Environmental consultancy: what is it for and what is its importance?

Environmental consultancy is essential for many companies that have some type of interaction with the environment, mainly related to the generation of environmental impacts. In general, it is hired to carry out the assessment of the damage to the Environment that a project or enterprise can generate. It is possible to compensate or even mitigate these impacts. 

 By having a specialized consultant, it is possible to find the best alternatives for the actions that have an interface in the environmental area. With the changes proposed by the new Forestry Code (Law No. 12,651/2012), a series of subsequent rules and laws have stimulated the idea of economic use of areas intended for conservation, such as Legal Reserves and APPs. 

 The term "ENVIRONMENTAL ASSETS" was created in order to encompass measures to obtain income from natural areas. 

 All impacts that are caused to the environment through human activities are governed by rules and laws that are constantly updated. For there to be sustainable development and environmental preservation, it is necessary to have an environmental consultancy to be able to fulfill them. 

 So, in this article we are going to talk about the main points that involve this type of service. 

 Good reading!

What is Environmental Consulting? 

The primary function of environmental consulting is to analyze possible environmental damage that a company or project may cause. These impacts can be a result of waste disposal, misused environmental resources and poorly planned facilities, for example. 

 When hiring this type of consultancy, the objective is to remain in accordance with all environmental policies. Your company may avoid fines and sanctions, plus ensure that your organization is not harmful to the environment nor develops a bad image in society. 

 That means that when relying on the service provided by an environmental consultant, there is greater harmony between the quality of organizational performance and the maintenance of the environment. This means the position of the company in the market will be positively influenced

Some of the actions carried out by an environmental consultancy are:  

• Elaboration of environmental studies of the biotic, abiotic and anthropic environment; 
• Restoration of rivers and springs; 
• Reforestation actions. 

These precautions are fundamental for the preservation of the environment, mainly in order to avoid any ecological accident or incident. 

 Environmental consultancy can act on several projects, such as the purchase of land. In this regard, the responsible professional carries out an environmental feasibility study, through which it is possible to verify the levels of contamination or pollution on the site and assess the useful area of said land. 

 The useful area, in turn, is the total area minus the Legal Reserve, APP and other possible restriction areas established by municipal legislation. 

What is the importance of environmental consulting? 

Different from what some people think, the role of environmental consulting goes far beyond monitoring and ensuring compliance with environmental laws. This service is also capable of preventing companies from receiving high sanctions or fines as a result of non-compliance with their legal obligations. 

 Some penalties can cost millions of reais, for example, causing some organizations to even declare bankruptcy. 

 Hiring an environmental consultancy is a great alternative for institutions that do not want to open their own environmental department. Thus, it is possible to save time and money. 

 This happens because consulting companies already have the necessary experience to know exactly what should be done in the most varied scenarios. 

 By choosing to outsource environmental management, one can avoid unnecessary expenses with fines, for example. It also raises your company's degree of credibility in relation to society, its investors and partners.

Who are the professionals working in environmental consulting? 

The service offered by an environmental consultancy is quite specialized. The professional needs to be linked to some class council. This means it is essential to have a degree in the environmental area. 

 The undergraduate courses that generate professionals able to work in environmental consulting are:  

• Forest engineering. 
• Biology; 
• Environmental engineering; 
• Agronomy; 
• Agronomic Engineering. 

 

Issues addressed by an environmental consultant 

 The main areas addressed by an environmental consultant are: 

• Contamination of land and water; 
• Waste management policies; 
• Environmental management systems; 
• Air assessment; 
• Assessment of the environmental impact of fauna and flora; 

• Environmental audit; 
• The management of legislative matters for clients; 
• The development of conceptual models (identifying and considering possible contaminating sources); 
• Ongoing communication with customers, inspectors and regulators; 
• Identify past activity and any contamination when evaluating properties. 

Why hire an environmental consultant? 

There are several services that can be performed in environmental consultancy, as well as procedures that need to be implemented in almost every occasion. 

 The consultancy must perform all stages of an environmental diagnosis in addition to its implementation. Among them there are:  

• Previous studies; 
• Licensing; 

• Operation; 
• Environmental control plan; 
• Environmental monitoring; 
• Obtaining operating licenses. 

 There are some very important studies that must be carried out during this process. Find out which are the main ones: 

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) 

 The report of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA stands for Estudo de Impacto Ambiental in portuguese) aims to determine what are the probabilities of environmental impacts. 

 It also evaluates all results from actions that may cause some type of environmental damage. Through the EIA, the environmental consulting company also needs to raise possible measures that reduce such impacts and enhance the sustainability of its resources. 

 Environmental Control Plan (PCA) 

 The Environmental Control Plan (PCA stands for Plano de Controle Ambiental in portuguese) is a document that defines the projects for controlling possible environmental impacts caused by the facilities and organizational operations. 

The PCA also aims to correct nonconformities, and must be delivered to obtain the Installation License.

Thus, the Environmental Control Plan needs to follow the following steps:  

• Action plan; 
• Implementation; 
• Deadlines; 
• Team training; 

• Objective Systematic Assessment, Periodic Systematic and Documented Systematic. 

 This entire procedure needs to be done under the guidance of the consulting firm

Advantages and Benefits 

By contracting this type of service, the organization ends up in a better light for society, specially because it adds value to your brand. It is thus perceived as a sustainable option for the population. 

 Laws and regulations are constantly changing, making this procedure difficult to be performed by professionals who are not specialized in the field. 

 Relying on an environmental consultancy is essentially shielding your company against sanctions and possible environmental impacts. 

Geonoma in the market for the environmental area 

At Geonoma we offer environmental services [link] and varied solutions for different needs, such as:  

• Management and enhancement of natural resources; 
• Licensing of residential and infrastructure developments; 
• Environmental adequacy of properties; 
• Forest inventories; 

• Land use planning; 
• Diagnostics, reports and monitoring of biodiversity; 
• Environmental Restoration. 

 All of our deliveries are high quality and within the deadline stipulated and set by the client, allowing the enterprise to base itself on assertive and effective solutions. Our team is made up of qualified professionals with extensive experience in the market, managing to meet the most varied demands for environmental services. 

Did you already know about the importance of environmental consulting and what it is needed for? Tell us your experience here in the comments. 

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