Natural History Wanderings

Duke University recently made a decision to close its herbarium.

The decision by Duke University to close their herbarium is deeply concerning. Herbaria are not just repositories of plant specimens, they are living libraries of life on Earth. They hold the keys to understanding our planet’s diverse flora and provide invaluable resources for research, education, and conservation efforts.

According to the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation (GSPC), there are approximately 3,000 active herbaria worldwide which house an estimated 350 million specimens – an irreplaceable source of information on Earth’s biodiversity (source: GSPC). The closure of Duke’s herbarium would mean a significant loss in this global effort.

You can sign a petition and help support efforts to reverse this decision at Urge Duke University to Reconsider Closing Their Herbarium

You can read more in the New York Times at  Duke Shuts Down Huge Plant Collection, Causing Scientific Uproar. University officials say they cannot afford to maintain one of the largest herbariums in the United States. Researchers are urging Duke to reconsider.