Environmental assessment services

AUDITERRA conducts Strategic Environmental Assessments (SEA) for ministries, government agencies, and regional municipalities, primarily in the sectors of natural resources and mining, energy, transportation, water management, and land-use planning.

SEA is the systematic and comprehensive evaluation of the environmental effects of a proposed Policy, Program, or Plan (PPP), including the consideration of alternatives. Its goal is to integrate environmental considerations early in the strategic decision-making process surrounding the development of the PPP.

SEA ensures a comprehensive understanding of both the positive and negative impacts (environmental, social, cultural, economic, etc.) associated with a PPP, grounded in scientific reasoning and open to multiple knowledge bases.

Our analyses are carried out by our team of experts, using innovative technological tools and proven methodologies to assess the impacts of PPPs on biophysical components, ecosystems, society, the economy, territorial communities, and cumulative effects.

AUDITERRA supports private proponents,  ministries, government agencies by conducting independent reviews and analyses of the quality of information and content in ESIA  and SEA.

In our quality reviews, we systematically address two key elements:

• Information:

  Does the study provide the necessary elements for informed decision-making regarding the development of the project or the PPP? Is the information clear and scientifically rigorous? Are the project or PPP alternatives properly developed and assessed? How are impacts managed after decision-making?

• Influence:

  Does the assessment process effectively influence decision-making by addressing relevant issues and providing timely, actionable input to the government or project proponent?

We also offer coaching services to companies, agencies,  ministries, and project proponents, helping them develop Terms of Reference (ToR) and supervise the preparation of ESIA or SEA studies.

Benefits of an Independent Quality Review:

• Optimization of deliverables:

  As an external expert, AUDITERRA can recommend precise improvements to make ESIA and SEA reports clearer, more compelling, and better structured, thus facilitating understanding and use by public decision-makers.

• Support for better decision-making:

  Ensures that the information and analysis presented in the ESIA or SEA are sufficient to support sound decision-making for the project or PPP.

• Detection of biases and gaps:

  Identifies potential biases, gaps, or weaknesses, particularly in complex environmental or multi-stakeholder contexts.

• Compliance with legal and methodological standards:

  Verifies that the study complies with legal requirements, recognized methodological standards, and stakeholder expectations.

• Promotion of transparency and credibility:

  Demonstrates the commitment of the agency, ministry, or project proponent to transparency and responsible governance, strengthening social acceptability and community trust in the project or PPP preparation process.

The comparative evaluation of project options/scenarios is an essential step in an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA); it involves determining the best options for an infrastructure project by considering a variety of issues, including economic, environmental, social, and project cost aspects, and addressing the concerns of the stakeholders involved.

In support of engineering consulting firms, our work in Multi-Criteria Analysis (MCA) allows the integration of both qualitative and quantitative data from the project’s impact assessments conducted by the firm, which we then convert and combine mathematically. Our geomatics specialists collaborate with those from the firms to map constraints in order to spatialize the alternatives, which are subsequently evaluated and compared based on environmental impacts.

AUDITERRA ensures to support the decision-maker in their final decision by indicating which elements of the project have a clearly positive or negative impact on the considered alternatives.

Our expertise in MCDA is based on:

• Stakeholder engagement:

  Co-construction and spatialization of alternatives, impact diagnostics by alternative, participatory workshops for weighting key issues, and presentation of the comparative analysis to project proponents and stakeholders using maps.

• Application of mathematical techniques:

  These techniques generate comprehensive data to support decision-making by aggregating the performance of project alternatives against often conflicting environmental, technical, financial, and other criteria.

• Use of advanced spatial analysis:

  Geomatics, spatial analysis, modeling, remote sensing, and detailed mapping of project alternatives.

At AUDITERRA, we train and equip our clients in environmental impact assessment processes, covering biophysical, social, cultural, and territorial dimensions. Our team includes experienced trainers from academic backgrounds in environmental assessment.

Our training programs include:

• Understanding ESIA and SEA processes and regulatory procedures (national and international standards).

• Learning impact assessment techniques across social, economic, environmental, and territorial components.

• Developing Environmental and Social Management Plans (ESMPs) and monitoring programs.

• Reviewing the quality of ESIA and SEA reports.

• Engaging stakeholders through public participation, mediation, and hearings.

• Integrating emerging issues such as climate change, biodiversity, and gender-sensitive analysis.

Our training targets managers and professionals involved in conducting, supervising, or evaluating ESIAs and SEAs.

We combine theory, case studies, and simulation exercises to deliver practical, hands-on learning experiences.

We also facilitate workshops that bring together different stakeholders to address complex issues like cumulative impacts or climate change in project assessments.

In addition to training, we provide personalized coaching to project proponents — helping them oversee studies, navigate regulatory requirements, and ensure effective implementation of environmental measures after project approval.

At AUDITERRA, we train and equip our clients in environmental impact assessment processes, covering biophysical, social, cultural, and territorial dimensions. Our team includes experienced trainers from academic backgrounds in environmental assessment.

Our training programs include:

• Understanding ESIA and SEA processes and regulatory procedures (national and international standards).

• Learning impact assessment techniques across social, economic, environmental, and territorial components.

• Developing Environmental and Social Management Plans (ESMPs) and monitoring programs.

• Reviewing the quality of ESIA and SEA reports.

• Engaging stakeholders through public participation, mediation, and hearings.

• Integrating emerging issues such as climate change, biodiversity, and gender-sensitive analysis.

Our training targets managers and professionals involved in conducting, supervising, or evaluating ESIAs and SEAs.

We combine theory, case studies, and simulation exercises to deliver practical, hands-on learning experiences.

We also facilitate workshops that bring together different stakeholders to address complex issues like cumulative impacts or climate change in project assessments.

In addition to training, we provide personalized coaching to project proponents — helping them oversee studies, navigate regulatory requirements, and ensure effective implementation of environmental measures after project approval.