ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING


From land management strategies to complex regional planning, ERO combines extensive natural resources knowledge, meaningful engagement, and diverse experience to develop insightful and targeted solutions to land management challenges. Our understanding of the most current federal, state, and local environmental regulations and policies allows us to navigate the regulatory waters for successful planning and permitting. 

ERO assists federal, state, and local land managers in their efforts to manage and protect significant natural and recreational resources on public lands. From site-specific assessments to master plans to regional planning processes, we specialize in an interdisciplinary approach that balances public use and enjoyment with the conservation of important community resources. Our commitment to quality, transparency, and integrity results in the effective stewardship of public resources. 


  • Natural resource management planning
  • Regional conservation planning
  • Trail and recreation planning
  • Management policy development
  • Baseline inventory and assessment
  • Public process and facilitation

Areas of Expertise

Natural resource management planning

ERO specializes in the inventory of critical resources, identification of issues and opportunities, and strategic recommendations that balance sometimes-competing objectives in clearly written, situation-specific, and action-oriented plans. 

Trail and recreation planning

ERO has considerable experience with trail system planning, on-site trail design, and trail management strategies that balance natural resource protection, quality user experience, and community needs. 

Baseline inventory and assessment

ERO has completed dozens of baseline inventories and rapid resource assessments in support of conservation easement documentation and open space management planning. ERO’s biologists are well versed in mapping, categorizing, and managing vegetation communities and wildlife habitats. 

Regional conservation planning

Ranging from municipal open space to collaborative regional partnerships, ERO brings experience developing landscape-scale conservation strategies that are responsive to the resource values and human communities in the area. 

Management policy development

ERO has assisted local governments and management agencies in developing natural resource and public use management policies that are technically sound, relevant to addressing the issues at hand, equitable, and implementable.

Public process and facilitation

As a critical component of most planning projects, ERO has successfully developed and facilitated public processes that are efficient, provide diverse and meaningful opportunities for stakeholder input, and provide decision makers with a clear understanding of the opportunities and trade-offs influencing management decisions. 


Resource Planning Lead