Operating Rules and Bylaws of Sellheim Environmental
April 2024
| 1. Name and Purpose | |
| Name: | Sellheim Environmental |
| Purpose: | Consultancy services in the nexus of natural resource management, sustainable utilisation, and culture. |
| 2. Management and Structure | |
| Director: | Dr Nikolas Sellheim, as the Director, holds the primary executive authority and is responsible for the overall management and funding acquisition of the consultancy. |
| Fellows: | Dr Natalia Loukacheva and Mr Gerald Zojer, as Fellows, provide additional research expertise where needed. |
| 3. Membership and Stakeholders | |
| 3.1 Fellowship Program | |
| Eligibility and Selection: | Candidates for Fellowship must demonstrate significant expertise in environmental science, cultural studies, law, or related disciplines. Nominations can be initiated by the Director or existing Fellows and must include a detailed rationale and evidence of qualifications. |
| Review Process: | Nominations are reviewed by a committee including the Director and at least two existing Fellows. Appointment requires a majority vote and confirmation by the Director. |
| Terms and Renewal: | Fellowships typically last for 2 years, with the possibility of renewal based on continued contribution and mutual agreement. |
| Engagement and Compensation: | Fellows engage in projects, mentorship, and strategic development, with compensation based on project specifics. Compensation details are outlined in project agreements. |
| 3.2 External Partnerships | |
| Selection and Contributions: | External partners are selected for their expertise and alignment with the consultancy’s mission. They contribute to the ‘Conservation & Livelihoods Digest’ and other joint projects. |
| Relationship Management: | Regular communication is maintained with external partners to foster mutual growth and ensure the quality and impact of collaborative outputs. |
| 3.3 Stakeholder Engagement | |
| Process and Transparency: | Engagements with stakeholders are conducted directly by the Director or a designated representative, ensuring transparency, professionalism, and consistency. |
| Documentation and Accountability: | All engagements are documented clearly, with accountability for decisions and outcomes strictly maintained. |
| 4. Governance | |
| 4.1 Decision-Making Structure | |
| Current Model: | Currently, all strategic and operational decisions are made by the Director. This centralised approach aligns with the consultancy’s vision and mission and encompasses project selection, financial management, stakeholder engagement, and strategic partnerships. |
| 4.2 Role of Fellows | |
| Current Involvement: | Fellows currently focus on research, project execution, and consultancy within their areas of expertise without involvement in strategic decision-making. |
| Future Potential: | Recognising the expertise of the Fellows, there is potential to involve them more in strategic decisions as the consultancy grows. |
| 4.3 Evolution of Decision-Making | |
| Advisory Panel: | As the consultancy expands, an advisory panel or committee comprising the Director and Senior Fellows may be established to deliberate on major strategic decisions. |
| Consultative Approach: | Future strategic decisions may be made on a more consultative basis, incorporating input from all Senior Fellows and key stakeholders to ensure a diversity of perspectives and expertise. |
| 5. Services | |
| 5.1. Risk Assessment | |
| Description: | Sellheim Environmental conducts comprehensive environmental risk assessments by analysing stakeholder groups, identifying their concerns, and evaluating potential risks associated with various projects. |
| Benefits: | Ideal for clients planning projects that may impact the environment, ensuring thorough preparation and risk mitigation. |
| 5.2. Socio-Legal Assessment | |
| Description: | Sellheim Environmental offers socio-legal assessments to gather and analyse information on specific environmental issues or resource extraction activities. |
| Benefits: | These assessments support integrated project planning by providing detailed insights into social and legal contexts, aiding in informed decision-making. |
| 5.3. Legal Inventory | |
| Description: | Sellheim Environmental prepares legal inventories tailored to both national and international, terrestrial and marine environmental projects. |
| Benefits: | These inventories help clients navigate the complex legal requirements related to environmental compliance, reducing uncertainties and ensuring regulatory adherence. |
| 5.4. Capacity-Building | |
| Description: | Sellheim Environmental offers workshops, seminars, and courses focused on national and international environmental, and conservation law. |
