Dear friends, Can you imagine an Ecological Research Center without a Herbarium? It would be just like a University without books! Well, two west Europe herbaria are now endangered: the ones of Utrecht and Wageningen Universities (The Netherlands). Some days ago, Nils Raes and Carel Jongkind, both of the Herbarium of Utrecht, confirmed me this bad news. I ignore the reasons for such a decision of the authorities, but I stay believing that a Biological research institution without a Herbarium is like a University without books.
Particularly for me, both Utrecht and Wageningen have a great meaning, even though I never have been there. I work with lianas, and Niels Raes is the co-author of one on-line guide to the lianas of the Guyanas; and the University of Wageningen has prodced several world-wide famous liana-experts. Lianas are nor proliferating world wide as a consequence of global change and secondary forest areas, but I suspect that two very important initiatives to understand lianas and tropical forests in general are now endangered with the closure of Utrecht and Wageningen Herbaria. I propose with all of my respect to each one of you to read an on-line signature collect available in the following link, please read; your signature will be wellcome: http://www.nationale-plantencollectie.nl/HerbariumUtrecht/index-UK.html My apologies if this message goes beyond the interests of ecolog-listserv. I am moved by a deep love for Science and I am sure that you share such a love. The closure is planned for early june. Time runs... Yours, Edgardo Garrido-Pérez _________________________________________________________________ Explore the seven wonders of the world http://search.msn.com/results.aspx?q=7+wonders+world&mkt=en-US&form=QBRE
