development and implementation of environmental
monitoring programs and compilation of reports, impact statements and management
plans. Environmental surveying and assessment of terrestrial and marine wildlife
and their habitats form the primary areas of our work. Extensive in-house
expertise enables Latitude 42 to provide an integrated service suited to
a wide range of multi-disciplinary environmental and wildlife management
projects. Latitude 42 offers project management services to coordinate studies
across a wide range of ecological and related environmental issues. Examples
of briefs previously undertaken in these areas are provided in our Work
History.
Environmental services provided by Latitude 42 fall into
the following broad categories:
- Wildlife surveys and monitoring programs
- Environmental impact assessments and management plans, including
assistance with submission of referrals under the Environment Protection
and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act).
- Independent and collaborative research and advisory services
- Environmental project management
- Education and community coordination
Wildlife surveys and monitoring programs
Latitude 42 has expertise in a diverse range of wildlife
surveying and monitoring techniques. Surveys can be carried out as independent
field assessments or as components of environmental risk assessments, compliance
programs, management strategies or research projects. Our services include
the following elements:
- Design of survey and monitoring programs to appropriate statistical and
compliance levels
- Complementary literature reviews to facilitate survey design and collection
of comprehensive survey information
- Surveying of terrestrial, marine, and freshwater biological and ecological
parameters, habitats and community distributions
- Sampling of flora and fauna
- Identification and taxonomy of vertebrates and flora
- Biodiversity assessment
- Identification, assessment and monitoring of introduced species
- Surveying and monitoring of threatened species
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Environmental impact assessments and management plans
Latitude 42 offers a comprehensive service for environmental
impact and risk assessment, including interpretation of legislative controls,
background field and desktop studies, impact and risk analysis and development
of appropriate management measures. In consultation with clients and other
relevant stakeholders, Latitude 42 will formulate practical strategies and
environmental management plans for mitigating impacts on the environment.Services
provided by Latitude 42 for impact assessment and environmental management
include the following components:
- Assessment of relevant State and Commonwealth legislative controls and
international agreements.
- Assistance with submission of referrals under the Commonwealth government’s
Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC).
- Database searches to identify sites, habitats and species of significance
within regions.
- Literature reviews and desktop studies to gather and present background
information.
- Identification of environmental risks and historical impacts
- Field surveys and monitoring programs to collect necessary environmental
data.
- Identification of environmental values and areas of ecological and conservation
significance.
- Conservation biology and threatened species management.
- Invasion biology and pest management.
- Environmental risk and impact analysis for developments and industries.
- Mitigation strategies to address risks to species and their habitats.
- Environmental management plans and strategies for sites, activities,
habitats and species of concern.
- Threat abatement plans for key threatening processes.
- Recovery plans for recovery and management of threatened species.
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Independent and collaborative research and advisory services
Latitude 42 has an extensive research capacity, employing
a number of highly qualified environmental scientists.
We are therefore able to carry out research projects either independently
or through collaborations with other organisations. Research projects can
be carried out in collaboration with industry groups, management agencies,
museums, universities and other research institutions. In addition, Latitude
42 provides an advisory service to State and Commonwealth government agencies,
industries and other stakeholders seeking information on environmental issues.Research
and advisory capacities of Latitude 42 encompass the following areas:
- Implementation of independent environmental research projects
- Provision of species and habitat inventories based on literature reviews
and database information
- Critical appraisal of documents relating to environmental issues and
monitoring programs
- Advice to government and industry groups during preparation and assessment
of development proposals and regarding management of environmental issues
- Assistance to government agencies, industry and other groups in the preparation
of environmental management plans and strategies.
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Environmental project management
Latitude 42 provides management services for implementation
of ecological and related environmental studies required for threatened species
conservation, impact assessments and other investigations. The studies address
a broad range of issues, such as threatened species, terrestrial ecology,
aquatic ecology and marine ecology, to ensure a whole-of-ecosystem approach.
Project management services offered by Latitude 42 include:
- Documentation of project issues and relevant studies
- Identification of suitable specialist sub-consultants
- Preparation of study scopes and briefs
- Management and coordination of sub-consultant studies
- Technical review and editing of sub-consultant reports
- Collaboration with non-environmental specialists to allow coordination
with other aspects of project investigations
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Education and community coordination
Latitude 42 staff are experienced in environmental interpretation
and community-based projects, and can provide both educational and community
coordination services.
Services provided by Latitude 42 in these areas include:
- Technical advice and support to groups involved in Natural Heritage Trust
and other community-based projects
- Development of educational tools to raise awareness amongst the community
or target groups
- Conduct surveys to assist in development of appropriate tools for education,
raising awareness and encouraging community involvement
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Recent Work History
· Develop
population estimates for three species of NZ seabirds (white-capped
albatross, Westland petrel, flesh-footed shearwater) using aerial photography
and other techniques to examine the effects
of fishing on population viability
· Census
of New Zealand fur seals along west coast of NZ's South Island using
aerial photography
· Seabird monitoring study
at Coringa Herald National Nature Reserve
· Provision of technical and
expert advice to the Agreement on the Consevation of Albatrosses and
Petrels
· Seabird bycatch risk assessment
for Australian longline fisheries as required
under the FAO's IPOA-Seabirds
· Literature
review of available methods for remote tracking of the Orange-bellied
Parrot
· Population modelling of
captive management scenarios to prevent the extinction of the Tasmanian
Devil
· Preparation
of a recovery plan for the Tasmanian Devil
· Preparation
of a recovery plan for Abbott’s Booby
· Preparation
of issues papers on threatened seabirds
· Preparation
of issues papers for the grey nurse and great white shark
· Editing
and finalising 12 Recovery Plans for threatened Tasmanian flora and
fauna
· Development
of educational material on Grey Nurse Shark for recreational fishers
· Development
of elephant seal monitoring program for Macquarie Island
· Risk
assessment on the import of live ferrets under the EPBC Act
· Risk
assessment on the import of hybrid cats under the EPBC Act
· Analysis
of population data for albatross colonies at South Georgia
· Development
of guidelines for wind farms to assist in determining whether an action
should be referred under the EPBC Act
· Review of Assessment Documentation
and Conclusions for the Bald Hills Wind Farm