The New Forest is widely recognised to be of international importance for wildlife. At the same time, the ecosystems of the New Forest provide many benefits to people, including recreation, rearing of livestock, timber production and clean water. This system has always been dynamic, and in many ways it has been resilient to environmental change. But how is the Forest changing at the moment? And how might it change in future, given current concerns about climate change? This conference will explore these issues, by presenting the results of recent research into the ecology and dynamics of the New Forest, focusing both on wildlife and the benefits provided by ecosystems to people, and the impacts of climate change. The afternoon session will include a discussion panel that will reflect on the papers presented, in which attendees are encouraged to participate.
Date: Thursday 25 October 2016
Time: 9.30am – 5pm
Venue: Lyndhurst Community Centre, Lyndhurst, SO43 7NY
If you would like to register for this conference please follow this link. The deadline for registration is the 12th October 2016.
The provisional programme for the day is as follows:
Programme
09:30 – 10:30 Registration (with refreshments)
10:30 – 10:40 Welcome from New Forest Centre & New Forest Knowledge project
10:40 – 13:00 Session 1
10:40 – 11:00 Prof. Adrian Newton, Bournemouth University: “Impacts of environmental change on New Forest woodlands”
11:00 – 11:20 Paul Evans, Bournemouth University: “Ecological implications of beech dieback in the New Forest”
11:20 – 11:40 Dr Elena Cantarello, Bournemouth University: “Resilience of New Forest woodlands to disturbance”
11:40 – 12:00 Arjan Gosal, Bournemouth University: “Dynamics of ecosystem services in the New Forest”
12:00 – 12:20 Alexander Lovegrove, Bournemouth University: “Is condition assessment suitable for adaptive management? Results from New Forest bogs and heaths”
12:20 – 12:40 Dr Becky Spake, University of Southampton: “Similar biodiversity of ectomycorrhizal fungi in ancient and inclosure woodlands”
12:40 – 13:00 Discussion
13:00 – 14:00 Lunch break
14:00 – 15:50 Session 2
14:00 – 14:20 Prof. Russell Wynn and Marcus Ward, Wild New Forest: “Winners and losers: monitoring the changing fauna of the New Forest”
14:20 – 14:40 Dr Duncan Ray, Forest Research: “Projected impacts of climate change on New Forest woodlands”
14:40 – 15:00 Dr Chris Short, University of Gloucestershire: “Climate change and resilience: a collective problem solving approach”.
15:00 – 15:40 Emma McIntosh, University of Oxford: “Towards systematic conservation planning in the New Forest”
15:40 – 15:50 Discussion
15:50 – 16:15 Tea / coffee break
16:15 – 17:15 Session 3
Panel discussion, featuring representatives of local organisations including the New Forest National Park Authority,the Forestry Commission, the New Forest Verderers, the New Forest Association, etc.]
For all enquiries, please email Kath Walker: kath.walker@newforestcentre.org.uk