The IHMAGES project (computerization of the historical herbaria of the Massif Central for the global analysis of ecosystem evolution) has just been launched!

IHMAGES aims to better understand the evolution of biodiversity in the Massif Central by computerizing 100,000 historical data from herbaria. A diachronic analysis of bio-indicator species (habitats of bogs, lawns and subalpine moors in emblematic sites in the Massif Central) will be carried out in order to study the evolution of natural environments in relation to global changes. Following the e-ReColNat digitization program (ANR 11-INBS-0004), images of a large part of the Massifs Central collections are already available in the consultation interfaceEXPLORE. These collections will benefit from computerization campaigns (RECOLNAT and HERBONAUTES tools) in order to complete and make available all this corpus of data for the study of biodiversity in the Massif Central. The resulting data will be compatible and available in the national and international RECOLNAT, SINP, CLF and GBIF databases. The IHMAGES project, which lasts 3 years, is coordinated by the University of Clermont Auvergne in partnership with the RECOLNAT infrastructure, the MNHN, the Museums : Aurillac, Montbrison, le Puy, Mende, Moulins, Autun; and the University of Limoges. For more information, contact gilles.thebaud@uca.fr