Small Collections Grant
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Digitisation, modernisation and upgrading at the Southern Cape Herbarium
South Africa
Database, Curate specimens, Digitally image, Process backlog
Cost (USD):
2961
GRBGT
Southern Cape Herbarium / Nelson Mandela University
Objective:
We will upgrade, modernise and digitise our herbarium to enhance its value at the Garden Route Botanical Garden as a public asset for conservation, research and education for students from Nelson Mandela University and the wider research community and the public. The herbarium is a living legacy of civic contribution and scientific endeavour. It houses specimen representing taxa and ecosystems spanning six decades in a rapidly changing environment due to human settlement, climate change, overharvesting and habitat fragmentation. the Herbarium is a rare site for curatorship of local species .
Timetable:
1. Hardware purchase = May 2026
2. Digitising specimens = April 2026 - March 2027
3. Updating accession records - March 2026 - Feb 2027
4. Updating reference systems - March 2026 - Mar 2027
5. NMU student activities - August/September 2027
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:
i) Update the accession of specimens for research and education to ensure collection and curation of specimens representative of the four vegetation biomes exceptionally rich in biodiversity (i.e. Fynbos, Forest, Wetlands & Coastal scrub) and that uniquely intersect in this local region. This includes collection improvement through digitalization of all 11 800 mounted plant specimens. ii) Develop and integrate appropriate physical and online reference systems (e.g., physical library, online database) to ensure data accuracy and integrity with the use of simple, accessible, technologies. This will improve data access for researchers and conservationists. iii) Facilitate public access to Herbarium information for research and education, e.g., through collaboration with Nelson Mandela University student training; environmental education activities, community engagement through public talks focused on special species housed at the Herbarium, and that highlight the work being done there.
The acquisition of the computer and a lightbox with a camera for high resolution photography is crucial to our operations at the herbarium. We need to digitise our systems to bring our herbarium up to speed with international standards. It cannot serve its purpose as a public asset. Run entirely by volunteers as a non-profit association, the Herbarium is an under-resourced public asset. Unless modernisation, digitisation and accession are realised and enhanced, it cannot fulfil its potential.
Institution:
IH Code:
Country:
Target areas:
Applicant First Name/s:
email:
"Other" target:
Rhoda
Malgas
Applicant Last Name/s: