NATIONAL HERBARIUM PROGRAMME
NARC, Islamabad
OVERVIEW
Herbarium is a kind of filing system in which dried plant specimens pasted on cardboard sheets are stored systematically according to scientific grouping of plants. There are about 100,000 dried plant specimens in the National herbarium divided in to Dicotyledons and Monocotyledons, Gymnosperms and ferns placed according to families, genera and species arranged in alphabetical order. National Herbarium is the best managed Herbarium in the country regularly curated and updated for nomenclature having over 12000 species from Pakistan, India, Afghanistan, Iran and Central Asian countries. Fresh collections are regularly incorporated to add plant species not available and areas not represented in the herbarium to update the existing material and information.
National Herbarium is a reference institution of country level that provides research facility to scientists of related fields and primary source of information about plants of Pakistan. Established in 1975 under P ARC after acquiring Stewart collection from Gordon college (internationally recognised by the symbol RA W, Stafleu, F .A. Ed., 1974 Index Herbariorum edit. 8), it also include some other old collections dating as far back as 1845 like Thomson (1845), Trotter (1860-80), Pennell (1900), Duthie (1860-1920) and many others.
Expanding role of Herbarium demands that it addresses issues related to conservation, biodiversity and environment. Convention on biodiversity requires member countries to establish and maintain programmes and facilities for the identification, conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity without causing significant damage to the environment. National Herbarium has produced Flora of Pakistan and books of general interest to facilitate scientists and general public to accomplish research and trade benefits in fields related to wild plants.
The Herbarium also holds a specialized library of taxonomic literature containing more than 1500 volumes including monographs, Floras, reference books, Journals, pamphlets/ and maps.
ACTIVITIES
The primary objective of Herbarium is maintenance of dried plant specimens as reference collection for research scientist working with wild plants. New collections from unexplored areas and species not represented in the herbarium are regularly added to the herbarium. Basic data related to ecology, distribution and uses of plants is stored along with the specimens and this knowledge is transferred in the form of books, research papers etc.
Expert advise is provided to individuals and institutions for identification of wild plant specimens and information on ecology and distribution. Provide information for conservation of wild plant resources, Assessment of the conservation status of species and the habitats at local, regional and global level. Identification of threats responsible for the decline or degradation and conservation measures needed for the protection of wild plant resources.
Provide information related to plants to government ministries and non-government institutions for policy decisions and planning documents at national level, international conventions or regional cooperation programmes.
Resource Person:
| Dr. Zahoor Ahmad | Deputy Director General |
| zahmad51@hotmail.com |
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[Last updated:
March, 2008]