RECREATION FORUM

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RECREATION FORUM

• NEW FOREST NATIONAL PARK

proposed by David Dickenson
david_at_naturescene.co.uk
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RECREATION FORUM

• Outline Proposals for Discussion
• Build on existing Equine Forum
• Driver of stakeholder involvement in the New
  Forest
• Over-arching structured forum
• Covers all aspects of recreation 
• Funded secretariat support

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RECREATION FORUM ence

• KEY AIMS
• KEY POINTS
• STRUCTURE

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SCOPE ence

• Inform and guide each aspect of recreation in
  relation to conservation
• Stakeholder input to the NPA and key partners in
  their decision making
• Public information and debate

AIMS
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APPROACH

• Promote a Forest First approach
• Accent on consensus
• Identify and resolve potential problems with
  minimal conflict

AIMS
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KEY POINTS

• Who for?
• Answers to who?
• How is it managed?

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Who for?

• Available for all those with interest in
  recreation in the New Forest National Park

• Recreational users
• Statutory bodies
• Affected interests (e.g. conservation, commoning)

KEY POINTS
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Answers to who?

• Independent
• Major adviser to NPA and key partners

• NPA
• Forestry Commission
• Natural England
• Verderers
• Local and regional government etc.

KEY POINTS
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How is it managed?
COMMON SECRETARIAT - summary

• Coordinates all issues
• Reports to NPA/key partners
• Secretary/Chairman
• Support personnel
• Publication
• Premises

KEY POINTS
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How is it managed?
COMMON SECRETARIAT - personnel

• Secretary
• Full time
• Paid
• Permanent

• Chairman
• Part-time
• Paid?
• Elected annually

• Sub-Chairman for each sub-group
• Part-time - Voluntary

• Stakeholders and Public
• Part-time - Voluntary

KEY POINTS
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How is it managed?
COMMON SECRETARIAT other details
PREMISES

• Work from NPA premises?
• Work from home?

FUNDING

• NPA and/or
• Key Partners

INFORMATION

• Readily available to all public (mainly web
  based)
• Includes minutes of all meetings

KEY POINTS
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Principal structure

• Discussion Forum
• Stakeholder Forums
• Issue-Stakeholder Forums

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Discussion Forum Activities

• Aim to promote discussion on all aspects of
  interaction between recreation and conservation
• Gains fact and opinion 
• Information compiled by secretariat to inform
  public, governmental and other organisations
• Principally web based
• Occasional news sheet

PRINCIPAL STRUCTURE DISCUSSION FORUM
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Discussion Forum Participation

• Open to all public
• Encourage interaction between both experts and
  people with casual interest
• Encourage respect towards all Forest users
• Answers to who?
• How is it managed?

PRINCIPAL STRUCTURE DISCUSSION FORUM
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Discussion Forum web based Topics covered
Based on typical input in ALEPE (Lozère, France
Nature Forum)

• Regular reporting of seasonal wildlife (many
  ornithologists, for example, submit weekly
  reports)
• Irregular reporting of wildlife of interest
• Requests for identification of wildlife (this can
  lead to highly informative discussions)
• Discussion of topical issues
• Reporting of problems encountered in the Forest

PRINCIPAL STRUCTURE DISCUSSION FORUM
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Stakeholder Forums Structure

• Sandford Principal cornerstone to entire approach
  
• Pyramid design 
• 5 principal forums
• Secondary forums
• Panel to oversee all forums

PRINCIPAL STRUCTURE STAKEHOLDER FORUMS
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Stakeholder Forums Principal forums
Structure based on experience gained from current
Equine Forum

• Equine Forum
• Active Sports Forum (includes cycling,
  orienteering)
• Walking Forum (includes dog walkers, disabled)
• Education Forum (both giving and receiving
  information, and organising events)
• Volunteer Forum

PRINCIPAL STRUCTURE STAKEHOLDER FORUMS
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Stakeholder Forums Secondary forums
Structure based according to specific need

• Sitting forums that meet intermittently e.g.
• Youth Forum
• Coastal Forum
• Temporary forums that meet as required e.g.
• Sub-group of a main forum to consider specific
  problem
• Specific problem involving all recreation e.g.
  vandalism

PRINCIPAL STRUCTURE STAKEHOLDER FORUMS
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Stakeholder Forums Selection criteria
principal forums
Panel (Chairman forum chairmen) selects each
stakeholder

• Panel selects forum stakeholders on following
  criteria
• Most members will have specific expertise in area
  e.g. horse keeping
• Additional member(s) with conservation expertise
  
• Additional member(s) drawn from NPA and/or key
  partners as appropriate

PRINCIPAL STRUCTURE STAKEHOLDER FORUMS
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Stakeholder Forums Selection criteria
secondary forums
Panel (Chairman forum chairmen) selects each
stakeholder

• Panel selects secondary forum stakeholders on
  following criteria
• o       Identified short term issue
• o       Advisers drawn from appropriate principal
  forums
• o       Individuals or group representatives
  outside principal forums with specialist skills

PRINCIPAL STRUCTURE STAKEHOLDER FORUMS
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Summary

• Reconciling recreation and conservation in the
  New Forest is of crucial importance
• Formalised stakeholder involvement is essential
• Public support and involvement is essential
• National Park Authority should play leading role

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FOREST FIRST

• INFORMATION
• UNDERSTANDING
• COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT