The Philippines is a group of islands that at the beginning of the past century, has been one of the centres of attention regarding lichenological studies, acquiring contributions by Stein (1883), Zahlbruckner (1908) and particularly Vainio (1909, 1913, 1921, 1923) and later Herre (1924, 1946, 1950, 1957, 1963). Unfortunately, since then, almost no systematic explorations of the Philippine lichen biotas have been undertaken, one of the most recent is the one by Aptroot & Sipman (1989) and new reports based on collections by Elix & Schumm 2001!

La Selva!
That was THE experience, and not only because of the lichens but for EVERYTHING, the tropics are the best way to be one with nature, absolutely amazing, the colors, shapes, sounds, and even smells... it was too much for just a couple of days! I'LL BE BACK!

Lima: Canta
During the first workshop of Multivariate Analysis applied to Ecological Studies, the students and us went to collect lichens to Canta, a little town on the north of Lima (Capital of Peru)

Ancash: Huaraz
As a part of an agreement with INRENA (Instituto Nacional de Recursos Naturales - Natural Resources National Institute), Robert (my husband and an extraordinary lichenologist) and I collected lichens in Huaraz, in the surroundings of Lake Yanganuko.

Junin: Chanchamayo, San Ramon, La Oroya, Andaychagua
Junin department has two parts, one is very andean and the other is tropical..., as a part of my MSc Thesis, I went to the andean part, to a little town called Andaychagua in La Oroya (4800 above seal level).
As a collaboration with two Polish friends (Adam and Beata) we went to San Ramon and Chanchamayo. The diversity was awsome, just one comment, my friend Adam took a total of 80 kg in samples!!!!

Cerro de Pasco: Vicco
That was my first experience... I was collecting plants and suddenly I realized that there were also lichens!!! Of course, i forgot about the plants... SORRY!!!!

Bioblitz INDIANA!
On September 23rd, 2006, a bunch of people got up at 4 am and drove from the surrounds of Indiana just to count species at St. Joseph County Park in South Bend - Indiana!!! Well, Robert and I were part of that people and we had a proudly result of 40 species during that day, we are looking forward the next chance!