P2P Team

Ian Somerhalder

Trustee

Originally from the Lake Pontchartrain region in Louisiana, Ian Somerhalder’s passion for biodiversity and marine ecosystems began as a child growing up near 35,000 acres of virgin marsh with his background being a 5-foot path of oyster shells. “I’m so grateful to have grown up with my feet in the mud in Louisiana, rather than a silver spoon in my mouth,” Somerhalder said about his upbringing catching fish and hunting with his family.  

“My mother is half Choctaw, half Irish. So Indigenous issues especially related to sea-level rise, food security, and biodiversity loss from climate change are very important to me. I’m honored to  officially be on the Pole-to-Pole team as it is one of the few groups I know of that are really helping  Pacific Islanders, whose cultures, ancestorial home, and traditions are endangered by climate  change impacts happening now.” Somerhalder said about his new commitment.  

“From the Indigenous Climate Adaptation Scholarship Program to the coral reef restoration work,  I’m looking forward to expanding Pole to Pole’s work regenerating this part of the world – not only  supporting natural ecosystem processes but also uplifting its people and listening to them and their  wants and needs.”