This herbarium, founded in 1924, houses an important collection of specimens collected by Erik L. Ekman, a famous botanist who traveled through the Carribean between 1914 and 1931, and particularly in Haiti in 1917 and between 1924 and 1928. In fact, this collection represents the birth of this herbarium whose the name is a recognition of his prominent contribution to the knowledge of the Haitian flora. Other botanists gave specimens to the National Herbarium but the collection of Ekman is still the most important one. The National Herbarium of Haiti is hosted at the Faculté d'Agronomie et de Médecine Vétérinaire (FAMV), Université d'État d'Haïti (UEH), in Damien, near Port au Prince, Haiti.

The goal of this web page is to inform the scientific community of herbarium activities and to make available its catalogue. The responsible of the Herbarium is Robers Pierre TESCAR, professor at the Faculty.

January 12th, 2010 Earthquake January 20th : as reported by the curator, FAMV buildings are damaged to the point that it is not secure to go inside. Herbarium cabinets are fallen to the floor. Out of consideration for family and relatives, no detail on the fate of persons will be given here.

Secure windows, new microscope, printer and small furniture granted by Canada
After regrettable incidents of February 2004, the material situation of the Herbarium is constantly improving.

A new inverter granted by European funds
This important electrical equipment stolen in February 2004 is now replaced by a new one.

Pillage at the FAMV and at the Herbarium
Taking advantage of the particularly instable political climate prevailing since the beginning of 2004 in Haiti, a gang of robbers organized the pillage of the Faculty. All computers and many electrical equipments were taken away, not without much vandalism. The Ekman Herbarium suffered to some extent. An inverter and batteries, and a printer recently bought by the New York Botanical Garden were removed. Fortunately, plants collections were left intact.

Repairing of Ekman Herbarium rooms granted by the French Ambassy
Arsène Constant got a 10,000$USD grant from the French Ambassy for repairing and enlarging the herbarium to two rooms.

The New York Botanical Garden project
In 2002, the NYBG was able to be granted (26,000$USD) by the MacArthur Foundation to buy material and equipment to be given to the Ekman Herbarium. During the last year, Tom Zanoni, searcher in NYBG, has been busy with purchasing and sending these merchandises to Port-au-Prince. The Ekman Herbarium has been donated with new cabinets for herbarium specimens, an inverter to garanty continuous electrical power, air conditioner, freezer and herbarium supplies for collecting and processing of specimens.

Restoration and databasing of E.L. Ekman Herbarium
In recent years, the Ekman Herbarium has known difficult periods to the point that one could be pessimistic about its very existence. This situation is however changing for the best. In 2001 and 2002, a project granted by the Agence universitaire de la francophonie (AUF) (grant # 2002/PAS/09, 19,225$CAN) made possible a reactivation of the herbarium and its recognition at international level.

This project, imagined and directed by Martin Dubé, professor in biology, Université de Moncton, Canada, and supported by Jean Arsène Constant (FAMV, UEH), had the following goals : stopping the degradation of specimens, restoration of specimens, making an extensive survey of the herbarium. A database has been prepared and is now accessible via internet.

Other partners in this project were Jacques Fournet, searcher and curator of Antilles-Guyane Herbarium, INRA-Guadeloupe and Robert Gauthier, professor and curator of Louis-Marie Herbarium, Université Laval, Canada.

The following peoples participated to the works in situ: Édith BOURGET (2001, 2002), Jean Arsène CONSTANT† (2001, 2002), Robers-Pierre TESCAR (2002), Joel TIMYAN (2001) and Martin DUBÉ (2001, 2002).

This web site is designed and updated by Martin Dubé © on January 19th, 2010. (update of  texts)