The way we see it...

The main challenge in the future is to integrate environmental issues into sustainable sectoral strategies and development processes. It requires an integrated and environmentally conscious approach to natural resource management and conservation. On a policy and strategy level, the following issues are of particular importance:

• Identification of opportunities for market-led change towards environmentally sound policies
• Developing multi-sector partnerships at all levels for effective and participatory resource management and conservation
• Climate change mitigation and adaptation, particularly via reduced emissions from industry, transport and deforestation
• Monitoring and appraising compliance with environmental and social safeguard aims

Areas of Expertise

The particular strengths of FCG are in sustainable natural resources management and environmental protection, including the areas of

• Forest management and forest-based rural development, market linkages and certification
• Management of ecologically sensitive and protected areas, and reduction of deforestation
• Institutional capacity building
• Watershed management and environmental planning
• Promotion of environmental technologies: energy saving and energy efficiency
• Monitoring and evaluating the impact of environmental activities on local stakeholders

Services

In our work, we focus on environmental capacity building, including institutions, legislation and policies, as well as financing mechanisms and economic incentives. In addition, we deal with environmental management information systems, provide education and training, and conduct applied research. We also have experience of carrying out extensive public awareness campaigns, included as parts of some of our projects.

We are skilled in using modern planning, monitoring and evaluation techniques and tools, including environmental assessments (EAs and EIAs), beneficiary assessments (SIAs and BAs) and Geographical Information System (GIS) applications.

Resources

Our resource strategy provides specialised expertise and flexibility in collaboration with a number of national and international expert organisations, as well using staff and independent experts.

In the environment sector especially, co-operation between Finnish Consulting Group's business areas brings added value to our customers. POVVIK (based in Bulgaria) brings specific experience from the environment sector, including strong in-house skills in environmental assessments and due diligence, and waste management. ANZDEC (NZ) has a particularly strong history in the Asia-pacific region in environment and forestry programs. FCG also provides services in land use planning, waste management, GIS and data base management expertise.