Mission of the Mark Herbarium :
The mission of our herbarium is to conserve, study, and share plant diversity. We collect and preserve plant specimens to support scientific research, raise awareness about biodiversity, and contribute to environmental protection.
Vision of the Herbarium:
The Mark Herbarium is dedicated to flora conservation, education, and public engagement. It documents plant species, raises awareness about their preservation, shares botanical and cultural knowledge, and encourages participation through collaborative activities. By combining science, tradition, and community involvement, it strengthens the connection between plants and the communities that protect them.
History:
The MARK herbarium was established in 1978, alongside the opening of the Faculty of Sciences Semlalia (FSSM), by collaborating botanists. who collaborated with the first young Moroccan researchers joining the Department of plant biology. In 2010, it was indexed in the global registry of herbaria, maintained and supervised by the New York Botanical Garden, USA. Today, it is one of only five indexed herbaria in Morocco.
As one of the first active research structures within the Department of Biology, the "MARK" herbarium was initially led by Madame Jacqueline DARLEY, in collaboration with Phillip MAUBERT, Camille PEYRE, Ivon CABANIS, Jacques BERNARD, Thierry GAUQUELIN, and Dominique TITOLET, among others. Later, professors from the Plant Ecology Laboratory, including Mohamed ALIFRIQUI, Nadia BOUAB, Ben Younes EL HALOUI, Ahmed OUHAMMOU, Khadija ZAHRI, and others, took over its enrichment, maintenance, and management, ensuring its continued development as a valuable university collection.
Services of the Mark Herbarium
The Herbarium Mark serves as a vital pillar of sustainable development, functioning as a scientific, educational, and conservation resource for biodiversity. Its key contributions include:
- Plant and biodiversity conservation:
The herbarium preserves plant specimens, including rare, endemic, and endangered species, along with associated documentation. It serves as a valuable physical archive for both the scientific community and the general public.
- Ecosystem Monitoring and Species Restoration:
As a comprehensive botanical registry, the "Mark" Herbarium documents ecosystem evolution and serves as a dynamic database for species reintroduction and restoration in degraded environments..
- A Source of Scientific Knowledge:
The herbarium offers vital information on plant identification, distribution, and ecology, highlighting their roles within ecosystems. It also aids in assessing the impact of climate change and human activities on flora. Furthermore, its collected specimens serve as key reference materials for specialized scientific research and publications.
- Workshops on Plant Identification:
In collaboration with partners such as MBLA and GDF, the Mark Regional Herbarium regularly organizes plant identification workshops for students and experts. These workshops aim to strengthen participants' knowledge of botany and plant identification techniques.
Through these hands-on sessions, students have the opportunity to interact directly with botanical experts, deepen their understanding of local flora, and familiarize themselves with plant classification and conservation methods. The training includes the use of identification keys, learning the morphological characteristics of plant species, and an introduction to the basics of plant taxonomy and systematics.
In addition to acquiring theoretical and practical skills, these workshops encourage collaborative work and knowledge exchange among students, researchers, and practitioners. They also help raise awareness about plant conservation and ecosystem preservation, highlighting the crucial role of herbaria in scientific research and sustainable biodiversity management.
- Promotion of Traditional Knowledge:
By documenting the uses of plants by local communities, including their medicinal applications, the Mark Herbarium contributes to preserving traditional knowledge and encourages the sustainable management of natural resources, as well as the development of local products.
- Educational and Awareness Tool:
As an essential educational tool, the herbarium raises awareness among the general public, students, and researchers about the importance of plants and biodiversity.
- Participation in International Initiatives:
The Mark Herbarium supports global conservation efforts by actively contributing to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 15 (Life on Land) and Goal 13 (Climate Action).
More than just a collection of dried plants, the Mark Herbarium is a vital tool for biodiversity conservation, sustainable plant resource management, and the transmission of knowledge to future generations.
