Development and future direction of biodiversity collections in Southeast Asia

Ng, Peter K. L. (2001) Development and future direction of biodiversity collections in Southeast Asia. [Proceedings Paper]

Biodiversity collections in Southeast Asia are generally poorly organised and academically weak. Despite numerous claims, none have really made a major impact on international biodiversity research. Of the nine countries in Southeast Asia, only Indonesia, Singapore, Philippines, Brunei and Thailand have national collections to speak of. Two other well-known museums in Malaysia are essentially state museums (Sabah and Sarawak). Although some of these museums have a long history, none have attained the fame or academic level reached by similar institutes in the U.S., Europe and Australia. Most of the biodiversity collections in Southeast Asia in fact, are scattered in its many research institutes, universities, colleges, fisheries units, forestry stations, private collections etc., most of which have dubious durability and often limited accessibility. Consolidation of these collections into national collections will be extremely difficult (and unlikely in the short term) due to numerous financial, bureaucratic and political problems. A shortcoming in philosophy also contributes to the challenge-biodiversity collections are much more than traditional storage rooms. Some misconceptions: it is not possible for a museum to have specimens of all groups and species or to have experts in every group; the size of a collection is completely secondary to the amount of useful information which is derived from the specimens (i.e. in the form of research publications); collections are only as good as the people contributing to it through active research; collections must be made accessible internationally to be useful for biodiversity management at the national, regional and global level; collections have national as well as international value; managers of collections have obligations to help the international scientific community; and collections must have a durability beyond the life-span of the scientist in an institute. Financial and political challenges not withstanding, the key to the establishment of strong biodiversity centres in Southeast Asia is to train its biodiversity scientists to think and act globally (or at least regionally) rather than just nationally, and to contribute actively in research following international standards.

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Abstract

Biodiversity collections in Southeast Asia are generally poorly organised and academically weak. Despite numerous claims, none have really made a major impact on international biodiversity research. Of the nine countries in Southeast Asia, only Indonesia, Singapore, Philippines, Brunei and Thailand have national collections to speak of. Two other well-known museums in Malaysia are essentially state museums (Sabah and Sarawak). Although some of these museums have a long history, none have attained the fame or academic level reached by similar institutes in the U.S., Europe and Australia. Most of the biodiversity collections in Southeast Asia in fact, are scattered in its many research institutes, universities, colleges, fisheries units, forestry stations, private collections etc., most of which have dubious durability and often limited accessibility. Consolidation of these collections into national collections will be extremely difficult (and unlikely in the short term) due to numerous financial, bureaucratic and political problems. A shortcoming in philosophy also contributes to the challenge-biodiversity collections are much more than traditional storage rooms. Some misconceptions: it is not possible for a museum to have specimens of all groups and species or to have experts in every group; the size of a collection is completely secondary to the amount of useful information which is derived from the specimens (i.e. in the form of research publications); collections are only as good as the people contributing to it through active research; collections must be made accessible internationally to be useful for biodiversity management at the national, regional and global level; collections have national as well as international value; managers of collections have obligations to help the international scientific community; and collections must have a durability beyond the life-span of the scientist in an institute. Financial and political challenges not withstanding, the key to the establishment of strong biodiversity centres in Southeast Asia is to train its biodiversity scientists to think and act globally (or at least regionally) rather than just nationally, and to contribute actively in research following international standards.

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Item Type:	Proceedings Paper
Additional Information:	Available at Perpustakaan Sultan Abdul Samad, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43000 UPM Serdang, Malaysia. QH75 A1I61 2000 Call Number
AGROVOC Term:	biological collections
AGROVOC Term:	biodiversity
AGROVOC Term:	genetic resources
AGROVOC Term:	type specimens
AGROVOC Term:	biological resources
AGROVOC Term:	museums
AGROVOC Term:	taxonomists
AGROVOC Term:	capacity development
AGROVOC Term:	South East Asia
Depositing User:	Ms. Azariah Hashim
Date Deposited:	28 Jul 2025 08:35
Last Modified:	28 Jul 2025 08:35
URI:	http://webagris.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/1103

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