From Bengkulu to the World: Prof. Agus Susatya’s Rafflesia Legacy

Prof. Agus Susatya is a well-known figure among researchers, journalists, activists, and communities dedicated to the conservation of Rafflesia, the world’s largest flower. A faculty member of the Doctoral Program in Natural Resource Management (PSDA) and the Department of Forestry, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Bengkulu, he is recognized as an expert who is always ready to share his knowledge about this rare and iconic plant.

Born in Purworejo on August 16, 1961, Prof. Agus has made significant contributions to botany by expanding the known list of Rafflesia species. Together with his colleagues, he described Rafflesia bengkuluensis in 2005 and Rafflesia lawangensis in 2010. These discoveries have received international recognition, and his name is listed in the International Plant Nomenclature Index.

In addition to research, Prof. Agus has shared his expertise through the book “Rafflesia: The Charm of the World’s Largest Flower” published in 2011. “I hope this will benefit science, especially Rafflesia conservation,” he said, also serving as Vice Chairman of the Rafflesia and Amorphophallus Research and Development Forum, during an interview in his office on Wednesday, January 25, 2017.

He holds a BSc in Forestry from Gadjah Mada University, Yogyakarta, and an MSc in Botany and Plant Pathology from Michigan State University, East Lansing, USA. Prof. Agus began studying Rafflesia in the late 1990s. In 2001, he and his colleagues submitted a research grant proposal to the Yayasan Kehati to study the distribution and ecology of Rafflesia in the Kerinci Seblat National Park, Bengkulu, which was approved. “The limited literature on Rafflesia was a key motivation. Bengkulu is known as the Land of Rafflesia,” he explained.

Through his research, publications, and community engagement, Prof. Agus Susatya continues to contribute to the conservation of Rafflesia and inspire future generations of researchers and conservationists.