At a time when invertebrate biodiversity research and conservation seems to be gaining a little momentum, we find that the ground can be very easily swept from underneath us. The Mollusca network recently conveyed news of threats to the collections and research of two major museums. This seems to be a very worrying trend, and highlights the need for all concerned with invertebrate biodiversity to stand up for what we do, and lend support to each other - protests are not pointless.

Natal Museum contains the most representative and extensive samples of southern African and Mozambican molluscs: the molluscan type collection contains 2633 lots. Current research projects includes a guide to non-marine molluscs of eastern S Africa, an identification manual of marine molluscs, and taxonomic research. Yet an intended restructuring process would devolve this national museum to provincial authorities, where there is no provision for scientific collections or research. Dick Kilburn and Dai Herbert (Natal Museum, P/Bag 9070, Pietermaritzburg 3200, South Africa:
Fax: 0331-450561) plead for all concerned malacologists to protest to the Minister of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology (Fax: 012-325 2768).

At Auckland Museum, which faced the closure of its marine departments and dispersal of its collections, the Trust Board and management, faced with overwhelming media coverage and support from New Zealand and around the World, have decided to keep the collections and look after them, but the two curators in charge of them and who carried out research on them have been made redundant.The collections include the largest New Zealand collection of type molluscs (c. 1600 holotypes), the largest collection of SW Pacific Islands and New Zealand land molluscs (35000 lots), and 20000 New Zealand fossil molluscs, including several hundred types. It is hoped that one day professional curators will be reinstated, but in the meantime most research, display preparation and public information services in the marine and land snail areas have been curtailed.