Collections of natural history specimens in Europe have developed over 500 years. They comprise about 44per thousand of the world holdings, but contain a disproportionate number of scientifically and historically important specimens. The institutions of Europs bear a responsibility, to both the scientific community and to countries from where many of the specimens came, to make the information they hold available. The creation of a Union List of Type Specimens held in Europe is proposed as an achievable and highly useful first step in this goal of information transfer. Old, as well as more recent specimens deteriorate and require skilled groups of conservators to ensure their continued survival. Compared with other aspects of object conservation held in museums, natural history has been neglected. Training and employment of conservators in this field is urgently required. Because there are few active workers inthis field, cooperation across international boundaries a=in the only method of ensuring speedy and effective improvement in the care for these collections.