The French ReColNat Program:Working Together is the Key to Success
The Valorisation of 350 yearsof Natural History Collections
François DusoulierPierre-Yves Gagnier
Julien HussonEva Perez
Marc Pignal
Naturalist collections have stored informationfor more than three centuries
Invaluablesources forcurrent and
future research
~ 1.5 billion specimens in Europe
~ 100 million specimens in France,totalling several hundreds ofmillions of data
Aspects:- dates- localities- nature of specimens
Our goals
• To gather the maximum number of data about
natural history collections in France,
• To make them accessible to all through a unique
computer platform,
• To provide ready-made user-friendly services for
researchers and biodiversity experts.
Partners of the Consortium
Functional and DecisionalOrganisation of the RI WP1
Governance
WP2InteroperabilityInfrastructure
WP3
Herbarium
WP4Zoology,
Palaeontology
WP5
Collaborative
WP6Online
Community
WP7BroadcastTraining
Steering Committee
Scientific Committee
Executive CommitteeFounding institutions
Data providers
3 Ministries
Allenvi/CNRS
Main functions of the researchinfrastructure ReColNat
Digitisingherbarium
collections andname-bearing
specimens (types)in palaeontology
and zoology
Establishinginteroperability
between existingdatabases
Providing tools forparticipative and
collaborativescience projects
CO-LABORATOIRELES HERBONAUTES
Digital consultationplatform
EXPLORE
How does it work?
Heterogeneous Collections inHeterogeneous Institutions
• National: Universities, Botanical Conservatories and National Research
Institutions (CNRS, IRD, IRSTEA, INRA, etc.)
• Territorial districts (mainly municipal, sometimes departmental): most of the
natural history museums in France (ca. 60)
• Non-governmental organisations: naturalist and learned societies, conservation
organisations, etc.
• Other private organisations: environmental consulting and agencies, etc.
Some of the identified networksof naturalist collections holders
• French Natural History Museums Network Committee (CPMF): 55 establishments
• French Herbarium Network
• Trans’Tyfipal
• Zoological Collections of Universities
Define the partnerships and networks within the RI
Continue work on other collections, especially in zoology
(molluscs, insects, etc.)
Zoology Palaeontology Botany
Typological collection networks ofReColNat members
Inventory ofherbariumcollections
The Herbarium Project
• Digitising the entireFrench NationalHerbarium of MNHN(6,500,000 sheets)
• Digitising selectedcollections fromuniversities andnatural historymuseums (CPMF) inFrance (2,200,000sheets) – 2scanning chains
• Multiple partners > transportation of the collections
• Mounting of plants by an external service provider
• Heterogeneous data
• Automated workflows
To mount:more than
To digitise:more than
Commercial partners Institutions Persons involved Production locations
1,500,000 2,200,000 4 39 80/200 3direct/indirect
The Herbarium Project: Key Facts
2,000sheets per day
4,000sheets per day
1600 m²herbariumcollections
300m²storage
40persons
Workflow
www.recolnat.org
www.lesherbonautes.mnhn.fr
Future Challenges
• Placing naturalist collections atthe center of current researchquestions on biodiversity
• Innovating in practices in thefields of natural sciences andalso extending into other areasof scientific research (health,food security, history, etc.)
• Repeating the process withother naturalist collections suchas entomological collections orother “3D” specimens
• Structuring and reinforcing thenatural history network inFrance towards a scientificinterest group
• Working towards the mass-digitisation of 3D objects
Thanks for your attention!
