Suffolk Reporter

Stony Brook University doctoral student Florence Aghomo has been honored with the Young Women in Conservation Biology (YWCB) Award by the Society for Conservation Biology (SCB) Africa Region. Aghomo is pursuing her doctorate in the Interdepartmental Doctoral Program in Anthropological Sciences and is part of the Institute for the Conservation of Tropical Environments, under the guidance of Patricia C. Wright, a distinguished professor at the State University of New York.

The YWCB Award annually acknowledges young women in Africa who contribute significantly to conservation biology. Aghomo was chosen for her leadership, creativity, self-motivation, and dedication to conservation efforts. Her ability to collaborate across different social groups was also recognized.

Since June 2019, Aghomo has coordinated the Red Colobus Conservation Network project within the Primates Specialist Group of the Species Survival Commission of IUCN/SSC/PSG, Re:wild, and the African Primatological Society. Her role involves coordinating conservation plans and an international network of over 300 primatologists. She collaborates with partners, manages fundraising activities, organizes meetings, maintains digital platforms, and supports youth professional development through training and mentorship.

Before this role, Aghomo researched endangered Red colobus monkeys' behavior and ecology in Cameroon’s Korup National Park. Her work involved exploring dense forests to study these primates. "They [Red colobus monkeys] are so special because they are very beautiful, unique," she said.

In 2020, Aghomo established the Cameroon Primatological Society and organized its first general assemblies with support from Re:wild. In Madagascar, she founded a Language and Environmental Center in Ranomafana through her foundation "Flor’Afrique" to promote education and conservation.

Patricia C. Wright praised Aghomo's contributions: “Florence is a conservation hero... We are looking forward to sharing in her future accomplishments."

The YWCB Working Group was created in 2005 by SCB's Africa Region to address the scarcity of women professionals in African conservation science and provide a platform for early-career biologists to share experiences.