BRIT is a global institute for the conservation and preservation of plant diversity through research, education, scientific publications, and collections. Its herbarium, housing over one million specimens representing much of the Earth’s plant diversity, and its libraries are available to the public, free of charge.
While it directly serves researchers in such fields as medicine, agriculture, and conservation, BRIT’s collections and expertise are also accessible to a wide range of individuals including environmentalists, teachers, students, artists, landowners, law enforcement officers, ranchers, farmers, and those in the business community.
Since its incorporation in 1987, constant expansion of collections, yearly acquisition of books, manuscripts, and periodicals, and addition of staff for international research have caused the Institute to outgrow its rented space in a turn-of-the-century warehouse in downtown Fort Worth, Texas.
Moreover, space for educational programs is currently very limited, staff areas are crowded, and the collections do not have the appropriate level of environmental control. Despite these limitations, BRIT is highly respected internationally as a botanical resource center.
“The overarching goal of BRIT’s research program is to provide a vision for preserving this world for future generations.”
S.H. Sohmer
BRIT President and Director
