The Full Story
THE HAZINA PROJECT
The Hazina Project is a Natural History Collection Development Programme based at the University of Dar es Salaam. It was established to address critical gaps in biodiversity documentation, taxonomic expertise, specimen preservation and access to biological data in Tanzania.
The project is building and maintaining scientifically valuable reference collections of vertebrates By preserving specimens alongside their associated field records, digital images and genetic information, Hazina ensures that material collected through research remains accessible for future scientific study, education and conservation planning.
Beyond developing the collection, the project trains students, researchers, curators and collection managers in field collection techniques, taxonomic identification, specimen preparation and preservation, database management and digitization. Through national and international partnerships, the Hazina Project aims to strengthen Tanzania’s capacity to study, document and conserve its rich biodiversity for present and future generations.
About the Project
Tanzania hosts significant biodiversity, yet much remains undocumented. A Natural History Collection Development program addresses critical gaps in taxonomic capacity, specimen preservation, and biodiversity data accessibility.
The Hazina Project addresses this head-on: We are building a Natural History Collection in the heart of Dar Es Salaam.
The Mission
Students and researchers often collect specimens for dissertations that are later abandoned; foreign researchers leave the country with material; universities lack proper storage facilities or are located in climates unsuitable for preservation.
The mission is:
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Build reference collections (ethanol-preserved material, digital records)
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Develop local taxonomic expertise to reduce reliance on foreign specialists
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Create virtual collections using digital imaging and genetic sequencing
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Ensure long-term preservation of specimens collected during research projects
Target Collections
The Hazina collection is primarily focused on vertebrates and organized into taxonomic groups: fish, amphibians, reptiles, aves (birds) and mammals. Each play an important role in our ecosystems.
Fish: Key components of aquatic food webs; indicators of water quality and habitat integrity; support fisheries and local livelihoods
Amphibians: Sensitive bioindicators of environmental change (pollution, climate shifts); regulate insect populations; link aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems.
Reptiles: Important predators and prey in many ecosystems; help control pest populations (e.g., rodents, insects); indicators of habitat quality, especially in arid and semi-arid systems.
Birds: Pollination and seed dispersal; pest control; indicators of ecosystem health and climate change; important for biodiversity monitoring and ecotourism.
Mammals: Maintain ecosystem balance through predation, herbivory, and seed dispersal; some are keystone species shaping habitats; indicators of large-scale ecosystem integrity.
Training and Capacity Building
The Hazina project not only seeks to build a natural history collection, but also to train curators and collection managers.
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Field collection techniques (hand netting, aquatic sampling, mist nets, bucket pitfall, opportunistic searching)
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Specimen preparation and mounting
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Database management and digitization
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Collaboration with international taxonomic specialists
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Student research supervision
Infrastructure and Facilities
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Climate-controlled or naturally suitable storage.
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Cabinets for wet collections.
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Laboratory space for specimen processing.
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Freezers for initial preservation.
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Digitization equipment (imaging stations)
Research Projects and Partnerships
The Hazina project opens the door to international research collaborations. So far, we are have joint projects with:
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The Natural History Museum of London, UK
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The Biological Station of Doñana, Spain
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The University of Texas at Arlington, USA
Funders and Support
This project is funded and supported by:
