Melissa Abdo

Research Interests in Agroecology:
     I am interested in conducting research that supports livelihood enhancement for farmers while also contributing to biodiversity conservation. Other primary agroecological research interests of mine are urban organic agriculture; underutilized species (especially native species); wastewater gardens; agroforestry using native and introduced species; and ethnobotany.
     I especially enjoy applied research, and am involved in working with communities located in "borderlands" along the agricultural - natural forest/protected area (PA) frontier. My work in these areas focuses upon using community-based and adaptive approaches to improving biodiversity conservation in PAs and across the landscape matrix, while working with locals towards enhancing livelihoods and tenure security via agroecological development/enhancement programs. Other applied research I've done while active in the Agroecology Program has involved creating linkages between farmers in both developed and developing countries, in order to share knowledge and technical assistance.

My recent work in agroecology:
Spring 2007: Honored with a national award from the President's Council on Civic Service for volunteer work in conservation and livelihood enhancement in Indonesia

Summer - Fall 2006: Project titled "Linking livelihoods to the landscape: integrating local ecological knowledge to improve sustainable agriculture and biodiversity conservation in Indonesia." This project was funded by the Agroecology Scholarship from FIU and a grant under USDA CSREES HSI Higher Education Grant Program, in addition to Winrock International and USAID. (Click here to read about this project)

Ongoing: Constantly working on improving my knowledge and practice of urban organic gardening in Miami, using native and introduced species. Focus is on: production in small area; doing trials of using native companion plantings to aid in pest & pathogen control; and experimenting with underutilized native species as unique foods.

Personal Background:
     A native Miamian and avid urban gardener, I am grateful to have been exposed to gardening and growing plants since a young age. South Florida's amazing climate and unique cultural mix long ago sparked in me an interest in sub-tropical and tropical plants, as well as the diverse types of agroecological growing methods developed by peoples in tropical locales around the world. My geographic areas of focus are South Florida and the Caribbean, Southeast Asia, and northern South America; I am fluent in Bahasa Indonesia & Malay, and speak intermediate Spanish.

Melissa (center) and some members of Farmer Group in North Sumatra.

Melissa and school children, they want to learn about organic gardening too!

Durian, an important agroforestry crop in Southeast Asia and Melissa's favorite fruit.