Overview of collecting in protected areas
Queensland’s native plants, mammals, birds, reptiles, frogs, some fish and invertebrates, and all wildlife and natural resources found within protected areas are protected by the Nature Conservation Act 1992 (NCA) and its Regulations to ensure the conservation of nature. A licence, permit or authority is needed to take, keep, use or interfere with many native plants and animals for educational or scientific purposes. Anyone wanting to take protected wildlife or to undertake scientific research or educational activities on protected areas and forestry areas should become familiar with the laws outlined in the relevant Acts and Regulations.
Collecting permits are available from the EPA who have a complex application process. To be eligible for a scientific purposes permit through EPA, the applicant should be associated with a tertiary education or other education institution administered by the Commonwealth or State or an entity involved in scientific research, and the applicant must have achieved a satisfactory level of competence in the proposed scientific research or be receiving or have completed relevant postgraduate training.
ESQ has negotiated with EPA a permit for our members which differs slightly, in that it is less reliant on formal qualifications and associations with formal institutions.
What do our permits cover
The society currently holds three Scientific Purposes Permits authorising the collection of insects and arachnids not listed in Schedules 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6, of the Nature Conservation (Wildlife) Regulation 2006. They cover various National Parks, State Forests, Conservation Parks and Forest Reserves with a full list of parks. There is the option in certain circumstances to add parks to our current permit if the desired park is not listed (requires at least three weeks notice). These permits are intended for legitimate scientific research only and are primarily for the opportunistic collecting of voucher specimens to enable the correct identification and confirmation of species present in protected areas.
We also hold a permit authorising the collection of species listed in Schedules 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6, of the Nature Conservation (Wildlife) Regulation 2006 which will be managed on behalf of the Entomological Society of Queensland by Don Sands, and the Secretary of the Society, Richard Bull. They will both be coodinating any endorsements on this Permit requested by society members, to ensure that all activities by those members adhere to the EPA and Society's conditions.
Who is eligible to apply
All members of the society who are residents of Australia are eligible to apply for the ESQ permits. The society however would prefer that members who have a strong affiliation with an institution and a current project supported by that institution apply for their own permits through QPWS so as to decrease the amount of administration that the society has to provide. PhD students and members who have a history of commercial activities will be asked to show cause why they should be provided with a society permit instead of applying for their own permit. Members who are currently holders of a commercial licence are excluded from gaining a permit. Members who are unfinancial and/or fail to provide an annual return when asked will be asked to show cause why they shouldn’t be deleted from our permit list.
If you are in the above categories and wish for advice on obtaining a permit of your own please contact Susan Wright or see the following website.
http://www.derm.qld.gov.au/ecoaccess/plants_and_animals/scientific_research_or_educational_activities/scientific_purposes.html
Your responsibilities under the permit
You are required to understand and abide by all conditions pertaining to each individual permit (there are differences between the permits). We are also in the process of developing a Code of Conduct for all collectors which the society will expect its members to abide by when collecting under our permit. These are unique permits and we expect all members to keep this in mind when collecting as a loss of these permits would be detrimental to all concerned.
Reports are due once a year via a return form (usually around August each year). In the case where a member has not used the permit through the year a nil return is acceptable.
Forms and the guildlines can be found below, on the following website or through Susan Wright.
Return Form
Return Guidelines
http://www.derm.qld.gov.au/services_resources/item_details.php?item_id=203683
Special conditions
Conditions to be aware of:
- specimens may not be given, sold or traded (but a member who is endorsed on the permit may collect specimens on behalf of another member provided that they are also endorsed);
- wildlife habitat must not be damaged, environmental impact must be kept to a minimum;
- this permit does not give you the right to enter any land, you must get prior permission from the agency responsible for administration of the land usually at least a week in advance if possible;
- where possible, collecting activities should be effected away from public view;
- a copy of any resulting report / activities from this research should be provided to the EPA office at which the permit was issued and the permit holder of the society;
- you must carry a copy of the permit endorsed by the permit holder (S. Wright) and stating your name and residential address;
- you must carry a form of identification that displays a coloured photograph such as a Queensland drivers licence,
- you must be a financial member of the Entomological Society of Queensland.
Applications
To apply for a permit you will need to complete an application form which can be downloaded below or obtained by contacting the Permit officer on the address below:
Link to application form
Completed form should be sent to:
Susan Wright
Councillor
c/o Higher Entomology
Queensland Museum
PO Box 3300
South Brisbane, Qld 4101
Phone: 07 3840 7704
Fax: 07 3846 1226
Email: Susan Wright
Signed applications sent by fax or mail are preferred. Please allow 6 weeks for your application to be processed.
Further information
For further information contact the Permit Officer Susan Wright, c/o Higher Entomology, Queensland Museum, PO Box 3300, South Brisbane, Qld 410, 07 3840 7704, 07 3846 1226 or Susan Wright
References and Links
Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service website - scientific purposes permits
Export permits
If biological material (ie insects or arachnids) is to be exported from Australia, a permit to export or import wildlife or wildlife products is to be obtained under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 from the Commonwealth Department of the Environment and Water Resources.The following link gives you information about these permits. There is a charge for this permit.
http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/trade-use/permits/forms/index.html
Protected Species Legislation
Link to Legislation
List of protected listed species
Mapping - Latitudes/ longitudes and Grid references
If members wish for some assistance in the datum/grid reference calculations then a good little publication is the map reading guide brought out by Geoscience Australia who also produce topographic maps. The link below will take you to their website where you can download a free pdf of the guide. The associated roamer is also a good tool and makes reading grid references much easier.
http://www.ga.gov.au/nmd/products/maps/publications.htm
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