Chinese Field Herbarium

A biodiversity information online platform built by the Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences

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Many people photograph flowers and plants in botanical gardens or the countryside and want to look up what species they are or find related information, only to get stuck on inconsistent species names; others would like to contribute to biodiversity surveys but don’t know where to start. This article focuses on China’s authoritative biodiversity information platform to help you sort out these problems.

What Is the Platform That Solves Species Lookup Problems?

The platform in question is the Chinese Field Herbarium, or CFH for short, built under the leadership of the Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Many people still picture a herbarium as dried specimens in glass cases, but it has long been more than a place for physical specimens — it has opened up a channel of collaboration between professional researchers and volunteer citizens, providing key support for biodiversity surveys and monitoring across the country.

Official website: http://www.cfh.ac.cn/

What Practical Information Can You Find on This Platform?

When people first come across this platform, their top concern is surely whether its core features can actually solve real problems. In fact, its resources are quite comprehensive — both casual enthusiasts and researchers can find what they need.

The most practical feature is the species search: you can use Latin scientific names to precisely locate a target species, or use Chinese names to quickly find the corresponding information, which neatly solves the lookup difficulties caused by inconsistent species names. On top of that, the platform integrates links to a wide range of resources such as plant images, professional literature and physical specimens, so you can gather comprehensive reference materials without hopping between several channels — a great help for educators preparing science teaching and researchers advancing their projects.

How Has This Platform Developed? What Is It Used For?

Since its launch in 2009, the platform has grown at a surprising pace, becoming one of the fastest-growing sources of raw biodiversity data in China. Statistics show that more than 2,000 biological photos are added to the platform every day, and over 30 new species have been identified so far — its scale and influence rank among the very top of similar platforms.

Besides accumulating resources day by day, it also takes a deep part in major national research projects, such as the Second Tibetan Plateau Scientific Expedition and Research. In these projects, the platform’s volunteers work alongside professional researchers, providing a wealth of first-hand data for surveying and monitoring biodiversity on the plateau and helping the research move forward more smoothly. Its value goes beyond collecting information: it has formed a complete closed loop of “survey – monitoring – assessment – conservation”, offering solid information support for biodiversity conservation in China and even worldwide.

What Can Different Users Do on This Platform?

Ordinary science enthusiasts need not feel they cannot help. Simply by searching with Chinese names or by taxonomic category, they can view species photos and basic information, gradually build up their biology knowledge, and even take part in volunteer projects by uploading observation records of the living things around them.

Professional researchers have clearer needs: searching with Latin scientific names lets them precisely locate species and access authoritative literature and specimen data as references for their research; if they discover a new species, they can also submit the information and take part in the platform’s species identification work. Educators, meanwhile, can integrate the platform’s images and literature into teaching materials, teach students about biodiversity, and organise children to join online and offline survey projects.

What Common Questions Come Up When Using This Platform for the First Time?

When opening the platform for the first time, many people share a few common questions, such as whether uploaded biological photos can be identified promptly and whether the species data gets updated. In fact, the platform has a professional identification team: photos uploaded by volunteers are reviewed and annotated within a set time, and the platform regularly updates species information to keep the data accurate and up to date.

Others are curious about the platform’s collaboration model. Put simply, its core is “citizen science”: whether you are a professional researcher or a casual enthusiast, as long as you can observe living things, you can join in by uploading records and taking part in identification. This model not only makes the platform’s resources ever richer, but also spreads the idea of biodiversity conservation more widely.