Global environmental changes have accelerated biodiversity loss at an unprecedented rate. The 2030 Biodiversity Strategy and Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) identify biodiversity monitoring as essential to halting this decline. Successful monitoring depends on accurate, reliable, and timely taxonomic data, tools, and expertise. 

Reference collections, which include specimens with reliable identifications, are essential for species identification, especially in monitoring programs like the EU Pollinator Monitoring Scheme. Reference collections serve as benchmarks to prevent species misidentification and support the identification of species critical to ecosystem health.

However, taxonomic expertise is scarce, and resources are limited. TETTRIs proposes building both virtual and physical reference collections to expand capacity and improve species identification. 

This policy brief offers recommendations for policymakers on building and promoting robust physical and virtual reference collections. Recommendations include expanding taxonomic resources, developing accessible species indexes, investing in reference collections, and securing long-term funding. A centralized European platform for reference collections is also suggested to harmonize protocols and enhance cross-border collaboration.

Explore our full recommendations in the policy brief!