Preliminary habitat surveys form the foundation of ecological assessment and are critical to understanding the habitats present within a site, identifying ecological constraints and opportunities, and informing the need for further surveys. They provide essential baseline information for Preliminary Ecological Appraisals (PEAs), Ecological Impact Assessments (EcIAs), Biodiversity Net Gain assessments and wider ecological decision-making.
The Competency Standard for Preliminary Habitat Survey provides a structured framework for professionals undertaking habitat survey and assessment work. It defines the knowledge, skills and experience required to identify, map, classify and evaluate habitats to a consistent professional standard.
The framework covers a broad range of preliminary habitat survey practices, including survey planning, desk studies, habitat mapping, plant identification, habitat classification, condition assessment, survey scoping and reporting. It supports practitioners at all stages of their professional development, from those developing foundational field skills through to specialists leading complex habitat assessments and providing expert technical advice.
Purpose of this Framework
This competency standard has been developed to:
- Promote high standards of professional practice in preliminary habitat survey and assessment.
- Support career development and progression for ecological practitioners undertaking habitat survey work.
- Provide a benchmark for competency assessment and professional recognition.
- Encourage consistency in habitat identification, classification, evaluation and reporting.
- Ensure practitioners understand their responsibilities relating to legislation, habitat conservation, health and safety, and biosecurity.
Raising Standards
Understanding what good practice looks like and how to develop your competence in different areas of ecological survey, management and mitigation is fundamental to professional development and progressing your career.
CIEEM has been working with volunteer members to develop taxa-specific competency standards that tell the practitioner what they need to know and what they should be able to do in order to demonstrate increasing levels of competence. These competency standards are derived from the CIEEM Competency Framework and have also drawn on the Ecological Competences: Skills and Process document published by Atkins in 2019.