Project developers and financiers should scrutinise existing projects that are in pre-environmental authorisation stage, and all future projects, to determine what issues need to be assessed prior to applying for authorisation.

The 8 march 2017 judgment in Earthlife Africa Johannesburg v The Minister of Environmental Affairs and others is South Africa’s first judgment relating to

Greenfield developments can make a significant environmental impact. Where the impact relates to biodiversity that has a high ecological value, regulatory authorities are increasingly requiring project developers to implement a biodiversity offset. A biodiversity offset is intended to ensure that no net loss in biological resources occurs as a result of the project being developed.