Our Aims

The objects of the NWCF CIO are:

To promote and advance, for the public benefit, the conservation protection and improvement of the physical and natural environment in the coastal areas of North West England including those under other national jurisdictions and education in sustainable development by:

• The provision of conferences, workshops and other dissemination mechanisms;
• Providing information and advice to inform, for the public benefit, relevant policy, legislation, plans, strategies and projects;
• Facilitating and enabling coordination and collaboration between coastal and estuarine partnerships and other relevant bodies across the north west; in particular to encourage knowledge sharing and increase collective understanding of and competency in coastal management issues;
• Advancing scientific knowledge through the commissioning and carrying out of research on coastal management issues and participation in research initiated by other organisations, and by promoting the study of and research into relevant coastal management subjects, provided that the useful results of such studies are disseminated to the public at large,
• Initiating projects and participating in projects initiated by other organisations in order to advance public knowledge and understanding of coastal management and its benefits for long term sustainability;

Sustainable development means ‘development which meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.’

North West England means the area of northern England from the Solway Firth – a cross border estuary with Scotland – to the Dee Estuary – a cross border estuary with Wales.

Prior to becoming a charity the Forum also developed a vision for a sustainable future for the North West coast. Summed up by the phrase, ‘Making the most of the North West Coast’, it included:

• Well-integrated planning and management of the coastal zone
• The economic potential of the NW coast achieved in ways which safeguard, enhance, restore and sustainably use our natural and cultural assets
• A high quality natural and built coastal environment able to adapt to climate and other change
• Improved recreational opportunities and visitor experience
• Improved well being of coastal communities
• Raised appreciation of the North West Coast

We have a business plan and accompanying delivery plan which sets out our full programme of work and how it links to the objectives above. These are in the process of being rewritten to better fit the new constitution and current work priorities and will be uploaded in due course when approved. In the meantime examples of our previous business and delivery plans to give an idea of the scope of our work can be downloaded here: