Hi all I see consulting more positively. I agree the consulting environment is pretty intense work, and there is an element of push and pull much like the legal system, but usually less adversarial (until issues are taken to court of course). If you think of our environmental laws as the only thing between us and completely stupid exploitation and environmental mayhem, then the consultant is an important player. They can act like a referee between companies and the public sector agencies that enforce the laws. I just hope the public sector always has enough resources to do their job! Many (most) consultants are trained in environmental sciences and care about the environment as much as any academic, but are working in the real world where costs and benefits are weighed. Honesty is always the best policy since it doesn't come back and bite you or the client.
I got to work on public sector projects implementing innovative conservation policy, protocols and practices that I believe helped bring about positive change. Also I got to work on mitigation plans and such like to offset environmental impacts, and monitor impacts. It mostly seemed relevant, though a little contrived at times. If I'd stayed longer I might have got a chance to work on actual conservation measures to offset those environmental costs too. The contractors of consultants often want to comply and are willing to sustain substantial costs to meet environmental safeguards - to a point. I consulted both in a firm and for myself. I have worked in NGO, University and public sector jobs. Interesting comment about doing whatever you want with your property. Its so fundamental, and difficult to reconcile - capitalism and individual liberties are implicated. For example, you buy your own land to build your "environmentally friendly" dream house, you might be quite conscious about impacts but view some as acceptable. Cut down some trees here and there, put in a road, plant a mix of native and non-native plants into a mosaic that has both, fix some drainage etc.....just a enough right? You want some bureaucrat telling you what to do? Cheers Chris Buddenhagen
