Ecological Impact Assessment Services (EcIA)
Ecological Impact Assessment Services for Planning Applications and Development Consent
Expert ecological impact assessment services (EcIA) supporting planning applications and development consent across housing, infrastructure, and energy projects. We deliver CIEEM compliant assessments, protected species surveys, biodiversity net gain evaluation, and ecological management plans designed to meet planning authority requirements and support approval.
Trusted by Leading Organisations Around the World
Helping You Secure Planning Approval with CIEEM-Compliant Ecological Impact Assessment Solutions
We deliver ecological impact assessment services tailored to planning applications, major infrastructure projects, and biodiversity net gain requirements, combining CIEEM compliant methodology, protected species surveys, and structured impact assessment to support approval and compliance.
EcIA for Planning Applications
Secure planning approval with ecological impact assessments covering Phase 1 habitat surveys, protected species surveys, impact evaluation, and mitigation strategies aligned with local planning authority requirements.
EcIA for Infrastructure and DCO Projects
Deliver EcIA for large-scale infrastructure and Development Consent Order projects including detailed ecological surveys, cumulative impact assessment, and long term monitoring requirements.
Biodiversity Net Gain Assessment
Support planning compliance with biodiversity net gain calculations using recognised metrics, including baseline habitat assessment, net gain evaluation, and on site and off site enhancement strategies.
Why Organisations Choose Our Ecological Impact Assessment Services (EcIA) for Planning Approval
When ecological impact assessments (EcIA) are critical to planning approval, we support support developers, infrastructure projects, and consultants with delivering CIEEM compliant methodology, robust surveys, and clear, defensible outputs designed to satisfy planning authorities and avoid delays.
EcIA structured to meet planning authority expectations, reducing the risk of objections, additional survey requests, and delays in the approval process.
Assessment methodology aligned with CIEEM guidelines, ensuring impact evaluation, mitigation, and reporting meet recognised best practice.
Surveys and assessment designed to identify and address protected species constraints early, avoiding legal risks and unexpected planning issues.
Experience supporting projects with significant ecological constraints, ensuring assessments are robust enough to withstand scrutiny and support approval.
A Complete Approach to Defensible Ecological Impact Assessment (EcIA)
Our EcIA services follow CIEEM guidelines and cover all components required to deliver robust, defensible assessments that support planning approval, regulatory compliance, and ecological risk management.
Phase 1 Habitat Survey and Desk Study
Comprehensive baseline surveys and desk studies identifying habitats, designated sites, and ecological constraints within the zone of influence.
Protected Species Surveys
Targeted surveys for bats, badgers, great crested newts, reptiles, breeding birds, and other protected species using best practice methodologies.
Impact Significance Evaluation
Structured impact assessment using CIEEM methodology to evaluate magnitude, duration, and significance of ecological impacts.
Comprehensive Ecological Impact Assessment Services
Mitigation Hierarchy and Compensation
Application of avoidance, mitigation, compensation, and enhancement measures with specific, implementable actions addressing identified impacts.
Biodiversity Net Gain Calculation
Biodiversity Net Gain assessment using recognised metrics to quantify baseline and post development value and demonstrate compliance with planning policy.
Ecological Management and Monitoring Plans
Detailed management and monitoring plans translating assessment findings into site specific actions with clear responsibilities and measurable outcomes.
Our Structured Approach to Ecological Impact Assessments (EcIA)
We deliver EcIA's through a structured process designed to align with planning requirements, CIEEM guidelines, and project timelines, ensuring assessments are delivered efficiently, meet regulatory expectations, and support successful planning outcomes.
1.
Scoping and Desk Study
We define the scope of the EcIA, identify ecological constraints, review existing data, and align survey requirements with planning authority expectations and project timelines.
2.
Ecological Surveys and Baseline Development
Our experts undertake Phase 1 habitat surveys and protected species surveys to establish robust baseline conditions across the site and zone of influence.
3.
