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Small Collections Grant

This page is used to provide assessment scores for each  grant application assigned to you. Please use the rubric below the grant details to enter your assessment scores and any notes you wish to include.
Please note that all scores entered must be whole numbers (no decimals), or you will be unable to save this form.

Strengthening the FACEN Herbarium

bbenbert@facen.una.py

Paraguay

Database, Digitally image, Process backlog, Ship, Conserve, Other

Cost (USD): 

2000

FACEN

Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales-Universidad Nacional de Asunción

Objective:

•Enhance the condition of the FACEN Herbarium collection.
•Curate approximately 3,500 collected specimens, ensuring the use of health-conscious and environmentally friendly practices.
•Manage specimens of plants and fungi collected from various ecosystems across Paraguay available to researchers.
•Promote awareness among various societal actors about the importance of studying plants for conservation.

Timetable:

Activities

Specimens processing.............................Months 1&6
Specimen Digitization...............................Months 1&10
Dissemination of Information..............Months 5&10

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.

  • 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)

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  • 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)

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  • 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

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Year of last successful SCG application:

Has applicant applied for SCG before?:

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Plan:

Specimen Processing
Paraguay's high humidity levels and extreme temperatures, which can reach between 45°C and 50°C, create challenging conditions for specimen preservation. To maintain the integrity of the collection, chemical compounds are typically used. However, due to the toxicity of these chemicals, the preservation protocol will be changed. This revision will involve the use of three freezer units to eliminate the need for chemicals. Additionally, essential materials such as boxes, mounting paper, protective cover paper, and folder paper are required. All specimens will be processed for inclusion in the collection, and duplicates will be sent to international herbaria.

Specimen Digitization
A dedicated database has been created to manage metadata, which will later be used to share the information. Biology students, under the supervision of a researcher, are actively involved in the process. A preliminary version of the digital collection is available for viewing at the following link: https://www.larev.facen.una.py/herbario/

Dissemination of Information
The project includes activities aimed at engaging students from primary and secondary schools, using teaching materials that will be acquired for this purpose. To reach a broader audience, a graphic exhibition highlighting key species of Paraguayan flora will be organized in both private spaces with wide public access and government institutions.

Institution:

IH Code:

Country:

Target areas:

Applicant First Name/s:

email:

Disemination of Information

"Other" target:

Bonifacia Benitez de Bertoni

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Applicant Last Name/s:

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