Agoo, Esperanza Maribel G.

Biography

AGOO's main research interests are on the systematics of Philippine seed plants, i.e. orchids, Cycas, Colocasia, Rafflesia, and Cinnamomum. She undertakes DNA barcoding and genetic diversity studies on rare and threatened species. She is also interested in the flora of forest over limestone and ultramafic soils, and in biogeographic areas like Palawan and Batanes. She also studies the potential of indigenous plant species for ecosystem rehabilitation and restoration, particularly of forest and mined-out sites. She has collaborative researches with the RBG Sydney Herbarium (NSW) on cycad phylogeny, RBG Kew Millenium Seed Bank on seed conservation, and the National Museum of Ethnology, Japan on ethnobotany. Locally, she has received research grants from the Commission on Higher Education and the Department of Science and Technology. She is currently a country representative to the IUCN-Species Survival Commission Orchid Specialist Group (Asia), member of the IUCN-SSC Cycad Specialist Group, a member of the PH technical panel for World Heritage of the UNESCO National Commission of the Philippines, and a Board Member of the Flora Malesiana Foundation. In the University, she teaches botany. She also maintains the University Herbarium and started the plant DNA bank and seed bank at the DLSU Science and Technology Research Center.

Research Interest

AGOO's main research interests are on the systematics of Philippine seed plants, i.e. orchids, Cycas, Colocasia, Rafflesia, and Cinnamomum.