Thirty-seven institutions, take a decisive step towards unlocking the full potential of natural history collections in Switzerland. Together, they publish and endorse a strategy based on 6 pillars and 52 key activities to better preserve collections, ensure their accessibility and promote their use for science and society.
The Strategy for natural history collection in Switzerland 2025-2035, the first of its kind in Switzerland, is a nationwide approach to maintain, to enhance and to use natural history collections.
Developed by and for natural history institutions in Switzerland, the strategy has been endorsed by the Directors or senior managers from 37 Swiss institutions or entities. The signatory institutions engage in a concerted approach based on 6 pillars and 52 key activities covering natural history collection management and use, specimen digitisation, data availability, accessibility and interoperability as well as training and education.
The proposed activities are divided into joint actions to be undertaken collaboratively from within the community or with strategic partners, and institutional actions to be undertaken by the institutions themselves, based on their available resources.
The signatory institutions will thus address their shared issues and develop common research goals. Common initiatives will be fostered and funding consolidated. In this way, the signatory institutions intend to fully valorise the resources of natural history collections in Switzerland for science and society.
Authors: Dr Michelle Price, Dr Alice Cibois, Dr Peter Wandeler, Prof. Dr Christoph Scheidegger, Dr Pia Stieger Cecchini
More news from SwissCollNet
In 2019, the Swiss Academy of Sciences (SCNAT) and a large network of experts from museums, botanical gardens, institutions of higher education and partners joined forces to establish SwissCollNet, the Swiss Natural History Collections Network. With more than 60 million specimens of animals, plants, fungi, rocks, soil samples and fossils, Switzerland’s museums, universities, and botanical gardens store a remarkable scientific and patrimonial national treasure. Thanks to SwissCollNet, over 1.5 million objects have been digitised and are now accessible for research, education and society.
SwissCollNet – in collaboration with the national initiatives of GBIF Switzerland and InfoSpecies – has just launched its national data platform that includes the data aggregator DAGI. The DAGI was specifically developed to aggregate data from the Swiss network of natural history institution data contributors, map data to Darwin Core standards and enrich it from global catalogues.
wissCollNet has also released a short promotional film showcasing the richness and scientific value of natural history collections in Switzerland. The video offers an accessible look at how these collections support research, conservation, and public understanding of biodiversity.
Source: SwissCollNet