Debbie Fordham
Director | Aquatic Ecologist and Water Use Specialist
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Debbie Fordham is the founder and director of Upstream Consulting. She has more than a decade of specialist experience in aquatic ecology, water use authorisation, and freshwater ecosystem assessment, and has authored more than 100 technical reports for projects across South Africa.
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Her expertise includes wetland and river delineation, aquatic biodiversity assessments, Present Ecological State (PES) and Ecological Importance and Sensitivity (EIS) assessments, impact and risk assessment, wetland buffer determination, rehabilitation planning, and Water Use Licence Applications (WULAs). She manages projects from initial screening and field investigations through to technical reporting, regulatory engagement and application submission.
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Debbie is recognised for integrating field assessment, GIS analysis and ecological interpretation into scientifically robust, practical reports that support informed environmental decision-making and regulatory compliance. Her project experience spans municipal infrastructure, mining, agriculture, water and wastewater treatment, renewable energy, property development and conservation.
- M.Sc. Environmental Science
- B.A. Honours Environmental Science
- SACNASP-registered professional scientist — Registration No. 119102
- Internationally Certified Professional Wetland Scientist — PWS No. 3683
Colin Fordham
Director | Ecologist and Conservation Specialist
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Colin Fordham is a director of Upstream Consulting with nearly two decades of experience in environmental consulting, ecological assessment, biodiversity planning, and conservation management.
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His expertise includes ecological assessment and review, wetland, estuarine and riparian assessments, biodiversity planning, rehabilitation and management, GIS and spatial analysis, project coordination, and the development of practical environmental recommendations. He has extensive experience supporting projects across infrastructure, mining, agriculture, conservation and land-use planning.
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Before joining Upstream, Colin spent nine years with CapeNature as a Land Use Scientist and later Landscape Conservation Intelligence Manager, where he reviewed specialist reports and development applications, evaluated ecological impacts and biodiversity offsets, and provided technical advice to conservation authorities. This experience gives him valuable insight into how environmental assessments are evaluated by regulators and decision-makers.
- M.Sc. Entomology
- B.Sc. Honours Botany — Environmental Management
- B.Sc. Botany and Biochemistry
- ISACNASP-registered Professional Natural Scientist
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Professional Network
When additional specialists are needed, here’s how we work.
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Where projects require additional expertise, we collaborate with a trusted network of experienced environmental practitioners, engineers and specialist consultants. Depending on the project, this may include environmental assessment practitioners, hydrologists, hydrogeologists, terrestrial ecologists, botanists, faunal specialists, GIS professionals and public participation specialists.
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This collaborative approach allows us to contribute effectively to multidisciplinary infrastructure, mining, municipal, agricultural and conservation projects while remaining focused on our specialist expertise in aquatic ecology, freshwater ecosystem assessment and water use authorisation.
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All aquatic work remains directly managed and reviewed by Upstream’s directors, ensuring consistent quality, clear communication and accountability throughout every project.
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