A wildlife sweep is a walkthrough of the proposed disturbance site and surrounding 100-metre buffer to identify important wildlife features that must be avoided during associated activities. They are often done prior to siting a project or prior to starting construction.

Wildlife surveys help provide a better understanding of species’ distribution, population estimates, and habitat requirements for sensitive species. Wildlife surveys may be required for specific approval conditions and have procedures detailed in the Sensitive Species Inventory Guidelines.

Wildlife habitat assessment using objective metrics established through literature reviews for specific species and natural areas. These assessments can incorporate use of drones for larger areas and desktop data sets including Primary Land and Vegetation Inventory (PLVI) and Alberta Vegetation Inventory (AVI).

A field-based wetland assessment is a systematic evaluation of wetlands to classify and assess their ecological value and functions following directives provided by the Alberta Government. Wetland assessment also includes the use of the Alberta Wetland Rapid Evaluation Tool - Actual, the field based assessment required by regulators to determine wetland value.

Phase 1 and Phase 2 Environmental Site Assessments (ESAs) are conducted to evaluate environmental risks and potential contamination on a property, often as part of due diligence for property transactions, redevelopment, or regulatory compliance.

A Phase 1 ESA is a preliminary, non-intrusive assessment designed to identify potential or existing environmental concerns.

A Phase 2 ESA involves intrusive testing to confirm and quantify the presence of contamination identified in the Phase 1 assessment.

Timber layout is the process of planning and designing areas for timber harvesting within a forest management area. It is a critical component of sustainable forest management, ensuring environmental, economic, and social considerations are balanced. A stand health assessment is often conducted during this process to determine the health and value of the standing timber.

Whitebark pine (Pinus albicaulis) and limber pine (Pinus flexilis) are critical high-elevation tree species in Alberta and western North America. Both species are listed as endangered under Canada’s Species at Risk Act (SARA) and Alberta’s Wildlife Act, requiring conservation efforts to prevent their extinction. The largest threat to these species is Blister Rust, a invasive fungal pathogen from Asia (Cronartium ribicola) causing widespread mortality. A conservation program for these species often involving seed collection and restoration, habitat restoration, monitoring, and research is expected from developments within their critical habitats.