Europe contains half of the World´s biological collections. The collections of the many European institutions are a valuable and irreproducible resource but their potential has been far from fully realised.

CETAF and its member institutions will:

• Work within the SYNTHESYS Integrated Infrastructures Initiative of the European Union to provide a diverse range of users and researchers with enhanced and co-ordinated access to the collections, facilities and expertise of many of Europe’s leading taxonomic institutions.