Abstract Detail

Systematics Section

Trock, Debra K. [1], Rabeler, Richard K. [2], Ferguson, Carolyn J. [3].

Permits: They're Not Just for Animals Anymore .

Natural history museums that house and loan animal specimens have long grappled with the issues surrounding permits from government agencies. Collection managers and curators in herbaria that are associated with museums benefit from that experience and often have at least some knowledge of what permits may be required. However, many university herbaria are located not in museums but often in botany or biology departments or at botanical gardens and may not be as aware of the recent changes in federal laws pertaining to the import/export and even interstate movement of some plant specimens. Regulations pertaining to plant specimens originate both from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and from the USDA- APHIS - Department of Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ). There is an increasing concern about, and regulation of, plants which are potentially invasive, noxious weeds, plant pests, and plant pathogens; this is a major focus of PPQ efforts at US ports. We will discuss what we know about the current regulations that may affect transport of herbarium specimens, offer advice on navigating the government bureaucracy, and make a case for why this should be important to curators and collection managers alike. We will then open the floor for questions, discussion, and examples of how these regulations are affecting the herbarium community.

Broader Impacts:

Related Links:
USDA Permit Site
USFWS Permit Site
CITES homepage

1 - California Academy of Sciences, Department of Botany, 55 Music Concourse Drive, San Francisco, CA, 94118, USA
2 - University of Michigan Herbarium, 3600 Varsity Drive, Ann Arbor, MI, 48108-2287, USA
3 - Kansas State University, Herbarium and Division of Biology, Ackert Hall, Manhattan, Kansas, 66506-4901, USA

Keywords:
permits
USDA
CITES
APHIS
import regulations.

Presentation Type: Discussion Session
Session: D8
Location: 551B/Convention Center
Date: Wednesday, August 4th, 2010
Time: 3:00 PM
Number: D8001
Abstract ID:239