Parks Conservation and Lands

Guidelines for Applications — Scientific or Education Activities

Understanding Scientific Licence Applications

1. General
2. The Application Process
3. Bird and Bat Banding Under the Australian Bird and Bat Banding Scheme
4. Duration of Licences
5. Obligations at the Completion of a Project
6. Further Information

1. General

1.1 Under the Nature Conservation Act 1980 , the appropriate licence is required for the following activities involving native animals or plants in the ACT:

• taking native animals;
• killing native animals; or
• picking native plants.

For these activities a licence will only be issued for scientific or educational purposes.

Well before you submit an application you should discuss your proposed project with the manager of the area/s in which you intend to work and either the Manager, Wildlife Research and Monitoring Unit or the Plant Ecologist as appropriate. This will ensure that there is no conflict between your proposed project and management requirements of the Environment and Recreation or other projects already being undertaken.

You will need to demonstrate the benefits to future wildlife management (scientific or educational) of the project before it will be approved.

1.2 You are reminded that other licences under the Nature Conservation Act 1980 may also be required if you are:

• keeping animals, whether a native animal or an exotic species;
• importing into or exporting animals or protected native plants from the Territory; or
• selling or trading in native animals or protected native plants.

Information on applications for listed native plants and animals in or on a Commonwealth area in the ACT .

2. The Application Process

2.1 For activities involving field work you need to discuss your proposal with the manager/s of the areas in which you intend to work. This will help you complete your Project Approval Form which must be signed by the District Reserve Manager where the project is proposed to be undertaken. The Project Approval Form DOES NOT constitute a licence under the Nature Conservation Act 1980. You should submit a fully completed and signed Project Approval Form with each application for a scientific licence. Your application will not be processed without a signed Project Approval Form.

2.2 For activities listed in 1.1 and 1.2 where a licence is required under the Nature Conservation Act 1980, a signed application is to be submitted well before the proposed commencement date of the activity. Scientific Licence Application Forms and standard Licence Application Forms are available for download below or by contacting the Licencing Officer on (02) 6207 6376. The following additional details are also to be provided with each application:

• the aims of the project;
• details of the duration of the project;
• details of the methods to be used for trapping or otherwise taking native animals or plants;
• details of the methods to be used for disposing of native animals or plants e.g. killing;
• the names and addresses of other persons involved in the project;
• the specific location/s where you propose to carry out the project (NOTE: For projects proposed for reserved areas the applicant will need to justify why alternative locations are not suitable);
• a detailed outline of the project;
• a copy of your ethics committee approval (where animals are taken from the wild), and;
• the number and species of native animals or plants required.

2.3 All applications are to be typed or clearly printed.

Downloads

• Application for Standard Licence  ( PDF 64Kb); ( Word 85Kb)
• Application for Scientific Licence ( PDF 58Kb); ( Word  64Kb)
• Project Approval Form ( PDF 50Kb) ;( Word 58Kb)
  

3. Bird and Bat Banding Under the Australian Bird and Bat Banding Scheme

Only bird and bat banders with a current licence issued under the Nature Conservation Act 1980 can legally undertake banding activities in the ACT. The Australian Bird and Bat Banding Authority is a separate authority granted by Environment Australia, a Commonwealth Government agency.

'A' class banders must submit applications as detailed above and include a copy of their current bird banding authority.

'C' class banders must submit, where possible, a list of the projects they anticipate that they will be working on and the 'A' class bird or bat bander who is responsible for each project. A copy of your current 'C' class banding authority must also be included.

'R' class banders must submit details of the project they will be working on and the 'A' class bird or bat bander who is responsible for that project. A copy of your current 'R' class banding authority must also be included.

4. Duration of Licences

Generally licences will only be issued for a maximum of 12 months to expire on 30 June each year. If a project extends over 1 year you must submit a new application before the current licence expires. You cannot continue with a project if you do not hold a current licence.

5. Obligations at the Completion of a Project

5.1 One condition attached to all licences is that you submit a report on the project to the ACT Parks and Conservation Service at the end of the project or at the expiry of the licence, whichever is sooner.

5.2 If the project exceeds a 12 month duration a status report must be submitted along with an application for licence renewal.

5.3 In regard to projects that involve animal trapping (excluding birds), the licence holde is required to complete Vertebrate Atlas cards. These cards must be submitted at the end of the project or expiry of the current licence, whichever is first.

6. Further Information

For further information please consult the Environment and Recreation. A list of contact numbers is as follows:

• Licence Enquiries (02) 6207 6376
• Manager, Wildlife Research (02) 6207 6379
• Senior Plant Ecologist (02) 6207 2116
• Manager, Western District (02) 6207 2904
• Manager, Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve (02) 6205 1221
• Co-ordinator—Vertebrate Atlas (02) 6207 2117