Small Collections Grant
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Strengthening, Digitising, and Expanding the UNIPAR Mycological Herbarium to Support Fungal Taxonomy and Conservation in West Africa
Benin
Database, Curate specimens, Digitally image, Process backlog, Conserve, Other
Cost (USD):
3000
UNIPAR
Research Unit in Tropical Mycology and Plant-Soil Fungus Interactions (MyTIPS), University of Parakou
Objective:
The overall goal of this project is to strengthen the conservation, accessibility, and taxonomic value of the UNIPAR Mycological Herbarium.
Specific objectives are to:
1. Digitise and database priority fungal specimens.
2. Curate and process the existing specimen backlog.
3. Improve basic conservation management conditions.
4. Develop a dedicated UNIPAR herbarium website.
5. Conduct targeted fieldwork to replace lost or degraded specimens.
6. Build local capacity in fungal collection management.
Timetable:
June to July 2026: Conduct targeted fieldwork to recollect priority taxa and replace degraded or missing specimens.
August to September 2026: Conduct a full specimen audit and prioritisation of type, fragile, and historically important collections. Initiate metadata capture and barcode assignment.
October to December 2026: Implement large-scale digitisation, including databasing and high-resolution imaging of specimens and labels. Begin processing of specimen backlog.
January to February 2027: Continue backlog curation, pest treatment, rehousing in archival materials, and improvement of storage organisation and humidity monitoring.
March to April 2027: Develop and launch the UNIPAR herbarium website, integrating digitised records, collection statistics, and institutional information.
May 2027: Deliver training workshops in digitisation and collection management, finalise datasets, and prepare project reporting.
Scoring Rubric
Reviewer's name:
Collection Improvement (max. 120 points)
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Facilitating access to the physical collections by digitization (e.g., data entry, setting up database structure with an outline of the platform to be used, purchasing equipment, and imaging specimens) – up to 30 points.
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Enhancing physical collections by improving the conservation status of specimens in the herbarium (e.g., better folders, protecting covers, mounting paper, labeling, etc.) – up to 30 points.
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Curating specimens (e.g., updating families, species identification, identifying types) – up to 20 points.
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Increasing our understanding of the flora or funga by making new herbarium specimens available, such as processing of backlog or collecting and mounting of new specimens from understudied sites – up to 20 points.
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Securing collections by distribution of duplicates (or orphan collections) to other regional or international herbaria or shipping endangered collections to another herbarium – up to 20 points.
This proposal scores:
/120
Methods & Funding (max. 40 points)
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Match between the proposed budget and methods for the aims described – up to 10 points.
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Perceived need, the extent to which the project will benefit from IAPT funding: e.g., due to active floristic work or contribution to poorly collected sites, due to threatened conditions of collections, and for the degree of involvement of others (outreach and education). We give more points for herbaria in low- and middle-income countries – up to 20 points.
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Sharing duplicate specimens with other herbaria – up to 10 points.
This proposal scores:
/40
Broader Impacts (max. 40 points)
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Degree of regional importance of the collection or the taxonomic importance of the targeted collection – up to 10 points.
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The project will yield durable benefits (specimens, digitized metadata, databases, websites) – up to 15 points.
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The project involves outreach/mentoring and broad dissemination – up to 15 points.
This proposal scores:
/40
0
Year of last successful SCG application:
Has applicant applied for SCG before?:
No
Plan:
To achieve the overall goal, each objective will be implemented through targeted and complementary actions.
1. Priority fungal specimens, including type material and historically important collections, will be digitised through detailed metadata capture (taxonomy, collector, locality, date, ecology), barcode assignment, taxonomic verification, and high-resolution imaging of specimens and labels to improve traceability and global accessibility.
2. The existing specimen backlog will be sorted, identified, pest-treated where necessary, labelled, and rehoused in archival folders and boxes before full integration into the curated herbarium system.
3. Conservation management will be strengthened through humidity monitoring, improved storage organisation, and acquisition of essential preservation materials to mitigate moisture-related deterioration.
4. A dedicated UNIPAR herbarium website will be developed to host digitised records, collection statistics, type specimen information, loan procedures, and institutional activities, enhancing international visibility and collaboration.
5. Targeted fieldwork will revisit historical sampling sites to recollect priority taxa and replace degraded or missing vouchers.
6. Training workshops will build local capacity in digitisation, curation, and sustainable fungal collection management.
Institution:
IH Code:
Country:
Target areas:
Applicant First Name/s:
email:
Outreach and mentoring, return of loaned specimens to Herbarium BR
"Other" target:
Boris Armel
Olou
Applicant Last Name/s: