I am, unfortunately, deeply pessimistic as regards such regulations: in my opinion, they are in fact intended to serve governmental "decision-makers" as a kind of alibi allowing to destroy nature with simultaneous make-believe of deep concern in protecting it. So-called "species protection" means, in fact, protection of individuals: (protection of species would need primarily protection of habitat, what nobody really -beyond "lip-service" - cares of), and protection of individuals makes sense in case of tigers or condors but is an absurd if applied to 99.9% of invertebrates. Moreover, the "protection" is almost invariably directed, in fact, against scientists (especially those whom I call "B-category amateurs": those having serious knowledge of their group of animals or plants but being not formally employed as researchers): as mentioned by Peter, villagers, foresters, industrial or urban developers may kill millions of "protected" species, only you are punished if you take one of these already killed specimens for your collection... ["A group of entomologists from a university in eastern Europe was trying to develop a molecular profile of different populations [of] some dangerous groups of mosquitoes, especially those responsible for dengue fever. ... The intrepid team of researchers was taken to jail in handcuffs while working on Palawan ... Their ambassador had to travel down from Jakarta to secure their release. They left behind 22 vials of dead mosquitoes in alcohol – which presumably now are in the “black museum” of the environment department as a major triumph... At the same time Manila was plastered with posters on how to kill as many mosquitoes as possible in dozens of ingenious ways" - Larsen 2005]! Such regulations serve only bureaucrats, and as nowadays bureaucrats are the supreme power in this world, I do not think the current trend to "protect" everything in order to destroy everything can be diverted.  As I wrote (2008. God save us...) "That „museum” collections (no matter whether „public” or private, under the only condition to be available for study to all interested biologists) provide the basis for all systematical, biogeographical or phylogenetical studies (and to a high degree for all the remaining branches of biology) seems so evident that I feel embarrassed to write about this: it is as if I would specially explain that there can be no archaeology without excavations, history without archives, or geography without maps... And nevertheless suggestions to restrict (or even almost totally wind up) them, or at least to make them accessible only or mainly in form of internet “databases”, “digital” pictures &c., appear in increasing frequency. Simultaneously collecting, transport and exchange of botanical and zoological specimens encounter more and more numerous and drastical bureaucratic restrictions, respective institutions (museums) have no funds (and usually do not show particular interest) for this while “amateurs” are by any means impeded and discouraged from keeping collections or even forbidden to hold any!" - this looks like a nonsense, but is quite reasonable from the "decision-makers" viewpoint: scientists are dangerous, because they can discover the effect of "species-protection" and show what the measures of real nature-protection should be...)! I have written about these matters more extensively (2000. Lengyelországi hozzászólás ...; 2003. Think of species, protect habitat ...; 2008. Taxonomy crisis, biodiversity disaster ...; 2012. Chrońmy owady...; &c. - all downloadable from Res.Gate if anybody is interested), as did many others, but such voices could be of any avail only in case of nature- (or even particular species-) protection is the real goal - but unfortunately it is not... But, despite my pessimism, I am of course whole-heartedly supporting your efforts, Peter! Best wishes, good luck!

Roman  

Hi Peter,

In the U.S. you can check the status of such laws either by searching federal, state and municipal agencies. In general for most localities -- addressing your question regarding "private persons' -- permits are required when 'collecting' or hunting. From my knowledge, there is no current problem, yet, concerning "illegal wildlife trade". Ever so often there is a news report where a man may have left his friend in charge of caring for his 700lb Bengal tiger that was held captive in a tiny metropolitan apartment.

Here is a list for NY:

http://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/7494.html

But, I was curious and did a little research of my own and discovered that such laws, like most, reflect the presence or concern of the illegal activity. India and Africa are considered to be prime 'hotspots' for capturing, killing and transport of animals. The U.S. is not a 'hotspot' but a receiver of illegal imports of wildlife, which thus far seems to be logical, intuitive. The link below discusses the conservation management and wildlife trafficking laws as it concerns NYC and State.

Excerpt:

"We are grateful for the Department of Environmental Conservation's enforcement efforts to curb the illegal wildlife trade in New York. New York City is the main port of entry in the U.S. for the wildlife trade, and has a strong underground market, including trade of elephant ivory, with one ton of elephant ivory seized in New York City in just one state-level investigation alone in 2012. Although New York has state laws regarding wildlife trade crimes, they fall short in deterring criminals from illicit activity, as the relatively small fines (compared to other organized crimes) are often viewed as merely the "cost of doing business." - See more at: http://www.ecohealthalliance.org/news/308-assembly_standing_committee_on_environmental_conservation_public_hearing#sthash.qrihqCIZ.dpuf

My advice to you is to do backtrack research starting with 'hotspots' and the Red List -- http://www.iucnredlist.org/

The ban on insects is interesting. Did your source explain how India intends on enforcing? I'm a little pessimistic....

