Collecting Permits blog - moved to a new location

[admin]

Just wanted to remind you all of Chris Grinter's blog on collecting permits. Probably the best consolidation of information on the subject that you can get:
skepticalmoth.southernfriedscience.com

This link was recently updated on my Policy/International page. It moved a while ago. So if you haven't seen it, check it out.

[wollastoni]

Chris < I have noticed an improvement that should be done.

On French West Indies, you have written "no permit required", but in Martinique and Guadeloupe, you have put a link which shows that collecting and export permits seems required.
Guadeloupe & Martinique being part of French West Indies, I think you should update the French West Indies topo.

I personnally think those permits apply only for scientific researchers or commercial collectors and not for amateur entomologists who bring their net in holiday there, France being collector friendly... but we never know.

[iroki]

You should add Poland into Your list. It is legal to collect butterflies &moths everywhere except protected areas. And it is forbidden to collect protected species: here is site with more info: www.lepidoptera.pl

[Chris Grinter]

Thanks for the updates- I'll make those changes in the next few days, gone for the weekend!

And yes, I agree with you wollastoni that the permits are just for research. Most countries have a procedure for scientific permits but nothing directly addressing the amateur/hobbyist collector. The same rule applies to National Forests in the USA. You need permits for research but not for informal collecting.

[mldov1959]

So does anyone know what countries in subsaharan Africa are safe to collect "informally" without seeking permits ?

[cabintom]

"So does anyone know what countries in subsaharan Africa are safe to collect "informally" without seeking permits ?"

I'm also seeking an answer to this question. I'll be traveling around Africa a bit over the next years and would like to avoid trouble if I can.