Jonathon Porritt, the leading sustainability expert, is to take over the presidency this month of the Conservation Volunteers (TCV), who run activities in Wiltshire. He succeeds Lord Norrie.

Mr Porritt, a former leader of the Green Party, is a vice president of TCV and has supported the organisation in many capacities. Lord Norrie, president since 1987, is retiring.

Mr Porritt is the co-founder of Forum for the Future, and is an eminent writer, broadcaster and commentator on sustainable development. Established in 1996, Forum for the Future is now the UK’s leading sustainable development charity, partnering some of the world’s leading companies.

He has spent nine years providing high-level advice to government ministers as chairman of the UK Sustainable Development Commission. In February 2012 he was installed as the chancellor of Keele University.

He received a CBE in January 2000 for services to environmental protection.

TCV has been working with individuals and communities for 55 years (formerly as BTCV), using its expertise to train volunteers in how to transform their local outdoor green places.

TCV is collecting a growing body of evidence on the positive effect that outdoor volunteering has on people’s health, wellbeing and prospects and is looking forward to working with Mr Porritt.