Nancy, thank you very much for the detailed input. My question is, if a private citizen takes a net and starts collecting butterflies/flies/bees on private land, does (s)he require governmental permission in US states? As I mentioned above, in Japan, no permit is required except for protected species. Despite this open approach, there are no reports of any deterioration of insect populations. Yet, in India, a lack of fundamental knowledge of insects causes decision makers to treat insects in the same manner as vertebrates, when it comes to conservation. For them, the unit of conservation is the butterfly, not the habitat. I am trying to change this mind set and approach by presenting a wider spectrum of case studies from different parts of the world.

I felt forced to get up a petition regarding the new bill so that the interests of insects, rather than enforcement personnel, are served:

http://www.change.org/en-IN/petitions/mr-pranab-mukherjee-hon-ble-president-of-india-guarantee-indian-citizens-our-constitutional-rights-and-duties

Dear Peter, I think you have gone through Biodiveristy Act 2004 in India

http://nbaindia.org/uploaded/Biodiversityindia/Legal/33.%20Biological%20Diversity%20Rules,%202004.pdf

From my point of view except in protected and critically endangered species, they should allow all the workers, may be private or public for diversity exploration.

Arne, thank you for your inputs. I would be grateful if you could share the situation in Germany. I agree that endangered species need to be protected, but am trying to gather information on the success of blanket bans on conservation. I feel that populations need monitoring, so that suitable action can be taken if necessary. Blanket bans merely cover up everything, so one will not even be aware if something is lost. This might suit officialdom, but can hardly be said to represent the wider goals of science.

Shashank, thank you for the link, I am aware of the Biodiversity Act, which is a model of discrimination against the scientific community, since villagers are permitted to destroy what they want in a forest in the name of livelihood, but scientists cannot even remove a leaf without permission from clerical staff in Madras who do not, in many cases, even know what the plant or creature under consideration looks like!

No, I am more worried about the proposed amendment to the Wildlife Act, which was up for discussion in the Rajya Sabha, wherein everything not domesticated is wildlife and trapping is defined as in any way preventing the free movement of wild animals. That ill thought out piece of proposed legislation will outlaw the fishing industry, to the extent that one will need permission from the Chief Wildlife Warden to even cook and eat fish bought in the market. Ditto permission will be required to set a mouse trap, since rats and mice are wild. Mosquitoes of course are wild. All this is justified in the name of controlling the wildlife trade. To my mind, this is a sort of situation that even Ayn Rand could not envisage....

Hi Peter,

in Croatia, for collecting, killing, breeding, offering for trade, trading etc. of strictly protected species one must ask for a permit from a Ministry of Environmental and Nature Protection. The list of the strictly protected species is published in Official Gazette, and mostly consist of threatened (based on IUCN red list criteria), endemic or some rare species. The protection refers also to the protection of habitat for this species. Also, for research on some nature protected areas, you also need a permit, no matter the species. So, the legal basis exists, but it is very difficult to control the enforcement or the efficiency of the legal protection.

I understand that in India for some species illegal collection is a threat, but definitely there are more important human influences that should be addressed.

Luka

Thank you, Luka. In Croatia, is it illegal to take a net and catch insects, say butterflies, which are not legally protected for a private collection? In India, no butterfly is threatened with illegal collection that I know of, if you know about this, I would be grateful for any information. :)

No, it is allowed, but only outside nature protected areas.

In first, we also had a lot of species legally protected, but it didn't showed to be of much use.

Good luck!

Hi Peter, as far as I know, it is prohibitet in most af counties (parts) of Austria (butterflies), except Tirol. In other parts you can have permit, as private collector. If are you University worker, situations is much more easy to obtain it.

In Czech Republic you can collect everywhere except leagly protected areas, but you can have a permit for research and it is not problematic. We have several proted species, where are special conditions requested to obtain permition to work with. I thing the same is in Poland.

In Slovakia is collecting prohibited by law and its is problematic to get permit. But it is possible, even for national parks.

I am not writing about Yemen, Ethiopia and other such countries, it is different bussiness :)

Nancy, Arne, Vladimir, Luka, how about doing a review paper on the history of butterfly conservation in different countries and the degree of success and challenges faced? We could get other authors for other countries, and put together, it could become very useful for decision makers.

Dear Peter,

in most European countries butterfly collecting is prohibited. Some countries are extremely strict such as Spain and also Turkey. This comes true also for some tropical American countries such as Brazil. However, in Switzerland butterfly collecting through private persons appears even welcome and this has obviously no negative consequences for butterfly populations. Only in some very special cases collecting is prohibited also in Switzerland. This is true for the very local and endemic Erebia christi.

A review on that topic might be welcome!

Best wishes, Peter

Dear all,

was there any progress in relation to the proposed review?

Yours

Josef

Dear Josef,

there is not much to go on so far, is there? It might be useful to wait a little longer and hope for some further inputs... meanwhile, we are working on a catalogue of Indian butterflies, which will be out soon.

Warm regards,

Peter 

In Norway there is a small number of insect species that are protected by law due to their rarity (extremely small and localized populations) or because they are on the CITES list (Parnassius sp.). Apart from these species, anyone can collect whatever they like without any permit. 

Dear Hélcio,

all of my amateur entomologist colleagues are worried about the restrictions by governments and administrations as their important scientific work is hindered or blocked instead of being supported. Often considerable amounts of time and money are invested for the research. So, I think it is an important step you will do when making this aspect a topic on a large congress. Here in Europe, it is intended even to tighten the existing restictions/laws. So it is the time now, not only for a world-wide review of the situation country by country but also for activities by us to stop this absurd development.

Best wishes, Peter

In Latvia, collecting (virtually - "killing") invertebrates is allowed.

Only protected species of invertebrates (about 100 species in total) requires special permit which to be issued free of charges by the Nature conservation board. Prior to obtain a permit for collecting protected species of invertebrates, applicant to fill-in special form and to give background information what is the purpose of collecting.

Apart from these species, anyone can collect whatever they like without any permit.

-----

About the contribution of amateurs: please specify whom you consider amateur. Those entomologists without degree or those not working in state institutions or also those not working with NGO?

I am, unfortunately, deeply pessimistic as regards such regulations: in my opinion, they are in fact intended to serve governmental "decision-makers" as a kind of alibi allowing to destroy nature with simultaneous make-believe of deep concern in protecting it. So-called "species protection" means, in fact, protection of individuals: (protection of species would need primarily protection of habitat, what nobody really -beyond "lip-service" - cares of), and protection of individuals makes sense in case of tigers or condors but is an absurd if applied to 99.9% of invertebrates. Moreover, the "protection" is almost invariably directed, in fact, against scientists (especially those whom I call "B-category amateurs": those having serious knowledge of their group of animals or plants but being not formally employed as researchers): as mentioned by Peter, villagers, foresters, industrial or urban developers may kill millions of "protected" species, only you are punished if you take one of these already killed specimens for your collection... ["A group of entomologists from a university in eastern Europe was trying to develop a molecular profile of different populations [of] some dangerous groups of mosquitoes, especially those responsible for dengue fever. ... The intrepid team of researchers was taken to jail in handcuffs while working on Palawan ... Their ambassador had to travel down from Jakarta to secure their release. They left behind 22 vials of dead mosquitoes in alcohol – which presumably now are in the “black museum” of the environment department as a major triumph... At the same time Manila was plastered with posters on how to kill as many mosquitoes as possible in dozens of ingenious ways" - Larsen 2005]! Such regulations serve only bureaucrats, and as nowadays bureaucrats are the supreme power in this world, I do not think the current trend to "protect" everything in order to destroy everything can be diverted.  As I wrote (2008. God save us...) "That „museum” collections (no matter whether „public” or private, under the only condition to be available for study to all interested biologists) provide the basis for all systematical, biogeographical or phylogenetical studies (and to a high degree for all the remaining branches of biology) seems so evident that I feel embarrassed to write about this: it is as if I would specially explain that there can be no archaeology without excavations, history without archives, or geography without maps... And nevertheless suggestions to restrict (or even almost totally wind up) them, or at least to make them accessible only or mainly in form of internet “databases”, “digital” pictures &c., appear in increasing frequency. Simultaneously collecting, transport and exchange of botanical and zoological specimens encounter more and more numerous and drastical bureaucratic restrictions, respective institutions (museums) have no funds (and usually do not show particular interest) for this while “amateurs” are by any means impeded and discouraged from keeping collections or even forbidden to hold any!" - this looks like a nonsense, but is quite reasonable from the "decision-makers" viewpoint: scientists are dangerous, because they can discover the effect of "species-protection" and show what the measures of real nature-protection should be...)! I have written about these matters more extensively (2000. Lengyelországi hozzászólás ...; 2003. Think of species, protect habitat ...; 2008. Taxonomy crisis, biodiversity disaster ...; 2012. Chrońmy owady...; &c. - all downloadable from Res.Gate if anybody is interested), as did many others, but such voices could be of any avail only in case of nature- (or even particular species-) protection is the real goal - but unfortunately it is not... But, despite my pessimism, I am of course whole-heartedly supporting your efforts, Peter! Best wishes, good luck!

