Integrated Environmental Management
Integrated Environmental Management (IEM) can be defined as a philosophy that is concerned with finding the right balance (sometimes called the 'golden mean') between development and the environment. In addition to the environmental impact assessment services we provide, Ecosense also has extensive expertise in the following IEM tools:
Environmental Risk Assessments
Environmental Risk Assessments are a vital tool in devising appropriate mitigation measures for anticipated environmental impacts. Apart from the risk assessment process that is inherently undertaken to inform our environmental management plans, we have undertaken specific risk assessments at company level, for example risk assessment of the Grinaker LTA construction division to inform development of ISO 14 001 work procedures as well as project level e.g. for the Hondeklip abelone ranching and Roman Bay bloodworm farming projects
Environmental Management Planning
Ecosense has vast experience in environmental management planning for a diverse range of activities over all lifecycle stages, including the compilation of design, construction, operational, decommissioning and rehabilitation phase environmental management plans. From simple to implement construction site environmental management plans for house construction next to the Table Mountain National Park to complex environmental compliance management systems such as developed for the Cape Town Stadium, from fish farms to wind farms to ready-mix concrete plants, Cape Town to Rwanda, we have pretty much seen and done it all when it comes to the drafting of practical and effective environmental management plans and programmes.
Environmental Site Management and Environmental Compliance Monitoring
Ecosense has experienced and knowledgeable personnel to provide environmental site management and compliance monitoring services. These include External Environmental Audit and Environmental Control Officer (ECO) appointments to independently verify a project’s compliance with environmental management plans and environmental approval/permit and licence conditions to project leaders and the national, provincial and local environmental authorities. We also assist contractors and operators with internal environmental auditing and support to assist them in achieving their environmental management goals. Example ECO services we have undertaken include various City of Cape Town housing and infrastructure projects, Overstrand flood repair works, the Grand West Casino and the Cape Town Stadium. Environmental Auditing examples include operational phase audits of the Katse Fish Farm in Lesotho, various housing estates such as the Atlantic Beach Golf Estate in Melkbostrand and the SANBI Working for Wetlands National Performance Audits. We have provided contractor support on various wind farms on the Eastern Cape and road projects in the Western Cape.
Environmental Education and Training
Ecosense regularly provides environmental awareness and induction training for staff on construction sites but also tailors specific environmental management training packages to fulfil the needs of various individuals and organisations. This has included train-the-trainer packages for the Coega IDZ in the Eastern Cape, estate manager training at Big Bay, estate maintenance staff training at Atlantic Beach Golf Estate, environmental legal liabilities training for various engineering and project management firms, environmental compliance monitoring training for City of Cape Town environmental officials and DEO training for civil works contractors. Discuss your training needs with us and we will develop an appropriate package for you.
Environmental Management Systems
Ecosense, with their associates, have audited, assessed and developed environmental management systems for a diverse range of industry disciplines and clients. We are able to manage and integrate assessments and work programmes from many specialist and professional disciplines and draft practical and sustainable integrated systems at both recognised international standard levels e.g. ISO14000 and ISO18000 or tailored made to the clients’ objectives and policy criteria. Greenpoint Common as part of the 2010 Soccer World Cup and Grinaker Cape are examples of some of our projects completed.
