Small Collections Grant
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Acquisition of a Used Herbarium Cabinet
US
Other
Cost (USD):
2000
ENLC
Eastern Nevada Landscape Coalition
Objective:
This grant proposal is to request funding for the acquisition of a used herbarium cabinet. ENLC houses approximately 6500 specimens of mainly Great Basin and Mojave Desert flora. Current storage limitations include overcrowded cabinets and insufficient protection from environmental hazards such as pests and physical damage, since approximately 800 specimens are currently stored on shelves in cardboard apple boxes. Ongoing floristic work in Basin and Range National Monument has added close to 200 specimens to our collection in 2024, with another 500 likely to be added in 2025.
Timetable:
Spring 2025: Research and select a suitable herbarium cabinet; obtain price quotes and finalize purchase. Acquire and install the cabinet in the herbarium facility.
Summer 2025: Begin gradual transfer of specimens from cardboard boxes into the new cabinet, prioritizing the most vulnerable specimens.
Fall 2025 – Winter 2026: Process and mount newly collected specimens; integrate them into the herbarium collection. Specimens already housed in cabinets will be reorganized, allowing for space to incorporate future collections.
Ongoing: Maintain and monitor cabinet conditions to ensure long-term preservation of specimens.
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
Year of last successful SCG application:
Has applicant applied for SCG before?:
Plan:
To meet the objective of improving specimen storage and preservation, ENLC will acquire a high-quality used herbarium cabinet as soon as funding is secured. The cabinet will provide a secure, pest-resistant environment, preventing damage to specimens currently stored in cardboard boxes. Upon installation, priority will be given to transferring these vulnerable specimens, ensuring long-term preservation. The collections already housed in cabinets will be reorganized to maximize space efficiency, allowing room for future additions.
A used herbarium cabinet available from Queen City Vintage on eBay offers a cost-effective solution for expanding ENLC’s storage capacity. A new herbarium cabinet typically costs between $3,000 and $5,000, excluding shipping, making this option significantly more affordable while still providing the necessary protection for specimens.
New specimens collected during the 2025 field season—predicted at 500—will be processed, mounted, and systematically incorporated into the herbarium. This expansion will enhance research accessibility and support ongoing floristic studies in the Great Basin and Mojave Deserts. Staff and volunteers will implement best practices for specimen care, ensuring proper documentation and maintenance. Periodic monitoring will be conducted to maintain optimal storage conditions.
Institution:
IH Code:
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Target areas:
Applicant First Name/s:
email:
Acquire herbarium cabinet
"Other" target:
Hans Hallman
Applicant Last Name/s: