For Ted, that commitment is rooted in a career spent thinking about how systems connect. Trained as a landscape architect, he understands the intricate relationships between land, water, and culture. That’s why Island Conservation’s holistic approach to conservation resonates so strongly with him. “When you do an eradication, it’s not just eradication for eradication’s sake—it’s the whole biome that comes back, and then the impact on the reefs, which are a completely different ecosystem,” he told me. 

Ted’s Journey to Puerto Rico

Ted recently joined his first Island Conservation journey, visiting Culebra, Vieques, and Puerto Rico’s main island. Guided by our team and local partners, he and his family rolled up their sleeves for hands-on conservation: excavating sea turtle nests alongside U.S. Fish & Wildlife staff and local youth, monitoring shorebird nests, and witnessing the rapid transformation of restored habitats. 

Ted Haffner

Island Conservation Supporter

I was thrilled to get the chance to chat with Ted Haffner about his recent journey. The sea turtle work left a lasting impression—not just on Ted, but on his teenage sons. “You can read about it all day long, but it’s different when you’re digging in the turtle pit, smelling the eggs, feeling the sand under your nails,” he said. That sensory, relational experience, he believes, is what connects people to conservation in a lasting way. 

Seeing before-and-after restoration photos in person was another highlight. “Six months ago, it was bare. Now it’s dense with life,” Ted marveled. For him, the speed and scale of recovery on islands make this work one of the most impactful investments in conservation today. 

When asked what keeps him inspired, Ted points to the combination of scientific rigor, visible results, and the sense of immediate impact that sets Island Conservation apart. “In a day and age where change is so slow, there’s almost immediate gratification in Island Conservation’s work. That’s super cool and really intriguing—in a world that needs immediate impact.” 

You can join Ted in supporting Island Conservation’s mission to restore and rewild islands around the world for nature and people. Make a donation today and become an island champion!