Past and present extinctions: natural history collections as a strategic resource for conservation

The Regional Museum of Natural Sciences in Turin, MRSN, is hosting this event, which is of major scientific and institutional importance. It will serve to present both the publication of the book Le estinzioni della biodiversità. Ideas for nature conservation, published by the MRSN, and to launch the IUCN's Position Statement on the vital role of biological collections, such as those in natural history museums, herbaria, fungaria and other repositories in biodiversity conservation, which establishes the vital role of natural history collections and the staff who care for them in biodiversity conservation.

The speakers will explain how museum specimens are crucial scientific archives containing rich data, which is essential for monitoring animal and plant species and ecosystems.

The event aims to show how museum collections are more than just historical artifacts, serving as needful tools for scientific research and conservation. It will indeed emphasizes the importance of natural history museum collections as strategic resources for scientific knowledge, which is crucial for creating the IUCN Red List. By providing systematic data, these collections support global conservation efforts, highlight the scientific role of museums in understanding nature, and showcase their importance as key players in preserving biodiversity.

Introduction:
Marco Fino, Director of MRSN
Speakers:
Franco Andreone, Curator of MRSN and Focal person of IUCN SSC Italy
Spartaco Gippoliti, Italian Society for the History of Fauna Giuseppe Altobello
Sabrina Lo Brutto, University of Palermo, Department of Earth and Marine Sciences and National Biodiversity Future Centre

The book LE ESTINZIONI DELLA BIODIVERSITÀ. IDEE PER LA CONSERVAZIONE DELLA NATURA (BIODIVERSITY EXTINCTIONS. IDEAS FOR NATURE CONSERVATION) will be distributed free of charge subject to availability.

Credits: Julian Friers: "Great auk colony on the Skerries"