Selborne was president of the Royal Agricultural Society of England from 1987–88, of the Royal Institute of Public Health and Hygiene from 1991 to 1997 and of the Royal Geographical Society from 1997–2000. From 1996–2006 he was the chancellor of the University of Southampton and between 2003–09 he was chairman of the trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew. In 1989 he was master of the Worshipful Company of Mercers. In 1991, he became a fellow of the Royal Society. He was also a fellow of the Linnean Society, vice-patron of the Royal Entomological Society, and patron of the Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management.