Small Collections Grant

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Improving and maintaining the herbarium fund of rare and endemic plants of Kazakhstan and Central Asia

info@phyto.kz

Kazakhstan

Database, Digitally image, Process backlog, Ship, Conserve

Cost (USD):

2000

JSC "Research and Production Center "Phytochemistry"

Objective:

This project aims to increase the availability, safety, and scientific value of the JSC Research and Production Center Phytochemistry herbarium collection. Founded in 1938, the collection contains more than 30,000 herbarium sheets representing the unique flora of Kazakhstan and Central Asia.

The collection is a valuable resource for botanical, phytochemical, pharmacological and ecological research.

Goals:
- Digitisation of herbarium sheets.
- Processing of accumulated herbarium sheets.
- Improvements in preservation.
- Rescue and stabilisation of fragile herbarium sheets.

Timetable:

1) Purchase of equipment for digitisation - Months* 1-3
2) Digitisation of priority herbarium sheets - Months 3-7
3) Processing of deferred herbarium sheets - Months 5-9
4) Improvements in the area of preservation (new folders, mounting paper, marking) - Months 5-9
5) Exchange of duplicate specimens with international herbaria - Months 5-11
6) Submission of the final project report - Months 11-12

* From the date of grant approval

Applicant's CV

Budget

Scoring Rubric

Reviewer's name:

Collection Improvement (max. 120 points)

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.
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.
Curating specimens (e.g., updating families, species identification, identifying types) – up to 20 points.
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.
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)

Match between the proposed budget and methods for the aims described – up to 10 points.
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.
Sharing duplicate specimens with other herbaria – up to 10 points.

This proposal scores:

/40

Broader Impacts (max. 40 points)

Degree of regional importance of the collection or the taxonomic importance of the targeted collection – up to 10 points.
The project will yield durable benefits (specimens, digitized metadata, databases, websites) – up to 15 points.
The project involves outreach/mentoring and broad dissemination – up to 15 points.

This proposal scores:

/40

Proposal

Year of last successful SCG application:

Has applicant applied for SCG before?:

Plan:

Digitisation of herbarium sheets to improve accessibility and preservation
● Purchase and install a high-resolution camera and barcode scanner to digitise herbarium sheets.
● Implement a standardised protocol for image processing and metadata recording.
● Save digital records in an accessible database for global scientific collaboration.
● Train staff in advanced digitalisation and data management techniques.
Processing of deferred herbarium sheets to improve the convenience of scientific use
● Identify and prioritise raw herbarium sheets for mounting and cataloguing.
● Assign dedicated staff to process the accumulated herbarium sheets.
● Integrate processed herbarium sheets into the existing collection and database.
Conservation improvements, including better storage and labeling
● Upgrade storage materials, including folders, mounting paper, and labels.
● Implement a systematic labeling system to improve specimen organization.
● Assess environmental conditions and improve humidity and pest control measures.
● Establish protocols for ongoing conservation monitoring and maintenance.
Exchange of duplicate specimens with international herbaria to strengthen collaborations
● Identify duplicate specimens suitable for exchange with partner herbaria.
● Coordinate with international institutions to facilitate specimen sharing.
Rescue and stabilisation of fragile herbarium sheets
● Identify fragile and deteriorating herbarium sheets.
● Use stabilisation methods.

Institution:

IH Code:

Country:

Target areas:

Applicant First Name/s:

email:

"Other" target:

Sergazy Adekenov

Applicant Last Name/s: