Thomson Environmental Consultants, experts in environmental compliance, have been appointed to the Environment Agency’s Ecological Services Framework (EcoSF4) as an approved contractor to carry out specialist macroinvertebrate services over a four-year period.
The framework has been established to support the work of Defra Group organisations in fulfilling their statutory obligations and protecting and improving the aquatic environment.
Other services in the framework include habitat and species (including Invasive and non-native species), surveys and evaluation, report writing, geomorphology, river restoration and habitat creation and fish passage design. The EcoSF4 framework will allow a shared approach between contractors to achieve common aims that benefit the environment.
With offices in Guildford, Leeds, Cardiff, Birmingham, and Manchester, Thomson Environmental Consultants will support the Environment Agency with macroinvertebrate services required for international, national, and local drivers and local investigatory and regulatory needs.
Aquatic habitats are some of the most impacted globally. The technical and regulatory work completed across the framework will contribute to long-term goals such as improved water quality, biodiversity, and flood risk management. Habitat and species surveys will support the Government’s Environmental Improvement Plan (EIP) 2023 species abundance and extinction risk targets. Restoration efforts will reduce flooding, restore habitats, and improve fish movement by enhancing geomorphological, hydrological, and ecological processes. Nature-based fish passage designs will benefit multiple species, ecological connectivity, and habitat creation.
Emily Trill, Freshwater team lead at Thomson, adds:
“We’re delighted to be appointed to the Ecological Services Framework and excited to work with Defra Group organisations to apply our technical expertise to deliver critical projects that meet statutory duties and address ever-increasing water environment pressures.”
Thomson is actively recruiting a senior freshwater ecological consultant to help deliver the services under the EcoSF4 framework.
