Natural Science Collections Conservation

A Resource for Conserving and Preserving Natural Science Collections 

American institutions have a long history of collecting plant, animal and geological specimens to document the diversity of the planet. Our ability to understand the natural world depends upon the collection, conservation, and study of these collections.

These pages focus on the conservation and preservation of natural science collections both in storage and on display. Content is based on a deep understanding of the ethics that support collection conservation, on the importance of science in understanding the impact our actions may have on a material’s long-term preservation, and on what we have learned from decades of applied effort.  

Discover our latest conservation projects to learn more about the science and practices behind the conservation of the natural science collections. 

Article About the AMNH Natural Science Collections Conservation Lab The Natural Sciences Conservation lab was founded in 2001 to provide oversight for natural science collections conservation. Article General Conservation These collections are not a passive archive, but a dynamic, evolving resource with more than 90,000 new specimens added annually.   In Their True Colors Developing New Methods for Recoloring Faded Taxidermy A three-year project devoted to the development of best practices for recoloring faded mammal taxidermy mounts.