Terratree consultants have been involved in the design and implementation of ecological assessments throughout Western Australia, interstate and overseas. By understanding the biodiversity values present in an area and regulatory requirements for assessing potential impacts to these values, Terratree can provide guidance about the most appropriate surveys to facilitate impact assessment and management planning. We provide clear advice about survey timing, regulatory expectations, approval time frames and cost.
Terratree’s flora and vegetation services include:
Featured Project
Minjar Gold – Flora, Vegetation and Targeted Survey
Minjar commissioned Terratree to undertake Level 1 and Level 2 Flora and Vegetation surveys, Targeted Threatened and Priority Flora Searches and Stylidium scintillans habitat assessment surveys within 26 target areas and eight potential road alignments (totalling over 1,650 ha) in the Murchison Region of Western Australia. The field surveys were conducted in September 2013, following a relatively dry winter. The survey areas were traversed on foot by botanists spaced 25 to 40m apart, depending on vegetation density. Locations of Priority Flora and potential S. scintillans habitat were recorded using handheld GPS units. Terratree conducted surveys for Mallefowl (Leipoa ocellata) concurrently to maximise survey efficiency.
It is difficult to conclusively establish presence or absence of S. scintillans because it is only visible in spring and requires sufficient winter rainfall. In response to this constraint, Terratree developed a habitat-based assessment framework that was endorsed by the DPaW. By avoiding impacts to potential S. Scintillans habitat, direct impacts to the species would be avoided while enabling Minjar to acquire approval to proceed with the exploration program. Terratree uses area-specific data and their on-the-ground knowledge to develop appropriate, effective and practical environmental management measures and determine environmental impacts as needed in approvals processes.
Additional Recent Projects