$94,781 Museums for America award will support digitization of nearly 4,000 plant specimens documenting more than 80 years of regional botanical history
SANTA FE, N.M. — September 30, 2026 — Santa Fe Botanical Garden (SFBG) has been awarded $94,781 from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) through its Museums for America program to digitize and expand access to its herbarium collection, making an important record of New Mexico’s plant diversity more accessible to researchers, conservationists, educators, and the public.
The project, Modernizing the Santa Fe Botanical Garden Herbarium Collection, will run from September 1, 2026, through August 31, 2028, and will focus on nearly 4,000 preserved plant specimens. Approximately 85% of the collection comes from New Mexico, with specimens dating from the 1940s to the present, providing a unique historical record of the region’s flora and changing landscapes. The herbarium collection was donated by the New Mexico Natural History Institute in 2023.
“This award is significant to the growth of the Garden’s vital and urgent work in the science and conservation of New Mexico ecosystems,” says Laura Leach, Executive Director. “As the botanical garden in the capital of the fourth most biodiverse state in the nation, we take this responsibility seriously. In addition to our efforts at the Garden and out in the field, this grant will ensure we can contribute to the body of regional, national and international research into endemic and endangered plant and pollinator populations.”
An herbarium is a scientific collection of preserved plant specimens that documents plant diversity and provides evidence of where and when species have occurred. Each specimen can contain information valuable for understanding species distributions, ecological change, and conservation needs.
Through the IMLS-funded project, SFBG will create high-quality digital images and enhance the data associated with each specimen. The project will also improve geographic information associated with collection records, digitize selected archival materials, and develop protocols for documenting plants in the Garden’s living collections.
“This project allows us to bring together several important parts of the Garden’s work—our herbarium, our living collections, and our conservation and education programs,” said Cristina Salvador, Director of Science & Conservation at Santa Fe Botanical Garden. “By documenting these collections and making the information accessible online, we can create new connections between the plants we care for here at the Garden and the broader scientific and conservation community.”
SFBG already shares its herbarium data through SEINet and the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF), connecting its collections to international networks of biodiversity information. The project will significantly expand the amount and quality of information available through these platforms, allowing researchers and conservation professionals to discover and use specimens that might otherwise be difficult to access.
The digitized collection will support a wide range of uses, including:
- Scientific research: providing researchers with digital access to specimens and historical records documenting New Mexico’s plant diversity;
- Conservation planning: helping land managers and conservation organizations understand species distributions and identify areas and species of conservation concern;
- Education: providing educators and students with resources for learning about regional plants, ecosystems, and biodiversity; and
- Public engagement: giving community members new opportunities to explore the botanical heritage of northern New Mexico.
The project will also strengthen the connection between SFBG’s herbarium and living plant collections. By developing protocols for creating vouchers of living collections, the Garden will be able to more effectively connect plants growing in its gardens with scientific documentation and digital biodiversity records.
The IMLS award will also support the development of staff capacity through the recruitment and training of an herbarium collections and data coordinator, working alongside SFBG staff, experienced volunteers, and an external advisor.
The award is particularly meaningful as SFBG approaches its 40th anniversary. It is the Garden’s second IMLS award, following an IMLS grant received in 2015.
Santa Fe Botanical Garden expects to announce the herbarium collections and data coordinator position and application process in the coming weeks.
About Santa Fe Botanical Garden
Located on nearly 20 acres on Museum Hill in Santa Fe, New Mexico, the Garden celebrates, cultivates, and conserves the rich botanical heritage and biodiversity of our region. The Garden is a private 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that is open to the public.
About the Institute of Museum and Library Services
The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation’s libraries and museums. Through grants, research, and policy development, IMLS advances, supports, and empowers museums, libraries, and related organizations across the United States. The Museums for America program supports projects that strengthen a museum’s ability to serve its local communities and the broader public.
