Integrated Steel Mill Development, Taiwan

• Client: Private
• Lead consultant: AXIS Environmental Consultants Ltd.
• Components: Ecological baseline survey, environmental impact assessment

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) of the potential siting of a large new integrated steel mill and port facilities at a coastal site. The proposed site occupied habitat of a large number of wetland-dependent bird species, and included the most important known wintering area of the Black-faced Spoonbill Platalea minor , an endangered species numbering roughly 600 individuals worldwide. The area was highly disturbed by fish-farming and agricultural use, some of it illegal.

Ecosystems Ltd. provided ecological input to the study. Relevant previous assessments and biological surveys of the area were reviewed and additional site surveys were conducted. Habitat availability and quality were assessed, as were winter bird preferences for fish pond types as categorised on an objective scale. Alternative site layouts were developed and reviewed, an environmental matrix comparison of the alternatives was conducted, and measures for improving bird conservation were considered, as part of a suite of measures developed to minimise impacts to bird habitat areas.

Songhua River Flood, Biodiversity & Wetland Management, Northeast China

• Client: Asian Development Bank, ADB TA3376-PRC, Manila.
• Lead consultant: AXIS Environmental Consultants Ltd.
• Components: Ecological baseline survey, environmental impact assessment

A 6-month technical assistance to develop subprojects for an ADB loan to PRC and a Global Environment Facility (GEF) grant to PRC to integrate water, biodiversity, and wetland management. Surveyed and ranked wetland protected areas in northeast China’s largest alluvial plains, the Song-Nen and Sanjiang Plains. Identified globally threatened species and habitats. Recommended subprojects to integrate flood management with hydrologic restoration of wetlands and habitats to remove the threat of wetland degradation through dehydration.

Audit and Action Plan Development Palm Oil Plantation, Indonesia.

• Client: ERM-Hong Kong Ltd.
• Lead consultant: Development of oil palm plantation in Sanggau Regency in Indonesia
• Components: Ecological baseline survey, environmental impact assessment

This project included the environmental and social audit (Social Review and Biodiversity Review), development of a detailed action plan for a palm oil in Beduai District, Sekayam District and Noyan District of Sanggau Regency in Indonesia. Ecosystems Ltd. provided input to supplementary surveys of terrestrial wildlife in an oil palm plantation in Noyan District of Sanggau Regency in Borneo.