Anderson \t JEAN

Biography

Anderson JEAN is an agronomist and field biologist. He received his B.S. at the American University of the Caribbean in Les Cayes, Haiti. While at the university, Anderson became the supervisor of the Audubon Center Library as a result of his interest in ornithology. During his three-year career there, he had the opportunity to participate in several ornithological field studies with scientists from the Vermont Center for Ecostudies (VCE) and Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology (CLO). These field studies allowed him to acquire basic scientific skills in monitoring and evaluating bird populations.

In 2008, Anderson participated in the Golondrinas long term research project coordinated by VCE and CLO in Vermont and Ithaca, New York. He studied the ecology and conservation of Bicknell’s Thrush under the direction of Chris Rimmer. The following year, he had the privilege of participating in the National Audubon Seabird Restoration Program (Project Puffin). These overseas experiences provided him opportunities to lead bird monitoring activities, contribute to the management plan of the Critically Endangered Black-capped Petrel in Haiti, and to initiate for the first time the Christmas Bird Count in Les Cayes, Haiti in 2010.

After participating in an intensive course on Island Conservation, provided by Durrell Wildlife Trust in 2011, he was employed by Société Audubon Haïti as a field biologist where he coordinated field research and conservation activities for five years.

In March 2017, he co-founded a non-profit organization named «Action pour la Sauvegarde de l’Ecologie en Haïti (ACSEH) ». ACSEH has a strong environmental education component as part of its conservation mission. To that end, Anderson Jean coordinated with Maxon Fildor to establish the first International Migratory Bird Day (IMBD) and Caribbean Endemic Bird Festivals in Haiti. He also coordinates the conservation research of several threatened species in Haiti notably two Critically Endangered species, the Black-capped Petrel and the Ridgway’s Hawk, the latter of which he rediscovered in Haiti in August 2019. Apart from his direct work in conservation actions, he also focuses on training young Haitians in conservation biology and sustainable agriculture in order for them to be able to help train kids and farmers living in the vicinity of the biological conservation sites to farm in an eco-friendly way.

For his numerous works and accomplishments, Anderson was named the Bright Award winner in 2022 by Stanford Law of School.

In September 2023, the Caribbean Natural Resources Institute (CANARI) offered Anderson the opportunity to participate in a Fellowship program in Trinidad and Tobago to strengthen his capacity in the use of Information and communications technology. He is currently using these tools to support community based organizations and farmers in Haiti to develop livelihoods.

With these new-found skills, Anderson, through ACSEH, began developing partnerships with local farmers and fishermen associations in order to help them increase their income, while making decisions to protect local biodiversity and make their community more resilient to climate change effects.

Publications: