Forest Research Herbarium - National Forestry Herbarium Chris Ecroyd

 Started 1945 at Whakarewarewa, Rotorua.  Mainly a forestry herbarium.  Approx. 24,000 specimens.  Eucalypts and conifers ca 24%.  Whole collection on a computer database.

 Provides information on the identity, taxonomy and ecology of plants, including weeds, significant to forestry.  Has a regional role specialising in the indigenous and adventive flora of the Bay of Plenty and central North Island.

Who depends on the Herbarium?  Forestry consultants, sawmillers, landowners (identification to allow appropriate timber use).  Land managers: DoC, local authorities.  Research groups: alternative species, biodiversity, forest health and biosecurity (hosts of pests and diseases).  Students (research, scope visits), public.

Current resourcing problems  Funding static since 1998 and currently operating at a loss to Forest Research.  No active collecting programme.  Increasing backlog of unprocessed specimens, now ca specimens.  Database software now outdated but unable to fund up-date.

 Up-date database software.  Herbarium information on web.  Extend collections of tree and shrub species present in NZ.  Develop a database of trees in New Zealand. Long-term goals