The Manuel de Arruda Câmara Herbarium (Acronym HACAM) is a scientific collection linked to the Department of Biology of the State University of Paraíba (UEPB), in Campina Grande Paraíba State, Brazil. Founded in September 1981 by Professor Ivan Coelho Dantas with the aim of supporting teaching, research and university extension, HACAM works in the conservation of plant biodiversity, especially the northeastern flora, with emphasis on the Caatinga and the Atlantic Forest. The herbarium was named in honors to Manuel de Arruda Câmara (1752–1810), a naturalist and botanist from Paraíba state, a pioneer in scientific studies on Brazilian flora during the colonial period. His trajectory represents the spirit of scientific curiosity and appreciation of knowledge about Brazilian nature that also inspires the work done at HACAM. Its collection is mainly made up of exsiccatae (pressed and dried plants), covering a wide diversity of botanical families, collected in different regions of the state of Paraíba and the Brazilian Northeast and other countries (Bolivia, Paraguay, Portugal, and Germany). The herbarium plays a fundamental role in the identification, cataloging and study of plant species, being a regional reference in floristics, plant taxonomy and plant systematics. In addition to being a space for scientific research, HACAM is also dedicated to the training of human resources, welcoming undergraduate and graduate students in internship activities, scientific initiation and extension projects. The herbarium is also an important center of exchange with other institutions, actively participating in the national network of herbaria (such as the INCT-Virtual Herbário da Flora e dos Fungos) and maintaining partnerships with several research centers in Brazil. Professor José Iranildo Miranda de Melo as its current curator, being HACAM one of the five herbaria in the State of Paraíba, and the only one in the immediate region of Campina Grande.

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Herbário Manuel de Arruda Câmara-HACAM

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