Get the latest news from the Natural Science world!
Strategy for natural history collections in Switzerland
Thirty-seven institutions, take a decisive step towards unlocking the full potenti...
COP30 delivers landmark results amid unprecedented geopolitical tensions
Belém, 23 November 2025. At a moment widely recognized as the most geopolitically...
Liberating Data: Insights from Laurence Bénichou at the Berlin Training Workshop
Berlin, 11 November 2025. The recent Data Liberation Workshop, organised in collab...
What is CETAF and what is Taxonomy.
Taxonomy and engaged research
at the heart of our community's work
80 institutions from across Europe are represented by the 46 CETAF members: Europe’s leading Natural Science Museums, Natural History museums, Botanic gardens and Research Centres. All CETAF members curate, host and manage biological collections and engage in taxonomic research.
Collectively, CETAF institutions manage half of the world’s biological and geological collections. The range of specimens in CETAF taxonomic facilities holds a wealth of stories about the past, present and future of the natural world around us. These unique community assets represent a precious resource for research on global biodiversity.
Taxonomic research is at the heart of our work.
Over 5000 dedicated scientists across 77 CETAF institutions study and document the natural world based on natural history collections in 25 European countries.
The resources of each of our individual member institutions, in terms of their collections, research facilities, and their scientific, curatorial and technical staff, are our common assets.
Together, our resources represent half of the world's biological collections: some 1.5 billion specimens, over 80% of the world’s described species, curated and studied by some 5000 scientists from CETAF institutions.
Photo credits: Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences
CETAF at a glance
of the world's described bio- and geodiversity
institutions
across 26 countries, from European Natural Science Museums, Natural History Museums, Botanic Gardens and Research Centres, are hosting, curating and managing biological collections and engaging in taxonomic research.
scientists
are managing, studying and opening up these collections, bringing to our community a vast array of expertise in scientific research.
working groups
gather CETAF professionals to share experiences, exchange perspectives and drive progress on the topics that make a difference to our community and its broader impact.
projects
facilitated by CETAF and its member institutions acting as key partners and contributors to a number of European and international platforms, networks or initiatives.
Our members