| Benefits: | To educate employees or students about legal and social issues concerning environmental projects, including stakeholder identification, interaction techniques, and conflict avoidance strategies. |
| 5.5. Conference Services | |
| Description: | Sellheim Environmental provides professional planning and reporting services for conferences, which are pivotal in knowledge exchange and decision-making processes within the environmental sector. |
| Benefits: | Detailed meeting minutes and reports; Conceptualisation, strategic positioning of own conferences. |
| 5.6. Map-Making | |
| Description: | Sellheim Environmental produces maps for various uses, including articles, online posts, and books. |
| Benefits: | Maps are crafted to effectively visualise geopolitical developments, geographical extents, or group memberships, offering both accuracy and affordability. |
| 5.7. Additional Tailored Services | |
| Description: | Recognising the unique needs of each project, Sellheim Environmental is prepared to offer additional services tailored specifically to the requirements of individual projects. |
| Benefits: | These services may include, but are not limited to, environmental impact studies, cultural heritage assessments, policy development consultations, and other specialised consultancy services as dictated by project demands. |
| 6. Operational Practices and Standards | |
| 6.1. Ethical Research Standards | |
| Adherence to Guidelines: | All research conducted by Sellheim Environmental will adhere to the ethical research standards established by recognised bodies such as the American Anthropological Association. This includes maintaining integrity in data collection, analysis, and reporting. |
| 6.2. Publication Standards | |
| Quality and Integrity: | Sellheim Environmental follows the publication standards outlined by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), which include guidelines for transparency, accountability, and fairness in all publishing activities. |
| Review Processes: | Where necessary, Sellheim Environmental implements rigorous peer review processes to ensure the accuracy and reliability of published findings and analyses. |
| 6.3. Confidentiality | |
| Client Trust: | Sellheim Environmental upholds the principle of confidentiality, to ensure that all client communications and data are handled with the utmost secrecy and integrity. |
| Data Protection: | Sellheim Environmental enforces strict data protection protocols to secure sensitive information and prevent unauthorised access or disclosure. |
| 6.4. Human and Indigenous Rights | |
| Respect and Compliance: | All operations and projects respect human rights and particularly consider the rights of indigenous peoples, ensuring that activities do not infringe on these rights and that consultations and engagements are conducted fairly and respectfully. |
| Advocacy and Support: | Sellheim Environmental promotes and advocates for the protection of human and indigenous rights within the scope of environmental projects and consultancy work. |
| 6.5. Environmental Responsibility | |
| Minimising Harm: | Commit to avoiding environmental harm in all consultancy activities. This includes implementing sustainable practices and recommending solutions that have minimal adverse environmental impacts. |
| Sustainability: | Sellheim Environmental follows specific sustainability guidelines tailored to each project, including waste reduction, resource conservation, and pollution prevention. |
| 7. Financial Management | |
| 7.1. Budgeting and Accounting | |
| Responsibility: | The Director is currently responsible for managing all aspects of budgeting and accounting for the consultancy. This includes preparing budgets, monitoring financial performance, and ensuring expenditures align with approved budgets. |
| Tax Advisor Role: | All financial movements, including incomes, revenues, and expenses, are overseen and controlled by a professional tax advisor based in Germany to ensure compliance with relevant German tax laws and accounting standards. |
| Financial Oversight: | Sellheim Environmental implements procedures to regularly review financial activities, ensuring they meet the consultancy’s strategic goals and comply with financial regulations. |
| 7.2. Revenue Generation | |
| Fees for Service: | Charging for consultancy services rendered to clients based on agreed contracts and project scopes. |
| Grants: | Securing funding from governmental, academic, or private entities that support environmental research and projects. |
| Partnerships: | Collaborating with other organisations and agencies to co-develop projects and share expertise, which may include shared funding opportunities. |
| Responsibility: | The Director is tasked with identifying opportunities for and securing these revenues to support the consultancy’s operations and growth. |
