A WORLD CLASS ENVIRONMENT AND WORLD CLASS ECONOMY
AS THE NEW FOREST NATIONAL PARK MARKS ITS 20 ANNIVERSARY, THE SOLENT AREA IS UNDERGOING CHANGE ON MANY FRONTS AND HOW WE ACT TOGETHER NOW WILL DETERMINE THE SUCCESS OF OUR COLLECTIVE FUTURE. TH We hear from Alison Barnes - CEO for the New Forest National Park Authority
Alison Barnes FRSA FLI - Chief Executive Officer New forest National Park Authority & Business South NED
PROTECTING OUR NATURAL ASSETS IS NOT
AN ‘ADD-ON’ OR ‘NICE TO HAVE’
It’s our natural assets that give direct and distinctive value to our economy and communities:
Capturing carbon and atmospheric pollutants Protecting us from flooding Offering business natural materials and resources Proving healthy food
Creating places where people can go to recharge and keep healthy. So protecting our natural assets is good for us and our economy; it’s not an ‘add-on’ or ‘nice to have’.
Our maritime history connects us to the world; we are home to world- class universities and research facilities; an exciting and diverse cultural offer; cutting edge businesses… and importantly our environment is world-beating – with a staggering 20,000 species in the New Forest alone. Our environment is, I believe, a huge asset to be cherished and safeguarded. It’s the fabric that weaves across our lives and gives life, wellbeing and an exceptional place to live and work. It features the New Forest to the west, the South Downs to the east, our special rivers and the Solent with its rich coastal and marine ecology and the green spaces that run through our towns and cities. Our region is naturally distinctive in character; a unique and special environment we can all be justifiably proud of.
AUTUMN / 2025
BUSINESSSOUTH.ORG
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