JBA appointed to deliver three lots as part of Environment Agency's Ecological Services Framework 4 (EcoSF4)
Our appointment to the Environment Agency's fourth Ecological Services Framework will see us deliver a range of services across three separate lots. This includes a range of freshwater and coastal ecological services which will improve natural processes, reduce flood risk and help to restore habitats.
Building on the success of previous frameworks
Having played an important role in the success of the Environment Agency's second and third Ecological Services Frameworks, we're proud to be building on this through our appointment to EcoSF4.
EcoSF4 will enable the Environment Agency, Natural England and other Defra Group organisations to work with approved contractors such as JBA Consulting, to carry out technical and regulatory work. This covers a range of services, including, but not limited to, specialist macroinvertebrate services, habitat and species surveys and evaluation, river restoration, geomorphology, habitat creation and fish passage design.
Habitat and Species Surveys, Evaluation and Report Writing Services
This lot involves the delivery of ecological surveys, reports and advice to support activities aimed at promoting nature recovery in line with the Government’s 2023 Environmental Improvement Plan (EIP). The varied aquatic and riparian projects will see our teams working in and adjacent to estuaries, coastal areas, rivers, lakes and wetlands.
Across the range of services delivered, these projects will contribute to the EIP's species abundance and extinction risk targets for a range of threatened, protected and priority species. This also includes covering protected and priority habitats and natural capital assets, as well as invasive, non-native species.
Geomorphology, River Restoration and Habitat Creation Services
This lot focuses on river restoration and habitat creation expertise to inform design and feasibility studies. The projects and solutions delivered by our teams will seek to improve natural geomorphological processes to restore habitats, reduce flood risk and improve fish movement through catchments.
This work will allow us to supplement the Environment Agency and Natural England's in-house expertise with additional resource, knowledge and experience.
Fish Passage
Design Services
This lot covers the design of fish passes that prioritise the use of nature-based solutions. This will see us provide a range of services and expertise including feasibility studies, options appraisal and detailed design.
The solutions delivered as part of this lot will offer the maximum benefit in terms of fish passage, ecological connectivity, morphological processes and habitat creation.
"We are delighted to be reappointed to the Ecological Services Framework and look forward to continuing to work with the Environment Agency, applying our expertise and experience to a wide range of projects building further on our successful partnership to improve catchment and climate resilience.
We look forward to working closely with the Environment Agency and Natural England to deliver sustainable projects that improve natural geomorphological, hydrological and ecological processes to reduce flood risk, restore habitats and improve the movement of fish through catchments."
JBA EcoSF4 Framework Manager, Matt Hemsworth.
For more information about how we're supporting the Environment Agency's fourth Ecological Services Framework, please contact Matt Hemsworth.