| 8. Conflict of Interest Policy | |
| Responsibility: | All Directors and Fellows must disclose any interests that could reasonably be considered to conflict with their duties. This includes, but is not limited to, financial interests, advisory roles, or affiliations with other organisations that might benefit from their decisions. When a potential conflict of interest is identified, the individual involved must recuse themselves from the decision-making process related to that interest. |
| 9. Intellectual Property | |
| 9.1. Free Resources on Website | |
| Ownership: | All intellectual property for resources made freely available on Sellheim Environmental’s website is owned by Sellheim Environmental. |
| Usage Rights: | These resources may be freely used by the public provided that appropriate credit is given to Sellheim Environmental for its ownership. Such use must not imply any endorsement by Sellheim Environmental unless such endorsement has been explicitly granted. |
| 9.2. The Conservation & Livelihoods Digest | |
| General Ownership: | Intellectual property rights for content published in The Conservation & Livelihoods Digest typically remain with the respective author(s), unless otherwise specified. |
| Sellheim Environmental as Owner: | In cases where authorship is forfeited, or not clearly defined, intellectual property rights will be held by Sellheim Environmental. |
| Author Rights and Responsibilities: | Authors are responsible for ensuring they have the right to use any copyrighted materials included in their submissions and must acknowledge any sources or permissions associated. |
| 9.3. Consultancy Documents | |
| Contractual Agreements: | The ownership and rights to use documents produced during consultancy services are determined on a case-by-case basis through contractual agreements with clients. |
| Copyright Specifications: | Contracts will specify the ownership, usage rights, and any restrictions on the intellectual property created during consultancy engagements. |
| Confidentiality and Exclusivity: | Contracts may also address issues of confidentiality, exclusivity, and potential licensing arrangements where applicable. |
| 9.4. Logo | |
| General Ownership and Usage: | The Logo of Sellheim Environmental shall only be used by the Director and the Fellows in their capacity of representing Sellheim Environmental. All other usage of the Logo is prohibited. |
| 10. Dissolution | |
| 10.1 Dissolution Process: | |
| Initiation and Execution: | The process of dissolution may be initiated by the Director if deemed necessary due to operational, financial, or strategic considerations. The Director shall consult with the Fellows regarding the decision to dissolve the consultancy, providing an opportunity for input and discussion. |
| 10.2. Handling of Ongoing Projects: | |
| Completion or Transfer: | Every effort will be made to ensure that ongoing projects are completed in a timely manner or transferred to suitable alternative researchers or organisations if necessary. Clients will be informed of the consultancy’s dissolution and any necessary arrangements for the completion or transfer of their projects. |
| 10.3. Asset Distribution: | |
| General Distribution: | Unless otherwise specified in individual contractual agreements with the Fellows, all assets of Sellheim Environmental shall remain with the Director. The Director shall be responsible for the disposition of assets, including but not limited to financial assets, intellectual property, equipment, and office resources, in accordance with legal requirements and any agreements with stakeholders. |
| 10.4. Communication and Documentation: | |
| Notification and Execution: | All stakeholders, including clients, collaborators, and employees, shall be notified of the consultancy’s dissolution in a timely manner. Comprehensive records shall be maintained throughout the dissolution process, documenting decisions, actions taken, and communications with stakeholders. All documents that have been created as part of the consulting services shall be destroyed to ensure confidentiality, unless a client requests drafts or other documents that were created in the process of consulting. |
| 10. Amendments to Bylaws | |
| Currently, the Director holds the authority to initiate changes to the bylaws. This includes proposing new bylaws or revisions to existing ones to adapt to changing operational needs, legal requirements, or strategic directions. As Sellheim Environmental grows and potentially expands its management structure, the authority to propose amendments may be extended to include a board of directors or a governance committee, should such bodies be established. | |
sellheimenvironmental.org 