Herbarium Mediterraneum Commission
In 1990 the statutes of an International Foundation "Pro Herbario
Mediterraneo" were finalized. As the ratification process was being carried out in
Italy, an interim committee was established under the leadership of F.M. Raimondo to run
current business such as publication of the new journals.
From 1991-1994 progress with the plans for the "Herbarium Mediterraneum" in
Palermo was rather slow due to difficulties with the acquisition of the buildings as well
as legalistic complexities affecting the set-up of the "Pro Herbario
Mediterraneo" Foundation. At its meeting in Borovetz on July 17th, 1993, the
Commission discussed the plans for furnishing and arranging the already acquired portion
of the premises (50% as of that date) as a provisional home for the "Herbarium
Mediterraneum Panormitanum".
So far, the activities of the Commission have largely concentrated on the publication
field with some Commission members actively involved in the editorial process. At the end
of 1995, the "Pro Herbario Mediterraneo" Foundation was officially recognized by
the Italian Government. The scientific activities to be supported by the Foundation will
be controlled by a Scientific Committee in which the members of the OPTIMA Herbarium
Mediterraneum Commission will actively participate.
2004. In 2004 the Herbarium Mediterraneum
Foundation upheld its offer to accept herbarium specimens in exchange for
OPTIMA fees and/or the purchase of Bocconea
volumes. Each herbarium specimen
was accepted as equivalent to 1.67 Swiss Francs, postage being refunded. In
2004 twelve ordinary members took advantage of this offer and the Herbarium
received a total of 476 additional herbarium specimens. The Herbarium
Mediterraneum also offers OPTIMA members the possibility of research visits to
the Herbarium.
As the
budget of the Foundation has been reduced by 50% due to the drop in interest
rates (6% to 3%), the publication of future Bocconea
volumes will be funded by external sources. The Proceedings of the XI
OPTIMA Meeting will be published as a volume of Bocconea and will be funded by subscription.
Two
research grants were funded by the Herbarium Mediterraneum. The recipients of
these grants, Svetlana Bancheva from Bulgaria
and Miriam Aghababyan from France,
presented the results of their studies in the form of posters at the XI OPTIMA
Meeting.
With regard
to the building of the Herbarium Mediterraneum, several meetings were held with
the architects to discuss the progress on the project. There were still some
problems with one of the former owners of the building, although actions were
in course for a final solution.
2005. In 2005 three ordinary members took
advantage of the offer and the Herbarium received a total of 384 herbarium
specimens. In addition, OPTIMA member S.W. Breckle donated his private
herbarium of over 4,000 specimens to the Herbarium Mediterraneum Foundation.
These specimens were included in Herbarium BIEL which will cease to exist upon
S.W. Breckle’s retirement.
2006. In 2006 seventeen ordinary members
took advantage of the offer and the Herbarium received a total of 612 herbarium
specimens.
For further information, please contact Commission's Secretary (2001-2007):
Herbarium Mediterraneum Commission
Secretary:
W. Greuter, Botanischer Garten und Botanisches Museum Berlin-Dahlem, Freie Universität
Berlin, Königin-Luise-Straße 6-8, D-14195 Berlin, Germany.
Members:
A. Charpin, Genève
W. Greuter, Berlin
C. C. Heyn, Jerusalem
J. M. Iriondo, Madrid
S. Jury, Reading
F. Raimondo, Palermo
B. Valdès, Sevilla
G. Venturella, Palermo
