Abstract
Natural history collections are repositories of diverse information, including collected and preserved biological specimens. These specimens are sometimes integrated into conservation decision-making, where some practitioners claim that specimens may be necessary for conservation. This is an overstatement. To correct this, I engage with the current literature on specimen collection to show that while specimens have epistemic shortcomings, they can be useful for conservation projects depending on the background or shared values of scientists and decision-makers. This modest approach acknowledges that specimens provide a unique information channel while demarcating where and when values intercede into conservation planning.
