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Location

South East England | United Kingdom

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Job description

This role will provide ecological advice on forestry schemes and proposals to Area colleagues and support the work of the national Natural Environment Advisors. This local, expert specialist advice will enable well informed and timely decision making that fully accounts for the existing ecological interests of both woodland and non-woodland (open) priority habitats and species and their potential for enhancement in line with the Government’s 25 Year Environment Plan.

The South East and London area contains 40% of the UK total of Ancient Woodland you will be expected to work alongside our planning officer, reviewing and commenting on large projects with potential detrimental impacts to ancient woodland and protected species, Influencing design to avoid or mitigate impacts and reduce Ancient Woodland loss.

Although not unique to the South East and London there are several key habitats of local and national significance within the area which require specialist knowledge and critically, a working relationship with key stakeholders. Such areas include the Wealden oakwoods, Beech dominated woodlands of the Chilterns, 9 designated National Landscapes and The New forest and South Downs National parks.

Current estimates suggest that up to 41,000 Hectares of lowland chalk grassland remain in the UK. with major concentrations of these on the chalk downs of Kent, Hampshire, Sussex and some significant areas in the Chilterns and Cotswold areas.

Less than 30,000ha of acid grassland remain in the UK. The South East and London area has several SAC’s notified with acid grassland being the principle reason for designation and the area also contains significant sites of Lowland heath in Hampshire and parts of Surrey/Berkshire.

Supporting the Area team and national Natural Environment team to enable the forestry sector to protect, improve, expand and connect England’s woodland resource, through:

Providing technical expertise on ecological issues relating to forestry and woodland protection, management and creation across the area.
To support the Area team in promoting and delivering sustainable forestry and woodland management to ensure the Government’s woodland and tree establishment targets enhance biodiversity for woodland and non-woodland priority habitats and species.
To build and maintain a network of contacts across the statutory and NGO ecology and conservation sector to promote the work of the Forestry Commission and foster collaborative working. This post is also supporting the England Tree Planting Programme (ETTP) and will help ensure that the Forestry Commission’s commitments and responsibilities to protect and enhance the natural environment are met in delivering this programme. The successful applicant will have a passion for woodlands and forests and for the benefits to society, the environment and the economy they provide. They will advocate the knowledge and enthusiasm the environmental and other benefits that woodland creation provides and will be a trusted and reliable source of sound ecological advice related to woodland creation and management.

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Salary