Impact Assessment and BNG Calculation
We evaluate the ecological impacts using CIEEM methodology and complete biodiversity net gain calculations, identifying mitigation requirements and ecological constraints.
4.
Mitigation Design and Planning Submission
Our team develop mitigation strategies, ecological management plans, and reporting outputs ready for planning submission, ensuring compliance and supporting approval.
Supporting Organisations Globally Across High Impact Sectors
We support organisations operating in regulated, high impact sectors including mining, energy, and infrastructure, where biodiversity compliance requirements are critical to project success.
Supporting complex projects across multiple countries, regions, and regulatory environments.
Experience delivering biodiversity and monitoring programmes across large sites and multi location projects.
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Proven Biodiversity Solutions Driving Compliance And Conservation At Scale
From tropical forests to private estates, our biodiversity solutions are used worldwide to deliver measurable results. Explore our case studies on the interactive map to see how we help organisations achieve compliance, conservation and restoration outcomes.
Qatar Marine Monitoring
Okala provided marine biodiversity baselines for coastal mangrove restoration
Eastern Africa chimps
The Biodiversity Consultancy partnered with Okala to monitor chimpanzee populations using camera trap data
Congo rainforest
Scalable AI species identification in the Republic of Congo
EUDR East Africa
EUDR compliance for 50,000 soya farms across Togo and Benin
Gold mine in Australia
FURA is a global gemstone mining company operating in Australia, Colombia, and Mozambique.
Brazil Rainforest
Camera trap videos of individually identified jaguars can support biodiversity credit projects
Scottish Estate
Scaling the use of bioacoustics, eDNA and camera traps for biodiversity monitoring in Scotland
Peer-reviewed studies underpinning our methodologies, ensuring outputs are scientifically robust and defensible under regulatory scrutiny.
Projects delivered across Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Americas, supporting approvals, compliance, and measurable biodiversity outcomes.
Agricultural sites assessed for deforestation risk and sustainability reporting, supporting compliance with EUDR and supply chain requirements.
See What Our Clients Say
Hear from organisations we have supported across complex projects, delivering reliable, defensible outcomes under regulatory and operational pressure.
We have had a great experience working with Okala. The process has been constructive and efficient. We have appreciated the collaborative nature of the work and the level of expertise from the Okala team. It has been great to work with a like-minded team who share our values.
We greatly appreciated Okala’s ability to adapt to the specific demands of the mining industry. Their flexibility and responsiveness enabled the timely delivery of key project components. The dashboard training session was very well received by our client, and the platform itself has proven to be an effective tool for visualizing the results of camera-trap monitoring. We look forward to continuing and expanding our collaboration with Okala.
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This was an ambitious project where we could put AI to the test at very large scales. Okala's data platform allowed us to verify AI outputs and rapidly interact with the data using the intuitive interface.
Okala's expert gap analysis and guidance have greatly advanced Fura’s progress towards reaching our sustainability goals. Their professionalism and insight into biodiversity and carbon management exceeded our expectations.
Okala delivered cutting edge biodiversity, carbon and social baselines to understand how a 300,000 ha forestry concession in Gabon could be managed for sustainable development.
The full service - from fieldwork to reporting - was excellent. We look forward to working with Okala again.
Minimising biodiversity impact is an increasing challenge for our sector. Okala provided unrivalled transparency and reporting for our early-stage industrial project in Rwanda.
Okala delivered high-quality biodiversity baselines in just six months using eDNA, bioacoustics and camera traps. Their work will allow us to calculate the biodiversity value of the forest to inform land-management.
Answers To Your Ecological Impact Assessment FAQs
Have questions about ecological impact assessment services (EcIA) for planning applications? Here’s how our EcIA services support approval, compliance, and project delivery in practice.
Book Your Initial 30-Minute Consultation and Move Your Project Forward With Confidence
Speak with our team about your project requirements, regulatory context, and timelines. We will provide clear, practical guidance on the best approach to assessment, compliance, and reporting.
