East Africa Herbaria Network

The East African Herbarium (EA), based in Nairobi at the National Museums of Kenya, is one of Africa’s most important botanical research institutions. It serves as the principal repository of plant specimens for Kenya and the wider East African region, with collections dating back to the late 19th century. The herbarium houses hundreds of thousands of preserved specimens representing the flora of Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Somalia, and neighboring regions.

The East African Herbarium plays a central role in plant taxonomy, systematics, and floristic research, supporting the identification and documentation of East Africa’s rich botanical diversity. Its collections underpin national and regional floras, conservation assessments, environmental impact studies, and biodiversity monitoring programs. The herbarium is also a key reference center for threatened and endemic species, providing authoritative data for conservation planning and protected area management.

In addition to maintaining physical collections, the East African Herbarium is actively involved in digitization, data mobilization, and international data-sharing initiatives, making specimen data accessible to researchers, conservationists, and policymakers worldwide. Through training, collaboration, and research partnerships, the herbarium continues to build regional capacity and remains a cornerstone of botanical science and biodiversity conservation in East Africa.