Ernest Valentine "Val" Sanderson (8 February 1866 – 29 December 1945) was a New Zealand businessman and conservationist.
In 1921, after his return from the First World War, the then Captain Val Sanderson was angered that the Kapiti Island wildlife reserve was unfenced and extensively damaged by cattle, sheep and goats.
Sanderson campaigned for better management of Kapiti Island and succeeded in having it re-dedicated as a Wildlife Reserve.
After this success, Sanderson held a public meeting in March 1923 which established the Native Bird Protection Society with Sir Thomas Mackenzie as the Society's first President.
The New Zealand Forestry League, a forest conservation group already existed but it gradually died out.