Paul Gordijn

Field Technician, Grasslands, Forests & Wetlands Node. MSc Ecology, UKZN. Being passionate about plants and their environment I took up the opportunity to work at SAEON as a field technician in July 2013. I see plants as fascinating indicators of what is happening to the environment with interesting stories that we can learn from. Prior to my appointment with SAEON I worked for Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife in northern Maputaland, based at Tembe Elephant Park. I have an MSc in Ecology in which was supervised by Prof. David Ward from the University of KwaZulu-Natal. The topic of my MSc focused on fire and bush encroachment and demonstrated that among other factors, climate change (changes in rainfall patterns and increasing atmospheric CO2) have had huge images on vegetation communities in Ithala Game Reserve. These changes have cascading effects on the faunal and abiotic components of an ecosystem and can result in a large community shifts. Along with other projects at SAEON, I currently I have the privilege of exploring possible changes in the grasslands of the Drakensberg.