Who We Are
Fraxinus Environmental & Geomatics Limited is a Nova Scotia-based consultancy specializing in environmental permitting and regulatory support, vegetation and wetland science, wetland restoration and compensation planning, and ecological geomatics.
We are dedicated to providing high-quality consulting services, rapid service delivery and responsive service to help our clients achieve their environmental goals.
We follow our obsessions in our everyday work.
At Fraxinus, our work is driven by more than just technical expertise — it’s fueled by a genuine passion for environmental stewardship. Every project we undertake is an opportunity to channel our obsession with nature, science, and conservation into meaningful action.We recognize that no two projects are the same, and that’s why we take the time to understand each client’s unique needs, challenges, and goals. By aligning our knowledge and passion with the specific vision of our clients, we are able to craft customized, practical, and forward-thinking solutions.Our approach is rooted in innovation and adaptability. From advanced geomatics technology to cutting-edge ecological science, we stay ahead of industry trends to offer our clients strategies that are both effective today and resilient for tomorrow.
Our Logo
Our logo, inspired by the distinctive leaf of the Black Ash (Fraxinus nigra), reflects the core values and mission of this company. The Black Ash is more than just a symbol — it represents a profound connection between nature, culture, and stewardship.
Black Ash is a species at risk, facing significant challenges due to habitat loss, climate change, and the spread of invasive species like the Emerald Ash Borer. By featuring its leaf in our logo, we acknowledge the urgency of conservation efforts and reaffirm our commitment to protecting vulnerable species.
For the Mi'kmaq people, Black Ash holds deep cultural, spiritual, and practical importance. By incorporating the Black Ash leaf into our logo, we honor the enduring relationship between Indigenous communities and the natural world. We strive to uphold the values of respect, reciprocity, and shared stewardship that are central to Mi'kmaq perspectives on the environment.
The Black Ash leaf is a powerful emblem of growth, renewal, and ecological balance. As environmental consultants, our work revolves around these principles.
Meet The Team:
Ian Bryson is a seasoned terrestrial ecologist and geomatics specialist, with two decades of professional expertise in the field, both as a consultant and environmental regulator. His area of knowledge spans a wide spectrum of disciplines, including Environmental Assessment, vegetation science (with a focus on vascular flora and lichens), wetland science, GIS and Remote Sensing, Species at Risk conservation, and regulatory permitting.
In September 2023, Ian transitioned into the realm of independent environmental consulting with the formation of Fraxinus Environmental & Geomatics Limited..
Prior to the formation of Fraxinus, Ian spent a cumulative ~14 years (2007-2019 & 2022-2023) as an environmental consultant in the employ of a medium-sized engineering and environmental firm based in Atlantic Canada. In this capacity, he lent his senior-level technical acumen to a wide variety of projects across Atlantic Canada, in Ontario, and internationally (Turks and Caicos, Trinidad) for a broad clientele. Additionally, he assumed senior technical leadership roles, overseeing the execution of biophysical field programs across various ecological themes, encompassing botany, aquatics, wetlands, mammals, turtles, birds, and terrestrial/benthic habitat classification.
From 2020-2022, Ian held the position of Program Lead for the Wetlands Program at the Nova Scotia Department of Environment and Climate Change (NS ECC). In this role, he oversaw efforts to effectively meet the goals of the Nova Scotia Wetland Conservation Policy, particularly concerning the imperative of no-net-loss of wetland area and function.
Ian has extensive experience in surveying vascular flora and lichens in the Atlantic Region, with a strong emphasis on Species at Risk and Species of Conservation Interest within wetland habitats. He has undertaken numerous exhaustive inventories of plants and lichens across diverse habitats and conducted targeted surveys for federally and provincially listed Species at Risk, including Black Ash, Ram’s-Head Lady Slipper, Boreal Felt Lichen, Frosted Glass Whiskers, Wrinkled Shingle Lichen, Black Foam Lichen, and Blue Felt Lichen.
The utilization of GIS and Remote Sensing technology is integral to Ian’s ecological specialties, particularly in the realms of ecological modeling, habitat suitability modeling for Species at Risk, land classification, and terrain analysis. As one of the most seasoned wetland practitioners in Atlantic Canada, Ian has delineated hundreds of wetlands, performed functional assessments across all Atlantic jurisdictions, designed wetland monitoring plans, secured numerous permits, and offered guidance on the design and execution of wetland compensation projects.
Scott Dickey joined Fraxinus Environmental & Geomatics Limited as a Senior Scientist and Associate in January of 2025, bringing over 15 years of expertise in environmental consulting.
A trusted leader in the industry, Scott has directed environmental assessments and permitting processes for a wide range of projects, including large-scale renewable energy developments, green hydrogen initiatives, transmission infrastructure, aggregate quarries, real estate ventures, and wetland restoration projects.
Scott holds a Master’s in Resource and Environmental Management from Dalhousie University and a Bachelor of Science with Honours in Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Science from Mount Saint Vincent University. His academic foundation complements his extensive field experience, positioning him as a sought-after expert in environmental science and management.
