Natural History Collections Working Group
Triennial Programme 2008-2011

The programme of the Working Group is as follows:

1. To build on the previous programmes and look specifically at standards, policies and procedures and international agreements that will ensure best practice in the care of natural history collections.

2. To increase knowledge and understanding of the materials and techniques used which will ensure best practice in all aspects of specimen preparation, preservation and conservation, interacting with other working groups where appropriate to share and exchange knowledge.

3. To look in detail at the research supporting defined environmental parameters (temperature, light levels and relative humidity) for collections storage with the aim of developing a more scientific approach for agreement of these standards.

4. To build bibliographies on specific subjects relating to the care and maintenance of natural history material and make those lists available to the membership.

5. To hold joint interim meeting with the Society for the Preservation of Natural History Collections (SPNHC) in Leiden, July 2009.

6. To produce a poster that outlines the work of the group and the Society for the Preservation of Natural History Collections as a whole in order to generate interest and potential membership for the working group.