By Yolanda Adrean, volunteer, The Nature Conservancy
Georgia’s conservation community is as broad and diverse as our beautiful state. Georgia is home to an incredibly rich, diverse environment including mountains, rivers, streams, lakes, coastal shores and forests, all full of incredible endemic species of flora and fauna. Georgians from every corner of the state play a role in preserving and protecting our natural assets from coastal communities like St. Marys all the way up to Hiawassee and Blue Ridge.
Here in Atlanta, conservation takes on many shapes— from protecting the iconic tree canopy and our public green spaces to creating conditions that keep our forests healthy and our drinking water clean. For decades, Atlantans from all walks of life have given their time, money and physical labor to support the organizations charged with conserving Georgia’s lands and waters for future generations.
As chairs of The Nature Conservancy’s Wild for Georgia benefit, my husband Lee and I are grateful for the wisdom and leadership of those before us who had the vision and foresight to protect over 380,000 acres of Georgia parks, preserves, private lands and coastline for generations to enjoy. We’re proud to join the ranks of previous event hosts such as former Governor and Mrs. Roy Barnes. I appreciate the people and organizations who are leading in scientific research, conservation and education here and around the world.
Whether you’re a hiker, hunter, angler or simply enjoy the beauty of nature, please consider supporting The Nature Conservancy and groups like it. A fun, easy way to support ongoing conservation is attending Wild for Georgia, May 3 at Piedmont Park. This casual, festive night brings you up-close-and-personal with some of our state’s iconic wildlife and gives you a chance to mingle with the scientists doing important conservation work in Georgia. It’s also an opportunity to celebrate shared conservation achievements in Georgia and to be inspired by our vision of a better future.
Proceeds from each $150 ticket sold will support The Nature Conservancy’s continued conservation of Georgia’s forests, waters, and coast for all of us.
Yolanda Adrean is a former City of Atlanta councilmember representing the 8th district and a former senior manager at Ernst & Young. Yolanda is a member and past president of the Mt. Paran-Northside Citizens Association and is an active and passionate advocate for good and transparent governance, early childhood education, the great outdoors, and quality of life issues affecting neighborhoods, the city, and state. She and her husband Lee are the parents of two daughters.