Scott’s technical proficiencies span a diverse array of advanced methodologies. He is highly skilled in developing environmental remote sensing technologies, employing radar to assess migratory bird movements, acoustic monitors to study bird and bat diversity, and sensors to evaluate wildlife behavior and biodiversity. His GIS expertise supports critical tasks such as habitat modeling, wetland delineations, and environmental effects assessments.
Specializing in rare species studies, avifauna assessments, and wildlife-infrastructure interaction analyses, Scott has played a pivotal role in evaluating and mitigating impacts on wildlife from transmission lines, wind turbines, and other infrastructure. Beyond his technical contributions, Scott has demonstrated exceptional leadership, mentoring multidisciplinary teams of scientists, technicians, and professionals while fostering a culture of innovation and excellence within his organization.
Working with clients ranging from individual landowners to large-scale developers, Scott is dedicated to delivering practical, sustainable solutions that align development goals with environmental conservation. His work continues to shape responsible project development across Atlantic Canada.
Zach joined Fraxinus Environmental & Geomatics Limited as an Environmental Scientist in March of 2025. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Dalhousie University, graduating with First Class Honours.
With five years of professional experience in environmental consulting, Zach has executed a diverse array of biophysical field programs across Atlantic Canada, Ontario, and Nunavut. His field experience spans wetland delineation and functional assessment, migratory bird surveys, electrofishing and fish habitat characterization, Species at Risk surveys, bat acoustic monitoring, construction environmental monitoring, and more.
Zach has also developed strong project management and technical report writing skills, and has played an integral role in supporting submissions that have contributed to securing approvals under both provincial and federal EA and EIA processes. He has demonstrated the ability to plan and execute complex field programs in remote and challenging environments. Zach is committed to continuing to grow as a well-rounded ecologist and to finding practical, innovative solutions to complex environmental challenges.
Cuun Niesink joined Fraxinus Environmental & Geomatics Limited as an EA & Permitting Specialist in April of 2025. She holds a Master of Resource and Environmental Management from Dalhousie University and a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Prince Edward Island.
With several years of professional experience in environmental consulting, Cuun supports clients across Atlantic Canada in the renewable energy and aggregate sectors. Her work spans environmental effects assessment, regulatory permitting, technical reporting, and field programs including wetland delineations, watercourse assessments, old-growth forest evaluations, and noise monitoring.
Cuun has played an active role in preparing EA and post-approval deliverables for regulatory submissions, and has developed particular expertise in environmental noise monitoring for wind energy projects. She also brings GIS and spatial analysis skills to habitat modeling work for a range of species.
Cuun is committed to delivering practical, solutions to help clients navigate complicated permitting and environmental requirements across Atlantic Canada.
Darcy Kavanagh joined Fraxinus Environmental & Geomatics Limited as an Environmental & Regulatory Specialist in March of 2026. He holds a Master of Resource and Environmental Management from Dalhousie University and a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science with Honours from Saint Mary's University.
With over five years of professional experience spanning both the consulting and proponent-side of project development, Darcy brings a well-rounded understanding of Atlantic Canada's environmental approvals landscape. His background includes leading EA coordination and permitting strategy for large-scale renewable energy projects, managing multidisciplinary consultant teams, and navigating multi-agency permitting processes from early-stage scoping through to construction support. Before joining Fraxinus, he served as Environment & Regulatory Coordinator at ABO Energy Canada, where he led regulatory strategy for projects including the multi-gigawatt Toqlukuti'k Wind and Hydrogen Project in Newfoundland and Labrador.
Darcy's experience also includes extensive fieldwork, with hands-on involvement in wetland and watercourse assessments, fish habitat characterization, rare flora and lichen surveys, wildlife monitoring, and Species at Risk surveys across Atlantic Canada. He has contributed to over a dozen approved EA documents for wind energy projects in Nova Scotia, representing approximately 1.8 GW of approved generation capacity.
A strong communicator, Darcy has experience engaging federal and provincial regulators, Indigenous communities, and project stakeholders, translating complex regulatory requirements into clear, practical direction for project teams
Jason Astels joined Fraxinus Environmental & Geomatics Limited as an Environmental Technician in September of 2025. He holds a Diploma in Natural Resources and Environmental Technology from Nova Scotia Community College, where he chaired the sustainability committee and graduated with Honours.
With several years of field and consulting experience across Nova Scotia, Jason has led wetland and watercourse delineations, botanical inventories, old-growth forest assessments, and a range of wildlife and habitat studies involving birds, turtles, fish, and more. He has contributed to environmental assessments and technical reporting for infrastructure and renewable energy projects, including field programs for multiple 100 MW+ wind farms across the province.
Alongside his fieldwork, Jason contributes to and produces technical reports across a range of service offerings, coordinates field logistics, mentors junior staff, and ensures safe and efficient operations in remote environments.
Jason brings a practical, collaborative approach to his work and is committed to delivering reliable, science-based results for clients and multidisciplinary teams across Atlantic Canada.
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