Florence Aghomo

Human activities, such as hunting and deforestation, have caused significant harm to primate species worldwide—some of which have gone extinct without having been documented or described by science.

As a primatologist, I study primate diversity, behavior, and the threats they face to assess their vulnerability and contribute to the development of conservation strategies. As the coordinator of the Red Colobus Conservation Network (RCCN) project, I manage both the technical and administrative aspects of implementing the Red Colobus Conservation Action Plan (ReCAP) and oversee an international network of more than 350 primatologists. In that capacity, I have established eight national red colobus groups in eight countries within the red colobus range, which are contributing toward improving the conservation status of this highly threatened species.

In my native Cameroon, I have supported the creation of the Cameroon Primatological Society (CPS), which aims to improve the conservation status of primates through research, education, documentation, habitat protection, advocacy, and the provision of advice based on scientifically accepted and sustainable practices. I have also supported the professional growth of the next generation of scientists and environmental stewards through training and mentorship programs.

I was born and raised in a small neighborhood in a remote area of a city in the Southwest Region of Cameroon. Coming from a large family, we relied on non-timber forest products from the rainforest near our neighborhood. I would visit primary and secondary forests to harvest fruits, plants, leaves, and firewood to sustain our daily livelihood, which helped me develop a special relationship with the forest. 

Visiting the forest was one of my favorite activities; it always felt peaceful and mysterious. Growing up, I developed an interest in exploring nature and wanted to learn more about the development, diversity, and role of the forest. After completing secondary school, I enrolled at Dschang University, where I earned a diploma in Forest and Wildlife Engineering. I conducted many fieldwork activities in protected areas, including surveys, which gave me the opportunity to admire and appreciate the incredible diversity of species and landscapes. Additionally, my ethnozoology study helped me understand that the forest provides not only non-timber forest products to humans but also contributes to traditional beliefs and practices and carries medicinal and financial value. 

During my fieldwork, I encountered different primate species, and driven by curiosity, I decided to become a primatologist. Since 2019, I have been coordinating the implementation of the Red Colobus Conservation Network. That same curiosity motivates me to pursue the Interdepartmental Doctoral Program in Anthropological Sciences (IDPAS) at Stony Brook University, where I will use landscape genetics to study how landscape features influence lemur movement and gene flow. I am proud to be part of wonderful communities contributing to science.