Ecological consultants are in charge of undertaking a variety of activities in connection with the evaluation of the ecological importance of a place. Typically, these evaluations pertain to submitted project endeavors such as housing, commercial and mining constructions. They could also be to produce info on the ecological importance of sites to a range of stakeholders. Evaluations are essential due to the fact that there are a range of legal requirements developed under state and federal government environmental laws that need to be considered when a task will result in an influence on the natural environment.

Main industry sectors that utilise ecological consultancy services.
Ecological consultants work with a variety of organisations:
Federal and State authorities divisions such as environmental protection agencies, conservation agencies (e.g. NSW Office of Strategic Lands), land management agencies (e.g. NSW Office of Strategic Lands) and catchment management authorities.
District councils performing analyses of property in parks and reserves; critique of development applications; application or property zoning.
Major real estate developers of housing, industrial or mining ventures.
Law practices that take care of environmental and planning issues.
Neighborhood groups who need qualified guidance on environmental qualities and management e.g. environmental action organizations, bushcare groups.

Ecological consultants may design, apply and record the efficacy of ecological management strategies; provide professional environmental recommendations in court cases, to independent commissions of investigation, parliamentary groups, urban planning groups and at district council meetings.
Ecological professionals are counted on to produce expert advice and effective solutions to customers and government authorities. An ecological professional ought to have appropriate tertiary credentials, an understanding of environmental planning and assessment processes and the parties involved, research abilities and report-writing abilities, solid customer liaison abilities and the ability to perform efficiently as part of a project unit, the capability to meet tight deadlines while still keeping a high standard of work.

Field ecologists should likewise have demonstrated experience in vegetation and/or fauna and habitat survey and recording techniques, including the capacity to distinguish plant and/or animal species and their habitats.

Predicting prospective ecological impacts of development or activity proposals, and recommending the best ways to lower or avoid them, are specialist skills that are generally gained early in ecological consultancy. Therefore, an excellent comprehension of endangering processes and the ecological needs of species and communities is highly beneficial for an ecological professional.

An environmental consultant will be associated with a variety of tasks such as field analyses, usage of geographic information systems (GISs), consultation with customers and stakeholders, interpretation of environmental legal files and planning of reports and management plans just to name a few.

There are a range of standard documents written by ecological consultants including things like vegetation and animals reports, environmental impact assessments, opportunity and constraint reports, species impact statements, vegetation maps, vegetation management plans, endangered species management plans, fire management plans and peer review of development applications.

The usual minimum prerequisite is a degree (or equivalent) in a biological science from a recognized (government-accredited) tertiary institution. The majority of ecological consultants have at least a B. Sc. (Hons) degree, some with higher degrees (M. Sc. or Ph.D).
A handful of professionals that have a relevant diploma in applied science from a TAFE Education (e.g. Dip. Biol. Technology. or Dip. Appl. Sc.), and who have worked for several years as a scientific officer or field assistant in a biological discipline, have also succeeded as ecological consultants.
Degree certifications that are bought on the internet from “non-accredited universities” or diploma mills are not identified by state and federal government authorities and the environmental consultancy industry in Australia.