It was the second miserable trip south for Forest following their 1-1 draw in the FA Cup with non-league Salisbury on Sunday.
There were no excuses for Forest's third league defeat of the season, although they enjoyed plenty of possession and were denied by a series of fine saves from Bournemouth's experienced keeper Neil Moss.
The expected avalanche of goals from Forest never happened and Kevin Bond was able to celebrate his first league win as Bournemouth's manager after a dismal sequence of failures since he took control.
Bond gave a debut to Sam Vokes - a 17-year-old from the New Forest - and the youngster fought valiantly before being substituted in the 56th minute.
Forest struggled to impose their greater experience, although Kris Commons shot into the side netting in the 20th minute and Grant Holt headed wide in an early raid.
Forest's cause was not helped when they lost Nathan Tyson to a head injury in the 16th minute, but plucky Bournemouth were not to be denied.
Vokes almost marked his unexpected debut with a goal in the 38th minute but his shot was cleared off the line by John Curtis.
Bournemouth took the lead in the 51st minute when a free-kick from Stephen Purches was met with a powerful header by defender Matthew Connolly for his first goal at senior level.
Brett Pitman shot into the side netting but then Forest staged a powerful second-half revival in which they almost snatched an equaliser.
Grant Holt had a header tipped over at full stretch by Moss who then did the same to a free-kick from Nicky Southall.
But Moss' best save came in the 84th minute when he got down brilliantly to his right to push away a firm header from Grant Holt.
Forest were committed to attack in a desperate attempt to snatch an equaliser and were made to pay when they were caught on the break.
Wes Morgan was caught in possession by Pitman and then brought down the 18-year-old Bournemouth striker.
Pitman completed Forest's wretched evening by slamming home the spot kick.