News

South African National Parks (SANParks) is pleased to announce the appointment of Mrs Charlene Adams as the new Park Manager for West Coast National Park (WCNP). Mrs Adams assumed her role on 1 July 2023 and is committed to ensuring the smooth and efficient functioning of WCNP.

A native of the small town of Mamre on the Cape West Coast, Charlene’s appointment as Park Manager of WCNP holds a special significance as it marks a homecoming to the very area where she grew up. For Charlene, WCNP is not just a workplace; it is home, evoking fond memories of her childhood exploring the park.

Mrs Adams holds a Degree in Development and Environment from the esteemed University of Stellenbosch and has dedicated 17 years of her career to working in the conservation sector, with a decade of that tenure spent at SANParks. Her experience encompasses a diverse range of government and international conservation roles.

Over the years, Charlene has played various vital roles in conservation. She has served as the Site Coordinator at the City of Cape Town, Nature Conservation Branch in Mamre and worked as the Community Conservation Officer at CapeNature in 2010. She joined South African National Parks (SANParks) in December 2012 as the Senior People and Conservation Officer, focusing on local community liaison and environmental education in and around West Coast National Park. In 2016, she was then appointed as the Regional People and Conservation Manager for the Arid Region, overseeing Augrabies Falls, Kgalagadi, Mokala, Meerkat, Namakwa, and Richtersveld National Parks, based in Upington.

In 2022, Charlene temporarily left the organization due to family matters. However, her passion for conservation remained, and she continued her career at the World Wide Fund (WWF) for Nature as the Community Conservation Coordinator for the Northern Cape and Western Cape Succulent Karoo Biome.

As the newly appointed Park Manager of WCNP, Charlene emphasizes the importance of engaging with various stakeholders and communities to address their needs while fulfilling the core mandate of biodiversity conservation. She acknowledges that the park’s sustainability relies on delivering benefits to the people and garnering support from stakeholders. Charlene is aware of the West Coast community’s passion for their local park and sees tremendous opportunities when efforts are combined.

Mr Johan Taljaard, SANParks Cape Region’s Regional General Manager, extends his best wishes to Mrs Adams as she embarks on her journey as WCNP’s Park Manager. He is confident that her extensive knowledge and experience in environmental management and her expertise in community and public relationships will serve SANParks and the West Coast region exceptionally well in the future.