DnA Environmental are specialists in:
- Mine site rehabilitation monitoring and determination of closure criteria;
- Remnant vegetation management and restoration;
- Broad-acre revegetation and revegetation techniques;
- Whole farm and catchment planning;
- Ecological surveys and management plans;
- Development and implementation of revegetation programs;
- Environmental education and training;
- Vegetation and habitat assessments;
- Native grass identification and management;
- Seed collection and propagation; and
- Research and development.
DnA Environmental specialise in undertaking assessments of the ecological function and floristic diversity of ecological communities. These assessments have become increasingly more important within the mining industry as they are required to implement and demonstrate they are undertaking sustainable environmental management practices.
The monitoring programs compare the progress of rehabilitated landforms towards fulfilling long-term landuse objectives by comparing a range of ecological performance indicators and resultant completion criteria against areas of remnant vegetation not impacted by mining activities (analogue or reference sites). These reference sites are representative of the desired final landuse, landscape and vegetation assemblage, and serve to provide a goal or target for rehabilitation.
The methodologies used are robust, flexible and consistent. The monitoring programs aims to comply and be consistent with a range of conditions specified within approval documents, management systems, the Mining Operations Plan and other government regulations and best practice guidelines.
DnA Environmental are specialists in Landscape Function Analyses and implement a range of biodiversity and floristic assessments and undertake comprehensive soil analyses according to the needs of the client. The ecological assessment provides quantitative data that measures changes in:
- Landscape Function;
- Soil chemical parameters;
- Floristic diversity including species area curves and growth forms;
- Ground cover diversity and abundance;
- Vegetation structure and habitat characteristics (including ground cover, cryptogams, logs, rocks, litter, projected foliage cover at various height increments);
- Understorey density and growth (including established shrubs, direct seeding and tubestock plantings and tree regeneration);
- Overstorey characteristics including tree density, health and survival; and
- Other habitat attributes such as the presence of hollows, mistletoe and the production of buds, flowers and fruit.
Permanent transects and photo-points are established to record changes in these attributes over time.
For more information on DnA Environmental’s mine rehabilitation monitoring and the determination of closure criteria please click on the link below.
Mine site rehabilitation monitoring and determination of closure criteria