Widely known as a founding member, vice chairperson and head of environmental education of the Friends of Kloofendal (FroK), which operates at the Kloofendal Nature Reserve, Karin Spottiswoode can now add the title of celebrated researcher and author to her long list of achievements.
A member of FroK since 2002, Karin was the driving force behind their highly regarded Environmental Education Programme, which today sees hundreds, if not thousands of locals take part in the various themed and guided two-hour weekend tours in the reserve and weekday school tours on weekdays.
Karin, who practised as an occupational therapist for more than 20 years, says she developed her interest in and love for the natural environment from a young age on many trails and mountain trips.
Through being on the committee of the Roodepoort branch of the Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa, she qualified as a professional field guide through the Field Guides Association of South Africa and worked as an assistant education officer at the Walter Sisulu National Botanical Garden, after which she joined FroK.
During her more than 20 years with FroK, Karin has built up an in-depth knowledge of the flora within her guiding area. She has seen first-hand how alien invasive plants invade and spread throughout an area and the effects that this has on the plants and animals that are indigenous to the area.
All this knowledge and experience has culminated in her authoring her new book, Invasive Alien and Problem Plants on the Witwatersrand and Magaliesberg, which will officially be launched at the Kloofendal Nature Reserve on October 26, at the ecological centre at Kloofendal Nature Reserve.
According to Karin, this book is aimed at assisting property owners, including the management of Johannesburg public and private property, to effectively identify and deal with the most common alien invasive and problem plants on the Witwatersrand and Magaliesberg.
“I’ve worked hard to make this book as comprehensive as possible, while still being easy to use,” says Karin.
“It assists people to effectively identify the invasive plants through photographs and explanations of the appearance and smell of the plant, and its properties. It also lists both the scientific name and the common names of plants and includes an explanation of the national regulations laid down by the National Environmental Management Biodiversity Act.”
Contact FroK on 079 693 5608, or visit www.kloofendalfriends.org.za to book your place at the launch of Karin’s book.
