Leonardo L. Co

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Revision as of 23:59, 21 November 2010 by Pasy (talk | contribs)
Leonardo L. Co - photo by Leonard Co / Bonifacio Pasion

Leonardo L. Co is a prominent Filipino plant taxonomist and ethnobiologist. Born on December 29, 1953, Co served as a museum researcher at the University of the Philippines Institute of Biology (IB) and as senior botanist of Conservation International-Philippines.

He died on November 15, 2010 after being caught in an alleged crossfire between the Philippine Army and an armed group in Kananga, Leyte. Doubts, however, are cast on whether there was really a crossfire as claimed by the military.

Co was President of the Philippine Native Plants Conservation Society. His book, “Common Medicinal Plants in the Cordillera Region: A Trainor’s Manual for Community-Based Health Programs,” was published in 1989. New plant species like the 'meat' flower Rafflesia leonardi (named after him) were discovered by Co.

According to his colleague, Dr Julie Barcelona, Co "spent most of his botanical career studying the forests of Luzon’s Sierra Madre. Leonard’s enthusiasm has motivated many students in the Philippines to pursue a career in Botany. His attitude towards the sincere pursuit and sharing of his knowledge in Plant Taxonomy has put real meaning to the words biodiversity conservation, scientist, endemic, endangered, capacity-building, participatory, community." [1]

Writings


Hobbies

  • playing the harmonica
  • collection of protest and national liberation songs (from various countries)
  • cooking

Membership

  • Philippine Native Plants Conservation Society
  • UP Botanical Society
  • UP Mountaineers
  • Community Health, Education, Services and Training in Cordillera Region (Chestcore)
  • Samahan ng mga Mag-aaral sa Pilipino (SAMAPIL)[2]

Awards

  • Biodiversity Heritage Award from UNDP

References

Blogs

Notes

This document can be directly modified using a UP Webmail / CRS account. Other contributions may be coursed through psy@up.edu.ph