BIOTA operates in various regions of the world, with projects developed in Portugal, Spain, Mozambique, Angola, Algeria, Malawi, Namibia, Cape Verde and Chile. With a multilingual team and an international network of experts, we guarantee a sensitive approach to local realities, both natural and cultural. Since 2008, we have collaborated on more than 500 projects of different scales, from local to global.
Although we have a strong presence in Portugal and the Portuguese-speaking African countries, we remain open to new challenges in other geographies. See below for a selection of our international projects or access our portfolio to find out more about all the work we have done.
International Projects
Algeria
Environmental Impact Assessment of Koudiat Ben Aida, Bounachi, Zaouia and Chachar Dams - Ecological Component
Service: Impact Assessment
BIOTA's Client: COBA - Consultores de Engenharia e Ambiente, SA.
Final Client: Agence Nationale des Barrages et Transferts (ANBT)
Start Date: 2014
Completion Date: 2015
Description of the project: The work focused on assessing the effects on vegetation, terrestrial and aquatic fauna, natural habitats and biodiversity. The study identified significant impacts, particularly in the area of the future reservoir and surrounding zones, including protected species and sensitive habitats. To address these challenges, mitigation measures, ecological compensation programmes and environmental monitoring actions were proposed, ensuring the conservation of ecosystems and promoting the sustainability of the hydraulic developments.
Angola
Angola’s National Water Plan – Ecology and Ecological Flows Components
Service: Aquatic Ecosystems Services
Location: Angola
BIOTA's Client: COBA – Consultores em Engenharia e Ambiente, S.A.
Final Client: Angola Government
Start Date: 2012
Completion Date: November 2015
Description of the project: For each hydrographic region of Angola, the potential ecological values concerning fauna and flora were identified, as well as its ecological sensitivity. A valuation scale of ecological richness was then applied within each hydrographic region. Environmental flows were estimated for each hydrographic region using the curve displacement method. Angola’s national water plan is in force since 2017.
Training Seminar in Power Generation Environmental Management and Sustainability: Environmental Monitoring of Hydroelectric dams - Evaluation of Ecological Flow Effectiveness in River Lima
Service: Capacity Building
Location: Lisbon
BIOTA's Client: COBA – Consultores em Engenharia e Ambiente, S.A.
Final Client: GAMEK
Start Date: 2014
Completion Date: 2014
Description of the project: The training seminar was directed to GAMEK technical staff. BIOTA’s contribution concerned capacity building on methods to evaluate the efficiency of ecological stream flows, within the scope of the European Water Framework Directive.
International Seminar – Biodiversity: its contribution to the diversification of the Angolan economy
Service: Biodiversity Communication
Location: Luanda
BIOTA's Client: Centro2020, Portugal2020, União Europeia – FEDER
Final Client: Centro2020, Portugal2020, União Europeia – FEDER
Start Date: 2018
Completion Date: 2018
Description of the project: Full organisation of the international seminar, including production of materials, media and digital outreach, invitation of speakers, programme definition and logistical support.
Malanje Province Land Use Plan
Service: Conservation & Management
Location: Malanje Province
BIOTA's Client: AURECON AMEI LIMITED/Geo Data Services Ltd.
Final Client: AURECON AMEI LIMITED/Geo Data Services Ltd.
Start Date: July 2013
Completion Date: August 2013
Description of the project: A provincial-level spatial planning instrument that sets out strategic guidelines and a general framework, translating, at the provincial scale, the National Territory Spatial Planning Main Options. It defines the intended use and occupation of rural and urban land that underpin the overall territorial development of each province, to be implemented through municipal plans and the plans of major cities with special status. BIOTA developed the provincial-scale baseline framework covering the biophysical, historical, socio-economic, administrative, and logistics dimensions.
Cape Verde
Technical Note on the Ecological Compatibilization Between a Solar Power Plant and the S. Vincent Wall Geckoo
Service: Impact Assessment
Location: S. Vicente Island
BIOTA's Client: ProCME
Final Client: ProCME
Start Date: August 2024
Completion Date: September 2024
Description of the project: As part of an environmental and social management plan for the implementation of a photovoltaic power plant, we prepared a technical note on the presence of the São Vicente wall gecko Tarentola substituta, an endemic and protected species in Cape Verde, as well as mitigation and minimisation measures to reconcile the presence of the energy production infrastructure with the occurrence of this species.
