Introduction of the Freshwater Organism Specimen Storage at Nakdonggang National Institute of Biological Resources, Republic of Korea

With growing interest in establishing national biological resources sovereignty and biodiversity, an organization called the Nakdonggang National Institute of Biological Resources (NNIBR) was established in 2015 under the Ministry of Environment. By establishing NNIBR as Asia’s best freshwater bioresources research institute, it contributes to the acquisition of sovereignty over freshwater organisms, biodiversity conservation, and sustainable use of biological resources. Currently, over 540,000 biological specimens are deposited in NNIBR, and the specimens are divided by taxonomic group and preservation type and managed in seven storage facilities of 2,000 m 2 , which can store a total of 6 million specimens. By securing and storing 70,000 specimens annually, biological resources are made into national assets and permanently preserved. Among the seven storage facilities, three, consisting of dried animals, plants, and liquid-preserved animals, are operating digitizing studios to produce high-definition multi-focus digital images and 3D images. In particular, NNIBR is leading the production of 3D images and videos using X-ray Computed Tomography (CT) for the first time in Korea. As of April 2024, about 3,400 digital images have been generated, and in addition, since last 2023, digital images have been uploaded through the NNIBR’s website*1, making them easily accessible and usable for anyone. NNIBR is devoting itself to research with the ultimate goal of constructing a digital collection of the storage facilities through the continuous collection and management of biological specimens and the production and sharing of digital images.