Karan Rawlins, Invasive Species Coordinator
As Invasive Plants Coordinator for the Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health at the University of Georgia Tifton Campus my duties include: development and delivery of outreach materials and presentations, expanding the development and operation of the Georgia Invasive Species Task Force, developing Cooperative Invasive Species Management Areas in Georgia, classification of images and information into the Bugwood Image Database System, development and training associated with the Early Detection and Distribution Mapping System (EDDMapS), and field work including installation and management of research plot and collection of field survey data. My goal is to help preserve and restore our native habitats and landscapes by working in the field of invasive species.
I am excited to be here. Since I was born in South Georgia, this is a homecoming for me. I spent the last 20 years in Texas around the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex raising my family, working, and going to school. The last couple of years I was fortunate enough to work at the Fort Worth Nature Center & Refuge in Fort Worth, Texas as a weekend Naturalist. It is over 3600 beautiful acres of prairie and forest with the west fork of the Trinity River running through it. I had a great time there as I developed and implemented programs, directed volunteers and students in outreach programs, led teaching hikes, acted as a canoe guide and conducted outreach programs for a variety of groups. I met and worked with many wonderful people during my time there.
While in Texas I also began working with the Texas Invaders Program as a volunteer. They are based at the Lady bird Johnson Wildflower Center and the University of Austin. In the two years working with them I reported over 3000 invasive plant sites, assisted in validation of other collectors data, conducted surveys of properties for private and public stakeholders, trained new recruits for the program, and led field trips on invasive plant identification. I completed my M.S. at the University of Texas at Arlington.
Hobbies include but are not limited to: Gardening, native plants, nature photography, hiking, kayaking, and country dancing.