Roman  

In Greece you need a permit from the ministry of environment even for not protected species.

Dear all,

Because France has a wide range of habitats (alpine, mediterrean....) there are hotspots of insect diversity in many areas all over the country and only species from the red lists(regional, national and international) are protected together with theirs habitats.

The major concern about the protection of insect species is the access to information (maps with locations of endemic species, regional lists) that allow people that trade with insects to trap and catch them.

Amateur entomologists from France and various countries around France collect protected and rare species and sell them in fairs and exhibitions.

Local and national authorities do not have sufficient human and financial resources to face this problem.

We face a similar situation for plants, vertebrates....

Odd isn't it

Best

Guy

Within the US, the state of California recently enacted a requirement for permits for collecting invert specimens: https://wildlife.ca.gov/Licensing/Scientific-Collecting

In fact, they overhauled all of their permit requirements, making everything incredibly and unnecessarily difficult, and it's a crying shame.

In Brazil there is an extremely unfair law that makes every biology student automatically a criminal. This law "aims" to protect the biodiversity but only results in causing difficulties to the studies conducted by the scientists in academia. Smugglers, illegal farming and logging remains untouched by said law due to poor law enforcement and bribery.

You can read more about it here:

http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/0001-3765201820180460 

I sense here a reverse engineering. The insect collectors are insect lovers. Most insects cannot be identified if not collected. The tegument structure, wing nervation, genitalia cannot be studied on living specimens. So, the insects must be collected. Exception, the very endemic species with small areas. The investors know this simple math, so they make lobby to the politicians and lawmakers to ban insect collecting. No insect collecting, no knowledge of what new species must be protected (and I mean their habitats here).

In conclusion: No collect -> No protect.

In Oman, you need a permit from the ministry of environment for collection of living species (vertebrates , invertebrates, plants,...)

In Spain there is no regulation. Only protected species are under regulation, and it depends in each specie. Normally, for insects, there is no regulation. You can do whatever you want, also with botanic.

I think neither, but i'm not so sure....

I esa this year there anda i've never listened nothing similar

Welcome.

A pleasure

Julio César Muñiz Pérez

Dear Julio, how then does it fit that entomologists were arrested in Spain, their equipment confiscated and they were punished with fines ? Why do you have to apply for a permit through the regional government to collect insects in Catalonia, for example? Is my information out of date and have the regulations changed in the meantime ?

Thanks, Wilfried.

Hi Wilfried.

In fact, the Spanish regions have competences in environment. In this way, i have no notice about that news, but i think would be for protected species.

The police competent in Spain (normally) is Guardia Civil. You can see its operations in: https://www.miteco.gob.es/es/actuaciones-seprona/default.aspx

No notice about insects, except protected species.

As I know the administration made no differences between collecting protected or not protected species. They have generally banned the colleagues in question from collecting. And this did not happen recently, but several years ago. Since then, the certainty has persisted here in Germany that collecting insects in Spain is subject to authorisation.

Julio César Muñiz Pérez

years ago I collected true bugs in Tenerife Canary Islands. By chance I found myself in a place where entomologists were catching butterflies. Forest officers arrived and asked them what they were collecting. When they saw the butterflies they stopped and fined them. When they asked me I replied that I was collecting "mosquitoes" and "bedbugs" and I showed them a test tube that I always keep ready, full of disgusting insects at the sight of ordinary men.

The answer was "go easy and ... please, take them all away". Of course they were all endemic species of the Canaries but we must always calculate that human ignorance is unlimited, even among forest agents.

In ITALY, insects can be collected everywhere except in national parks, in protected areas of all kinds. If you want to do research, you ask for permission from the park management who usually grants the authorization. I always precede the request with a letter from a museum or university for research purposes.

Furthermore, the protected species of the red list cannot be collected.

To avoid doubts and misunderstandings, currently I only move with the permissions in my pocket

In Turkey, permission from the ministry of natural resources is required. Otherwise, huge fines, deportation and an entry ban for 5 years. Gendarmes pay local residents a fee for information about illegal collectors of insects, so many residents closely monitor tourists

I thibk it is not only a matter of « collecting insects » that as such seems a nonsense but more properly of « carrying out scientific research in foreign countries » that sounds very logic.

This apply from collecting insects for entomological studies to collect blood samples of population for epidemiological studies.

We should accept that scientists are not free to carry out activities as they are not not to work, in a foreign country and some time in their own, without a permission or a framework of collaboration with national institutions.

This sounds very clear and normal.

It sounds clear and normal if it is an "official" research project. If it is general or opportunistic collecting, then regulating it (or prohibiting it) sounds far from normal to me.

To me, it is neither wise nor just anyway!