Ecological Impact Assessment

The Environmental Impact Assessment Directive (Directive 85/337/EEC, as amended), applies to a wide range of defined public and private projects, which are defined in Annex I and II.

Aulino Wann & Associates have carried out ecological impact assessments for a diverse range of development types including:

• Renewable energy projects;
• Housing schemes;
• Road projects;
• Flood protection schemes;
• Tourism and leisure developments.

The Ecological Impact Assessment process carried out as part of the Environmental Impact Assessment, includes an initial data gathering exercise, which is used to inform the content or scope of the full Ecological Impact Assessment. Information on the proposed development including the habitats, flora and fauna of the site held by central and local government and non-governmental organizations is gathered. Any relevant legislation and policies relating to the development is also examined.

After the initial desktop study is completed, habitat, flora and fauna surveys are completed, and an assessment is made of the likely impacts of the development on sensitive ecological receptors.

As the ecological surveys are completed as part of the Ecological Impact Assessment process, the development design is amended to avoid, reduce or mitigate against any adverse impacts on the sensitive ecological receptors in line with the hierarchy of avoid, mitigate and compensate.

Aulino Wann & Associates can also act as Ecological Clerk of Works on development sites. We are familiar with construction practices and are able to provide Toolbox Talks, site inductions and training to ensure that ecological, arboricultural and countryside management constraints are understood by the construction contractors.

We are able to supervise and actively undertake the following clerk of works roles in sensitive ecological environments:

• Checking vegetation for breeding birds;
• Protected species handling, monitoring and disturbance under license from the
  statutory nature conservation agencies;
• Checking trees and buildings for bat roosts;
• Habitat creation and management;
• Invasive species control and management;
• Watercourse management.

Altahullion, Dungiven Co Derry Phase III Windfarm

The Altahullion Windfarm developed by RES UK and Ireland Ltd. (www.res-group.com/global/uk-ireland), comprises 12 turbines with a total capacity installed of 27.6 MW.

Aulino Wann & Associates were commissioned by RES UK and Ireland Ltd to carry out a JNCC extended phase 1 habitat survey of the site to provide the data to microsite the individual turbines in order to reduce the impact of the development on the sensitive ecological receptors. All habitats were digitally mapped using GIS software. Ecological impacts were assessed, and mitigation strategies devised to ensure that any impacts on the most important sensitive ecological receptors on the site were avoided or reduced.

A2 Shore Road Scheme

Graham were commissioned by the Department for Regional Development Road Service to upgrade a 3.5 km stretch of the A2 Shore Road between Jordanstown road and Trooperslane road in Carrickfergus. The road improvement scheme provides drivers with two lanes of carriageway in each direction from the N5 junction at Whiteabbey to Carrickfergus.

Aulino Wann & Associates were commissioned by RSK Group plc. (www.rsk.co.uk) to carry out ecological clerk of works duties for this scheme including checking buildings and trees for breeding birds and bat roosts before clearance under license from Northern Ireland Environment Agency.