About the project

The Repatriation of Herbarium Data project for Northeastern Brazil is an ongoing project, aiming to contribute to the conservation of global biodiversity by assisting researchers in Northeastern Brazil in the accurate naming of their plant diversity, while meeting the UK obligations under the Convention on Biological Diversity.

Historically, collections from South America were sent to Europe to be studied, and there the species were described and types deposited in large collections outside their country of origin. To make research more effective, Kew is facilitating access to the information contained in the Herbarium Collections by repatriating herbarium data on key plant families to Northeastern Brazil. This is achieved by the provision of high quality images of herbarium specimens with accompanying notes. Sets are deposited in three herbaria in Northeastern Brazil (IPA, CEPEC, HUEFS). The present interactive database aims to make this information more widely available.

By databasing all material and repatriating data and images of type-specimens to Northeastern Brazil, we are building capacity for biodiversity research at local level and contributing significantly to identifying areas of high species diversity and endemism, essential for conservation planning.

The Brazilian Repatriation Officers (Elaine Miranda, see photo, and Fabrício Juchum) are in charge of the digitization of specimens and, while completing their one-year grant at Kew, are using the opportunity to develop their own specific taxonomic research.