Chile
Critical Habitat Assessment and Biodiversity Action Plan for the El Espino Mining Project
Service: Impact Assessment
BIOTA's Client: Sociedad Punta del Cobre S.A. (Pucobre)
Final Client: Sociedad Punta del Cobre S.A. (Pucobre)
Start Date: August 2024
Completion Date: August 2025
Description of the project: The project aimed to support the El Espino copper mine (central Chile) through the implementation of a Critical Habitat Assessment (CHA) and the preparation of a Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP), in accordance with IFC Performance Standard 6. It sought to identify sensitive habitats and species, assess potential impacts, and propose mitigation, compensation, restoration, and monitoring measures, ensuring the conservation of local biodiversity and reducing environmental risks associated with the development of the mining project.
Malawi
Environmental Impact Assessment of the Moatize-Nacala Railway Line
Service: Impact Assessment
Location: Moatize (Malawi) and Nacala (Mozambique)
BIOTA's Client: COBA - Consultores de Engenharia e Ambiente, SA.
Start Date: March 2010
Completion Date: January 2011
Description of the project: The railway line covered by the Environmental Impact Assessment included the construction of the Eastern section, between Lirangwe (Malawi) and the border with Mozambique, and the rehabilitation of the Western section, between the Mozambique border and Lilongwe (Malawi). The ecological baseline was established through the collection of primary data (fieldwork focused on flora and vertebrate faunal groups) and the compilation of secondary data (literature) on these components, as well as on aquatic biota.
Mozambique
Marine Biodiversity Monitoring Survey - Coral South FLNG Project
Service: Biodiversity Monitoring
Location: Cabo Delgado
BIOTA's Client: CONSULTEC – Consultores Associados, Lda.
Final Client: ENI
Start Date: March 2021
Completion Date: Ongoing
Components: Cetaceans, Fishes, Seabirds, and Turtles.
Description of the project: Offshore surveys of cetaceans, large fishes, sea turtles and seabirds to monitor impacts of the drilling phase of Coral Floating Liquefied Natural Gas Offshore Project.
Biodiversity Monitoring and Evaluation Program and Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) for the Hawksbill turtle for the Biodiversity Management Plan of the Coral South FLNG
Service: Biodiversity Monitoring
Location: Cabo Delgado
BIOTA's Client: CONSULTEC – Consultores Associados, Lda.
Final Client: Mozambique Rovuma Venture
Start Date: October 2018
Completion Date: Ongoing
Description of the project: Development of a Biodiversity Action Plan for the Hawksbill turtle to deliver a Net Gain for hawksbill turtles under the Coral South Floating Liquefied Natural Gas Project. The plan has been produced to identify priorities for hawksbill turtle conservation and provide an implementation, monitoring and evaluation approach for the delivery of a Net Gain for this species.
Onshore Baseline in North Mozambique - Ecology Component
Service: Impact Assessment
Location: Palma, Cabo Delgado Province
BIOTA's Client: CH2MHILL
Final Client: Eni
Start Date: June 2014
Completion Date: August 2015
Description of the project: Field inventory of flora and fauna covering the following communities: vegetation and habitats, terrestrial invertebrates, ichthyofauna, amphibians, reptiles, as well as marine, terrestrial birds, and mammals. Sampling methods included camera-trap surveys, pitfall traps, Tomahawk trapping, bat ultrasound recordings, and both diurnal and nocturnal transects. Ecosystem services were also evaluated.
Environmental and Social Impact Assessment of the Chibuto–Dzimbene Power Transmission Line Project
Service: Impact Assessment
Location: Gaza Province
BIOTA's Client: Consultec - Consultores Associados, Lda.
Final Client: Electricidade de Moçambique, E.P.
Start Date: February 2021
Completion Date: October 2021
Description of the project: BIOTA delivered the biodiversity and ecosystem services component and conducted the Critical Habitat Assessment in line with IFC Performance Standard 6, as part of the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment. The 275 kV transmission line runs between the Chibuto and Dzimbene substations, spanning 67 km across Gaza Province.
Spain
Protected Species Protocol and Landscaping Guidelines
Service: Conservation & Management
Location: Cádiz
BIOTA's Client: CH2MHill
Final Client: Confidential
Start Date: September 2015
Completion Date: February 2016
Description of the project: The protected species protocol was developed for the common chameleon (Chamaeleo chamaeleon) . The main aim of this protocol is to provide guidelines for avoiding or minimizing impacts on common chameleon during construction works occurring in its habitats of the study site. The Landscaping Guidelines summarize environmentally beneficial landscaping considerations and identify appropriate native and non-native, non-invasive plants recommended for use on the study site. The landscaping guidelines will be distributed as recommended guidelines for use by project managers for appropriate species selection for future projects with landscaping components. The landscaping guidelines include also suggested landscaping changes for areas around the study site that are primarily landscaped with non-native species. This is intended to assist with future projects when landscape replacement is planned.
Headquarters
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Convento de São Miguel das Gaeiras
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Portugal
Office
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Urbanização Jardim da Amoreira
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Portugal
