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What is an ecological survey and who needs one?
An ecological survey is, in a nutshell, an inventory of all elements of nature occurring in a selected area. It is also a name describing the extensive documentation that needs to be prepared in connection with, for example, an investment that we want to carry out in a specific area.
What are the legal bases?
Since the Ordinance of the Minister of Environment of 16 December 2016 on the protection of animal species (Journal of Laws 2016.2183), the Ordinance of the Minister of Environment of 9 October 2014 on the protection of plant species, as well as the Act on providing information about the environment and its protection, public participation in environmental protection and environmental impact assessments (Journal of Laws 2020, item 283) came into force, preparation of ecological survey is mandatory.
When is an ecological surve required?
The preparation of a comprehensive ecological survey accompanies the implementation of almost every investment. Our wildlife inventory services usually concern such projects as:
- wind farms
- photovoltaic farms
- inventory of the municipality
- modernisation of green areas
- buildings
- roads
- expressways
- overhead power lines
- natural habitats
- thermal insulation of buildings
- modernisation of buildings
- housing
- other investments
Who can carry out an ecological survey?
In Poland, there are no regulations stipulating who can and who cannot perform this type of service. Professional implementation of an ecological survey, however, requires a team of experienced experts, who, working together, will be able to prepare the document expected by State authorities from entrepreneurs carrying out various investments.
Contrary to the ornithological or dendrological survey, preparing an ecological survey is a much more complicated process, because it does not concern a chosen part of fauna or flora, but all natural elements occurring in the surveyed area. This, at its core, means that many experts from different fields of life sciences need to work together.
We have a team of experts participating in the implementation of ecological surveys:
One of the reasons why it is worth commissioning an ecological survey to us is that we have a team of experts in all fields that the survey may concern.
Entomologist
The most important and key expert during the implementation of a comprehensive ecological survey.
Ornithologist
Is an expert on birds and one of the most frequently required specialists during surveys.
Dendrologist
Tree and shrub expert, among other things, carry out dendrological (tree and shrub) surveys.
Mammalogist
An expert on mammals, indispensable during comprehensive ecological surveys and monitoring.
Herpetologist
An expert on amphibians and reptiles, he is particularly involved in surveys of investments such as road construction.
Ichthyologist
Specialist for research and surveys of fish and lampreys, indispensable for water bodies.
Chiropterologist
Specializes in bats, where he implements, among others chiropterological survey.
Entomologist
Is a specialist in plants and habitats, and among other things creates surveys and environmental valuation.
How to conduct an ecological survey?
An ecological survey is not a documentation that can be prepared remotely. The activities of expert naturalists (various taxa – groups of animals or plants) are necessary and must be carried out directly in the field that is inventoried.
Each of the stages must be grouped into parts and periods, depending on the phenology and the presence of the inventoried natural element (taxon) in a specific area. This allows the final report to be prepared according to the top-down research methodology.
Start of work
- preliminary work, during which we determine the exact boundaries of the area to be surveyed and the additional area, i.e. the buffer.
- we collect documentation of the area, among which topographic or orthophoto maps are very important, which we must familiarise ourselves with.
- we get to know the historical background of the inventoried area, we look for and learn about available publications and projects that have been implemented in this area.
- we create a very accurate topography map of the area, where we also determine the geological structure of the area.
- we get to know the nature of the whole area (animate and inanimate) and the types of occurring ecosystems.
- we document the detected plant and animal sites using cartographic methods and take phytosociological photos. The ecological survey includes birds, mammals, fish, amphibians, invertebrates, lichens, fungi, actual and potential habitats and vegetation.
- we then draw up a study containing a number of key findings relating to each category and section to facilitate the final reports for the documentation.
Inventory of flora
Phytosociological analysis is done at the very beginning, and floristic maps are created. The inventory also determines what plant species are present in the study area. It is checked whether the vegetation belongs to the protected species. The types of vegetation present should be verified in a specific area. These are forest communities (e.g. riparian forests, swamp alders, beechwood, oak-hornbeam, oak-hornbeam, scrub), non-forest communities (pastures, water and marsh plants, peat bogs, meadows) or agricultural areas and fallow land. Thanks to the inventory of plant communities, we can look very precisely at the presence of protected species and those that are not subject to adequate protection.
Inventory of fauna
The implementation of faunal survey is more complicated. This is because more people need to be involved in the work. These must be specialists in biology, with knowledge of such taxa as birds, mammals, reptiles, invertebrates or fish. An ecological survey of animal species should be planned for at least early spring, and by summer at the latest. However, if the best results are to be obtained, surveys should also be carried out in the other seasons.
Inventory of inanimate nature
An inventory of inanimate nature is best done in early spring. The trees and shrubs have not yet begun to bloom. Then we have no problem seeing all the elements of the landscape. Inanimate nature includes waterfalls, riverbeds, springs, rocks, quarries, cliffs and natural geological outcrops.
Environmental valuation
The results of the survey are then compiled in the form of a study. It contains the conclusions and results from the conducted research. The environmental valuation is based on assigning a certain rank to the examined areas and species – on the basis of their natural value. The nature assessment is based on assigning a certain rank to the examined areas and species – on the basis of their natural value. This is an extremely important element of the key document, namely the environmental impact report for the project. This is why it must include an assessment of the impact of the investment project on specific ecosystems, including fauna and flora found in the area – especially if they are protected.
How long does an ecological survey take and how much does it cost?
How much does an ecological survey cost?
Each valuation is considered individually. The cost depends on the size, scale and type of investment project. The price of a reliable inventory for small investments starts from 200 PLN. In the case of larger projects (e.g. gas pipelines), the cost is on average from several dozen to several hundred zlotych. The cost is mainly influenced by the length of the project.
How long does an ecological survey take?
The recommended time to conduct a comprehensive wildlife inventory is early spring through summer. However, the best choice would be to run it for the duration of one calendar year. This allows us to trace the different life cycles of selected groups of plants and animals, i. e. reproduction, wintering, migration and dispersal. The nature inventory should describe at least part of the growing season (end of March to August).
What is included in the service?
- field work and comprehensive preparation of documentation of the survey and environmental valuation,
- advice based on best practice in environmental matters,
- assistance and support in contacts with the State authorities who will be responsible for assessing the documentation prepared by us.
What does a sample ecological survey look like?
You are not buying “a pig in a poke”! We deliberately present a sample inventory document so that you know what professionally created documentation looks like, which we will comprehensively carry out for you. Download the file:
Sample ecological survey
download PDF file
Why is it worth choosing us?
We have a team of experts
We have specialists in many fields: ornithologist, herpetologist, theriologist and chiropterologist, ichthyologist, entomologist, botanist and lichenologist, dendrologist and others.
More than 400 implementations
We have completed over 400 environmental and nature documentations throughout Poland (including many surveys and environmental valuations).
Over 20 years of experience
We have over 20 years of experience in nature conservation and scientific research. We have been continuously operating in the environmental protection industry alone for over 10 years.
Don’t take risks, bet on an experienced team
Any errors and deficiencies in the documentation will be pointed out by the verifying body (e.g. RDOŚ). As a consequence, the documentation will be returned in order to provide additional clarifications and appropriate supplements. This will postpone the deadline for obtaining the decision and implementation of your investment. With us you will avoid delays, we act quickly and effectively.
We will service any investment
For over a decade, we have been helping entrepreneurs to carry out their own investments efficiently and on time. We cooperate with leading Polish companies (e.g. GAZ-SYSTEM, ENERGA, PGNiG). We provide services for all types of investments. From small ones, such as house building, to large-scale projects of strategic importance for the country (e.g. gas pipelines or power lines).