Meet the conservationist: Anne-Isabelle Bonifassi

Growing up surrounded by animals, Anne-Isabelle Bonifassi always dreamed of a career in conservation. Today, as Executive Director of Haiti National Trust, one of the 2025 Land Acquisition Fund grantees, she is helping to protect Haiti’s unique biodiversity while bringing international attention to a country whose natural richness is often overlooked. Her recent recognition by National Geographic marks an important step forward. ‘We have seen a lot of doors close, just because it is Haiti. That is why I am so glad that we are now getting the support and recognition to put Haiti in the spotlight.’

Header photo: Anne-Isabelle Bonifassi in the field with Alex Domerçant (middle) and Kenson Jean (right) © Haiti National Trust

Putting Haiti’s biodiversity on the map

As the Executive Director of Haiti National Trust, Anne-Isabelle faces the challenge to put conservation in Haiti on the map. Nature and biodiversity in Haiti are often overlooked, because of the country’s social, economic and political challenges. ‘I always talk about the extraordinary biodiversity that we have here in Haiti,’ she explains. ‘Just because there is a political crisis does not mean we should overlook the country’s natural treasures. The species in our reserve do not care about elections, borders or any of this. If we wait for all these crisis’s to be solved, it will be too late for our biodiversity and our environment.’

Attracting funding has been a real challenge for the organization. ‘We have seen a lot of doors close, just because it is Haiti,’ Anne-Isabelle says. ‘That is why I am so glad that we are now getting support from the Land Acquisition Fund and recognition to put Haiti in the spotlight.’

Conservation starts with communities

For Anne-Isabelle, conservation is about more than protecting species, it’s about empowering people to become part of the solution. Haiti National Trust works closely with the communities living in and around the national park to find solutions that benefit both people and nature. ‘We need to come up with ways for people to make a living while also protecting biodiversity,’ she explains. ‘I try, as much as I can, to put myself into their shoes to better understand where they come from.’

What continues to inspire Anne-Isabelle most is the resilience of the Haitian people. Despite the many challenges they face, the communities are often eager to explore new opportunities when they see how these can improve their livelihoods.

The ultimate goal is for communities to take ownership of new ideas and teach others ‘It is not just us coming there and saying how things should be done,’ she explains. ‘The real change happens when people tell their own story and inspire others in their community.’ Building that trust and ownership takes time, however. Anne-Isabelle stresses that conservation is never a one-off intervention: ‘it is a constant process of talking to people and understanding them as they change, and as their environment changes.’ While this can sometimes be challenging, it is also what keeps her motivated. ‘If it were easy, we would not be here today.’

More than a grant

Haiti National Trust received support from the Land Acquisition Fund to purchase 32 private parcels (215 hectare in total) within Grand Bios National Park, securing one of Haiti’s last remaining primary forests. Acquiring this land will strengthen habitat connectivity, protect core habitats for endangered species and unify fragmented parcels into a well-managed conservation area.

Anne-Isabelle stresses how the support that Haiti National Trust receives from the Land Acquisition Fund is about much more than financial resources. ‘Receiving a Land Acquisition Fund grant shows that major institutions believe in our work and our ability to make a difference. It is not just a grant that gives money, but really strengthens our network and opens doors to new partnerships.’

Support comes at a crucial moment. Research of the organisation has shown that most deforestation and threats in the reserve takes place on land that is not owned by Haiti National Trust. ‘One of the biggest challenges to conservation in Haiti is land tenure. If we want to protect these forests in the long term, we need to secure the land where conservation is taking place, says Anne-Isabelle. ‘Being able to purchase the land significantly increases the likelihood that the endemic and threatened species will be conserved’.

A Future Built on Trust

In countries like Haiti, socio-political challenges can easily overshadow the immense value of nature and the work being done to protect it. Despite these challenges Haiti faces, Anne-Isabelle remains hopeful for the future. She hopes that the growing international recognition for Haiti’s biodiversity can help tell a different story about the country. ‘I hope that this recognition encourages people to see Haiti differently. Despite everything that is going on, there is a lot of conservation work that is being done, and we’re proving that progress is possible. But we’re only scratching the surface. There is still so much more to do, and we need support to continue this.’

About the Land Acquisition Fund

For 25 years, the IUCN NL Land Acquisition Fund has been enabling the protection of the habitat of endangered and vulnerable species. Through the work of the local NGOs, safeguarding important ecosystems creates a win-win for biodiversity, the climate and human well-being.