The New Forest Biodiversity Forum aims to underpin nature recovery in the New Forest National Park by promoting biodiversity survey, monitoring, recording, and research, and generating data end evidence to inform landowners, land managers, and policymakers engaged in conservation action.

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​Forum activities in support of these aims include: 

 

• Delivery of an annual New Forest Biodiversity Conference and monthly email newsletter.

• Maintenance of this online New Forest Biodiversity Hub to facilitate access to useful resources. 

• Development of a New Forest Volunteer Ecological Surveyor Programme (VESPA) in partnership with Forestry England.

• Grant funding of projects that tackle key evidence gaps relating to biodiversity and conservation.

• Generation of new evidence including commissioning of a New Forest Biodiversity Audit and delivery of a long-term New Forest Raptor Monitoring Programme.

 

The Forum was co-founded by Kairos Philanthropy, who continue to power our work through their commitment of long-term core funding, which is being used to unlock additional co-funding and in-kind contributions from partners.

 

The Forum is hosted by Wild New Forest CIC, a not-for-profit organisation, and is co-ordinated by a Chair and Steering Group.

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Chair

 

The Chair of the New Forest Biodiversity Forum is Professor Russell Wynn. Russ has a marine science background, and in his 20-year career at the National Oceanography Centre he published over 100 peer-reviewed science papers and took on a variety of senior management roles, including Associate Director for Government, International, and Public Engagement. In 2020 Russ switched careers to fully focus on nature conservation, and for two years was Manager of the England Curlew Recovery Partnership, before establishing the New Forest Biodiversity Forum in autumn 2023. He is the Director of Wild New Forest CIC and an Honorary Professor at the University of Southampton.

 

Steering Group

 

Ian Barker

Ecologist, New Forest National Park Authority

 

Keith Betton
Chair, Hampshire Ornithological Society

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Clive Chatters

Author, Naturalist, and Nature Conservationist

 

Tracé Cooper-Williams

Landscapes and Species Recovery Manager, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust (HIWWT)

 

Nicky Court

Manager, Hampshire Biodiversity Information Centre (HBIC)

 

John Durnell
Senior Director of Operations, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust (HIWWT)

 

Pete Durnell

Team Manager, Hampshire County Council Countryside Service (HCC)

 

Dr Naomi Ewald
Technical Director, Freshwater Habitats Trust

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Andy Page

NFBF Associate and Co-ordinator of New Forest Raptor Monitoring Programme

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Leanne Sargeant

Senior Ecologist, Forestry England

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Lyndsey Stride
Training and KE co-ordinator, Foundation for Common Land, and New Forest Commoner

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Jenny Thomas

New Forest Nature Recovery Senior Adviser, Natural England

 

Nick Tomalin

New Forest and Purbeck Conservation Officer, Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB)