Kim Parker

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 one years’ work experience as a Junior Environmental Consultant working on a variety of local and international integrated conservation and development projects. This work included 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 (CMP) for the Cango Caves and an Integrated Conservation Management Plan (ICMP) 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 (DFFE). Further, she was also involved as an assistant researcher and editor in the establishment of the ‡Khomani Cultural Landscape (KCL) Interpretation Centre for the South African National Parks (SANParks).

At Umvoto, Kim joins the Environmental Department, helping to gather and analyse climatological, environmental and hydrogeological data. She will be developing and conducting Environmental Management Plans (EMPs), Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs), Scoping Reports (SRs), Background Information Documents (BIDs), applicability Checklists (ACL), Notice of Intent to Develop (NIDs), and various Risk Assessments. In addition, Kim will be developing monitoring protocols, undertaking monitoring, and conducting environmental compliance monitoring.

Kim is in the process of registering to become a Candidate Natural Scientist 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.