The Herbarium of New Caledonia (NOU): 60 years at the service of science for development

Abstract

The Herbarium of New Caledonia (NOU) was founded in 1961 within the Institut Français d’Océanie (now Institut de Recherche pour le Developpement) by J.P. Blanchon. Qualitatively and quantitatively enriched by the consecutive curators and associated staff, it is today rich of more than 90000 specimens including 834 nomenclatural types. These specimens represent a total of 6665 taxa coming essentially from New Caledonia but also from 15 other Pacific territories, and particularly from Vanuatu and Wallis and Futuna. With more than 300 citations on GoogleScholar and each year nearly 270 consultations, 100 requests for data and 3500 visits to the website, the NOU Herbarium is today an indispensable scientific, heritage and educational tool for New Caledonia. Its influence extends beyond the Pacific with exchanges of material with 70 international institutions. In the current context of global change and political and social instability, means must be found with all local actors so that the NOU Herbarium can continue to ensure its role in the service of sustainable development and heritage.