KNYSNA NEWS - The Garden Route National Park (GRNP) introduces Megan Taplin as its new area manager for the Knysna section.
Taplin is to take over from Johan de Klerk who, after three years of service, moved to Mokala National Park in Northern Cape.
No stranger to SANParks, Taplin has worked for the organisation since 2001.
Her first job in Addo Elephant National Park was as an environmental control officer and later promoted to roads project manager with Vuka Environmental Services, the implementing agent for Expanded Public Works Programme projects, at the time.
She then took up a position as a social ecologist – now called people & conservation officers – at Addo in 2003, where she worked extensively with local communities and schools, after which she was appointed as the regional communications and marketing manager for the Frontier Region (Addo, Camdeboo, Karoo and Mountain Zebra).
In July 2012 she was appointed park manager for Mountain Zebra National Park in Cradock.
She completed schooling in Westerford High School, Cape Town and then completed a BSc degree majoring in nature conservation, zoology and animal physiology at Stellenbosch University.
Her fourth-year thesis was a management plan for Table Mountain National Park, with a focus on the bontebok population.
She is currently busy with a master’s degree in environmental science through Wits University.
Her hobbies include hiking, being out in nature and reading. "I love a good book but rarely get time these days. My two children keep me busy," she said.
'Passion to protect environment'
GRNP manager Paddy Gordon welcomed the new area manager, saying, "Her passion for protecting the environment and her experience will strengthen the team.”
"When asked about her new role, Taplin said, “I’ve always considered it a privilege to work for SANParks and to be given the opportunity to do my part in protecting our unique natural heritage.
"There are so many threats to our natural resources now with growing needs of human populations. We only have relatively small pieces of unchanged natural resources and biodiversity to look after.”
She said it is a challenge to be able to conserve the natural systems and processes while still providing for people’s diverse needs and remaining relevant to the new generation.
“We need the new generation to take ownership of our parks, otherwise they won’t survive into the future. I am fortunate to have worked in many different areas of focus in SANParks throughout my journey with the organisation, which I think assists me to understand how to manage better and helps me to take a holistic management approach,” said Taplin.
The GRNP team bid farewell to Johan de Klerk, who expressed his appreciation for the support provided to him and thanked his staff and the people of Knysna for doing their bit to advance the protection of nature.
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