Kim Parker has a MSc Conservation Biology from the University Cape Town and BSc (Hons) in Environmental Science from Rhodes University. Her masters research (published in 2022 in Environmental Pollution), focused on heavy metal exposure in Cape Town’s caracal (Caracal caracal) population. Her honours research focused on the viability of South Africa’s wildlife economy within private conservation areas. This research entitled, “Impacts of a trophy hunting ban on private land conservation in South African biodiversity hotspots” was published in 2020 in Conservation Science and Practice.
Kim has two years’ work experience as a Junior Ecologist working on a variety of local and international integrated conservation and development projects. This work includes strategic planning, conservation management planning, research, report and proposal writing, stakeholder engagement and liaison, and conducting site visits. Notably, she was involved in the development of a Conservation Management Plan for the Cango Caves and an Integrated Conservation Management Plan for the Al Ula Cultural Oasis in Saudi Arabia. She participated as an assistant researcher and editor in the development of the National Buffering Mechanism Policy for World Heritage Sites in South Africa, for the Department of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment. Further, she was also involved as an assistant researcher and editor in the establishment of the ‡Khomani Cultural Landscape Interpretation Centre for the South African National Parks (SANParks).
At Umvoto, Kim is part of the Environmental Department helping to gather and analyse climatological, environmental and hydrogeological data. In addition, Kim develops monitoring protocols, undertakes monitoring programmes, and conducts environmental compliance monitoring.
Kim is a registered Certificated Natural Scientist (Environmental Science Field of Practice) with the South African Council for Natural Scientific Professions (SACNASP). She is skilled in QGIS and R software packages.
Some of her many passions include hiking, running, surfing, cooking and being out in nature.
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Bitten by the Bug: SASS5 Training
In April, Junior Environmentalist Kim Parker, had the incredible opportunity to attend the South African Scoring System (SASS5) Training Course hosted by the Freshwater Research Centre in Kommetjie, Cape Town. This four-day course provided hands-on experience conducting SASS5 biomonitoring – a rapid aquatic biomonitoring method used to assess the health of rivers and streams in…
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Divided by water
South Africa is a water scarce country receiving an average annual rainfall of less than 500 mm, falling well below the global average of 850 mm. Rising populations, climate change, and the current electricity crisis are placing increased pressure on the country’s limited water resources. Without intervention, a national water shortage is imminent, the effects…
