Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Beth Joslin, Karsten Griffo join Conserving Carolina’s Habitat Restoration Associates in Polk County

Beth Joslin and Karsten Griffo, AmeriCorps Project Conserve members, are serving an 11-month term as Conserving Carolina’s Habitat Restoration Associates. Karsten and Beth will be serving throughout Conserving Carolina’s service region but focusing their attention on habitat restoration in Polk County on Mondays and Thursdays.

Karsten was born and raised in Cary, NC and moved to the western part of the state four years ago to attend UNC Asheville, where he earned a BS in Environmental Studies in May 2021. While developing his knowledge of ecology and environmental biology at UNCA, Karsten enjoyed frequent hikes throughout the Southern Appalachians and used his time outdoors to identify plants and share his knowledge of the environment with those around him. Karsten is excited to be serving with AmeriCorps Project Conserve at Conserving Carolina this year and excited to make a difference throughout the beautiful landscape of western North Carolina.

Beth was raised in Hendersonville where she developed her love of nature early on, spending her childhood exploring DuPont State Forest and Pisgah National Forest. After high school, she attended Western Carolina University where she earned her BS in Biology. While she initially attended college to study pre-veterinary medicine, her area of study was quickly geared towards plant biology after learning about the fungal pathogen chestnut blight and the declining population of American Chestnut trees. Thus, sparking her passion for conservation. During her time at WCU, she worked in a cell and molecular biology laboratory where she developed a love for plant molecular biology and plant physiology. Beth is excited to be serving with AmeriCorps Project Conserve and to be working in the community where she established her love for the natural world. 

Beth and Karsten will be hosting the Monday workday at Norman Wilder Forest, from 9-11 a.m. Join them (and the Kudzu Warriors) to learn about and help eradicate Kudzu and other non-native and invasive species from this beautiful nature preserve. 

If you are interested in volunteering with Conserving Carolina, please contact Ericka Berg, at volunteer@conservingcarolina.org or call 828-697-5777, ext 222. 

Submitted by Pam Torlina

Beth Joslin and Karsten Griffo