The Specialist Collection Managers Groups (SCMGs) were set up in order to promote communication and coordination between Collection Managers of selected taxonomic groups from the UK’s major collections-holding institutions. Their objectives are to develop and promote best practice in relation to curation and to develop ways of coordinating collections management at the UK level. In the second phase of funding their role will additionally involve providing advice to the Forum Committee on aspects of the proposed national strategy for systematic research.

Three SCMGs currently exist in the areas of Botany, Entomology and Mollusca.