Henk van Mastrigt collection

[wollastoni]

I have just read this on the Papuan Insect Foundation website :

"On Saturday, 27th May 2006, a group of young entomologists established Kelompok Entomologi Papua (KEP – Entomological workgroup Papua). On the 8th anniversary, on Tuesday 27 May 2014, all local entomologists and those who support the group were invited for a three hours meeting at APO, the home of Henk van Mastrigt, and the Koleksi Serangga Papua (KSP – Collection of Papuan Insects) and library. At this meeting twenty-three young people were present. In order to ensure the future of the group and to cooperate with Perhimpunan Entomologi Indonesia (PEI – Entomological Society Indonesia), it was unanimously decided that all become member of PEI Branch Jayapura, replacing KEP. For the time to come APO will remain the home of the collection, library and activities, but in the future it will move to Universitas Cenderewasih, FMIPA, at Wamena. This decision is supported and agreed by Dirk Y.P. Runtuboi, Chairman Dept Biology FMIPA UNCEN.3"

I understand that Henk's fantastic collection full of Types and Paratypes will be in the future manage by a University of Wamena in West Papua...

I may appear narrow-minded but I am very afraid that this unique collection will be one day badly curated/stolen in Papua.
I would have preferred to see it donated to a serious Museum. It would have also been more easy to see it for collectors.

I respect and understand Henk's decision to donate it to a local university for the collection to remain in Papua but I am not sure it is really cautious.

Maybe he also had no other solution as exporting such a collection abroad would have been a nightmare with LIPI and Indonesian authorities.

[trehopr1]

I'm sure that Gentleman made his decision regarding his collection, library, etc. --- with the "best of intentions". However, as we have learned by way of a thread posted by Dunc. (regarding the Hyde collection); even the best of intentions with TIME can become unraveled. Caretakers move on (retire), space becomes a premium so collections get shoved into ever smaller rooms, and they become prey of poor management. At which point pests start settling in and things of any value may then begin"walking off".
In the LONG TERM out right NEGLECT eventually destroys that which was once good and well intended. The pests as Dunc. noted "run riot" OR the donation gets "broomed" to the environs of the basement where possible dampness or water may finish it off.
In short, you should lead with your mind and NOT with your heart.....

[nomad]

I guess living in West New Guinea, Henk wants the people there to benefit from his collection. However, those types, as Olivier mentioned, perhaps would be much safer in one of the larger museums. I am surprised that Henk did not give them to the National Museum of Natural History at Leiden in his native Holland.

In the end, I guess as Henk owns the collection, its up to him.   

[deliasfanatic]

With Henk being involved with the Papua Insects Foundation, and assisting young local entomologists, perhaps he's thinking that there will be a continual safe and protected home for the specimens. A nice thought to have, but is it realistic? Who knows how long the foundation may continue if he isn't present, and whether the specimens will continue to be safeguarded. Small institutions like this don't tend to have a good history...