MENU

Welcome to ELADIO FERNANDEZ Caribbean Conservation Photography!

I’m a conservation photographer and a naturalist based in the Dominican Republic. My work focuses in the Caribbean because this group of islands has a huge diversity of poorly known animals, plants, and landscapes. At the same time, our natural heritage is seriously threatened by agriculture, poor management of natural resources, habitat destruction, and climate change.

Aside from photography and filmmaking, I'm interested in the science and conservation aspect of things. Creating visual resources is a great to tool for conservation, but we have to get involved beyond image making. Activism, science and conservation actions are a must if we are to preserve what is left. Time is running out for some countries and islands. 

Please follow my work on Instagram and Facebook to stay updated. I will be starting a visual blog soon as well.

Current Projects

Studies in Aristolochia of The Greater Antilles

My main project is the study of the Aristolochia (pipe vines) of Hispaniola, its pollinators and the butterflies that use it as a host plant. This project started out as a quest to photograph all the known species of pipe vines on Hispaniola, but since it has grown into a serious revision of the genus in the Greater Antilles. My collaborators are Gustavo Romero and Irina Ferreras (Oakes Ames Herbarium), Brian Farrell (MCZ, Harvard University) and Ruth Bastardo (UASD). This project is made possible through the partial sponsorship of Fundacion Propagas. A first publication with findings is due in print any day.

The Life Cycle of Butterflies That Feed On Aristolochia

Aristolochia in the Greater Antilles are used as host plants by butterflies from the genus Battus and Parides. Some of these butterflies have life cycles that have been poorly documented. I'm currently photographing and filming the life cycles of 4 of these butterflies. My collaborator is Ruth Bastardo (UASD) with partial sponsorship from Fundacion Propa-gas.

Saving the Magnolias of Hispaniola

I'm assisting Fundación Progressio and their goal of saving all 5 species of Magnolias on the island of Hispaniola. Three of these are located in the Dominican Republic, while two are only foundin Haiti. Almost all are listed as "Critically Endangered" by the IUCN Red List. This work entails documenting their habitat, flowers, fruits, conservation efforts and their threats. Fundacion Progressio is establishing in-situ nurseries for all these Magnolias.

CLOSE