Jemma started writing as an intern for Mongabay at the beginning of 2013. She was born in Wales and was bought up in an unconventional way, spending her early years living onboard a bus on a farm, but also travelled throughout the UK and Europe spending lots of time without mains power or running water. Living this way she was very close to nature and aware of its beauty and at the same time its fragility. Jemma believe she was always destined to be a conservationist after her parents gave her the middle name Okapie (they spelt it wrong) after the animal Okapi. She went on to gain a bachelors degree in Conservation Biology from the University of the West of England, Bristol. Since graduating in 2011 she volunteered for SEO/birdlife in Spain, living on a wetland nature reserve for 3 months. She has travelled to Australia and Cuba and lots of Europe with the hope of doing more in the future and is currently living in Wales working two jobs saving to go around the world. Jemma hopes to incorporate conservation, photography and journalism into her future career. She loves being outdoors and trying new things; this year includes surfing, playing guitar and knitting and also improving her Spanish.
Articles by Jemma Smith
MONGABAY.COM
Mongabay.com seeks to raise interest in and appreciation of wild lands and wildlife, while examining the impact of emerging trends in climate, technology, economics, and finance on conservation and development (more)