Large natural history associations like CETAF (Consortium of European Taxonomic Facilities) and related projects and activities, had so far their main focus on preserved collections in addressing biodiversity and geodiversity. Most of the tools, assessment methods or standards developed over the last decades are
designed for preserved collections and fail when trying to apply them directly to living collections. However, most European botanic gardens are members of CETAF, and more recently also of DiSSCo (Distributed System of Scientific Collections). They often manage large indoor and outdoor living plant collections, as well as seed banks. To a lesser extent zoological gardens or living animals form part of museum exhibitions are also involved in these initiatives. Living plant collections not only play an important role in the design, perception and interpretation of botanic gardens by the general public, but also play a prominent role in research and conservation. They are a reservoir and conservatory of endangered plant species or even species extinct in the wild. Extensive living collections, e.g. of Crop Wild Relatives, kept in botanic gardens are crucial in biodiversity research. In Meise Botanic Garden this is the case on for example bananas, beans and Rubiaceae, including coffee. Trait, genetic and chemical analyses are conducted on samples of living plant material with interesting results for taxonomic and evolutionary biology.