Save the Utrecht Herbarium - Sign the petition

[Niels]

Dear Maxenters,

I am sorry to use this group to ask your attention for the closure of
the Utrecht Herbarium in the Netherlands. As we all know the
collections stored in herbaria are the data we use in our models. Can
I ask you to visit the website and sign the petition? Regards,

Niels Raes

On 26th March 2008 the University Board of
Utrecht University, The Netherlands, informed the
employees of the Utrecht Herbarium that as of 1
June 2008 the Herbarium is to be closed and, with
immediate effect, access to the collections, from
national as well as international workers, is to cease.
:'( This must not be allowed! :'(

Closure of the Herbarium is a disaster for
current national and international research!
Closure of the Herbarium is a disaster for any future research!
Closure of the Herbarium contradicts the
Biodiversity Covenant signed by the Netherlands
which ensures the accessibility of data relating
to biodiversity (either under Dutch ownership or under Dutch
guardianship).
Closure of the Herbarium is a disaster for all
the botanical and ecological research taking
place in South America, especially Suriname,
Guyana, French Guyana and the Amazonian basin.
Closure of the Herbarium is in effect a denial of
the cultural-historical value of this Herbarium to The Netherlands.
Closure of the Herbarium is the start of
scientific deterioration and wrecks the
near-finalized plans for the creation of one
Dutch Centre for Biodiversity (NCB).

What can you do:
* Visit the website
<http://www.saveherbariumu.nl/>www.SaveHerbariumU.nl and sign the
petition.
* Send this email to all your contacts.