Euan P. McFarlane Environmental Award

Alexandra Pierre of Haiti Receives 2019 Award for Outstanding Environmental Leadership in the Insular Caribbean

The Advisory Committee of the Euan P. McFarlane Environmental Leadership Award of the Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands (CFVI) is pleased to announce the selection of Alexandra Pierre (of Haiti) for receipt of the 2019 McFarlane Award, in recognition of her important work as a dedicated and passionate environmentalist. Ms. Pierre was selected from a field of ten nominations that also included individuals from Barbados, Curacao, the Dominican Republic, Nevis, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Recipients of the McFarlane Award are recognized as individuals who have applied themselves to the preservation of the natural or built environment in the insular Caribbean and whose career or avocation demonstrates an appreciation of and support for the advancement of environmental stewardship and balanced development in the Caribbean.The Committee believes that the presentation of the McFarlane Award to Ms. Pierre will highlight the importance of conservation efforts in Haiti and the role that courageous and dedicated individuals can play.

Ms. Pierre was nominated by a colleague, who highlighted her engagement with a variety of civil society organizations and international agencies, her leadership of CYEN (Caribbean Youth Environment Network) and Reef Check in Haiti, and her achievements that have linked field work with policy making. Ms. Pierre has held several positions at the Haitian Ministry of Environment: representing the Ministry before technical and financial partners, including The Nature Conservancy, the Caribbean Biodiversity Fund; and liaising for the promotion of a blue economy and implementation of cooperative actions for the conservation of aquatic resources in Haiti. She is currently a senior staff member for the Directorate of River Basins at the Ministry, where she serves on a committee in charge of evaluating proposals for the transfer of shark DNA to an American laboratory. Ms. Pierre is an Architect Engineer with a double master in environment and education, a certified eco-diver, a recognized Haitian youth leader, an environmental reporter for the online media outlet, Impulse, and has plans to enter a PhD program in marine conservation.

The Euan P. McFarlane Award was established in 1987 to recognize individuals demonstrating initiative, resourcefulness and leadership in promoting conservation and enhancement of the environment in the insular Caribbean. Endowment funding for the award was provided by the late businessman and conservationist Laurance S. Rockefeller, and the program was initially administered by Island Resources Foundation from 1987-2014. The McFarlane Leadership Award is now managed by the Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands as part of its program of support to youth, learning, family support and the environment.

McFarlane Award Recipients 1988-2019