ATLANTA — Georgia State University history major Jazanae Reid has always had a love for nature and conservation. From an early age, Reid has been involved in conservation efforts through her parents, who are also conservation enthusiasts. Growing up near Virginia Beach, Va., Reid spent a lot of her free time cleaning up litter and trash from the beach.
“It brings me a sense of tranquility. I know I’m doing something to help,” Reid said.
Now, thanks to an externship opportunity with the National Geographic Society and The Nature Conservancy, she’s able to share that love with her local community while also making an impact.
Reid’s externship focuses on engaging with freshwater conservationists across the globe via teleconferences and webinars, conducting research on freshwater issues and creating a story map that details a freshwater issue of her interest.
She’s also responsible for translating global freshwater conservation issues into local context while making the issues relevant and accessible to communities in Georgia.
“This is one of the most enriching things I’ve ever done,” Reid said. “I’m making friends with people across the world, and we all share the same goal of learning more about freshwater issues and helping communities. This experience has not only been enriching but also inspiring.”
Reid’s research has mainly focused on Lake Lanier, and how drought and surrounding communities have negatively impacted the man-made reservoir, which supplies more than 4 million residents with water in metro Atlanta and north Georgia.
“Lake Lanier is actually in a dire condition right now,” Reid said. “My whole project revolves around how the local community can conserve water and become more educated about the issues.”
Reid is using local partnerships she’s fostered over the years to help spread the word about water conservation.
Before her externship with the National Geographic Society and The Nature Conservancy, Reid joined the Atlanta Creek League. As a member, Reid rode around the city of Atlanta to track waterways, clean up creeks and find ways to get the community more involved in conservation efforts.
“A lot of people don’t know there are creeks surrounding Atlanta. I didn’t know that when I first moved to Atlanta,” Reid said. “It’s important to make connections with the people who live here.”
Reid is graduating this May and said she plans to get more involved with The Nature Conservancy’s volunteer opportunities, like seagrass restoration in her hometown in Virginia. She also wants to publish a personal project she’s worked on, titled “Nature’s Bill of Rights,” which aims to inform and encourage local communities about conservation.
“This work brings me a sense of calm because I know there’s someone out there doing something and there are millions more like me,” Reid said. “I always think about the people around the world who are still suffering and what we can do to help.”
-Photo by Raven Schley