LEGALLY PROTECTED SPECIES

Aquatic and Wetland Plants

• Aquatic Plant Importation, Transportation, Non-nursery Cultivation, Possession and Collection. The Aquatic Plant Permit Rules are administered by the Bureau of Invasion Plant Management of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. A permit is required for possession, collection, transportation, cultivation, and importation of certain prohibited aquatic plants. A permit application is available online.

Endangered Species

• CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) (register of scientific institutions). The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service administers the US import and export of CITES species. The USFWS CITES web site also includes information on CITES and lists of the species concerned. PDFs of the USFWS import/export form 3-177, the continuation sheet and instructions are available through the USFWS Office of Law Enforcement site. Additional USFWS service forms are may be found on the forms page (series 3-200 forms include applications for import and export licenses).
• Federally listed species. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service administers the Federal Endangered Species Act. The Endangered Species Program web site provides comprehensive information on the laws and species.
• Preservation of Native Flora of Florida law, Rule Chapter 5B-40 of the Florida Administrative Code under authority from the Florida Statutes Chapter 581.185, 581.186 and 581.187 (note: fines are defined in 581.141). This rule applies to a list, The Regulated Plant Index (embedded in the rules) of of endangered, threatened, and commercially exploited taxa. Permitting is administered by the Division of Plant Industry of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. The Plant Inspection page provides details on permitting. A book on these Notes on Florida's Endangered and Threatened Plants is available in PDF format (warning, this is a large document). [Note: DPI seems to move these links frequently without cross-reference. If they do not work try starting at the DPI main page. By the way, the Chapter 5 Rule is rather large and in PDF format.]

Noxious Weeds and Invasive Species

• Introduction or Release of Plant Pests, Noxious Weeds, Athropods, and Biological Control Agents (Rule Chapter 5B-57 of the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Division of Plant Industry) under authority from the Florida Statutes, chapter 581 (sections 031, 083, 091)). It is unlawful to introduce, possess, move, or release any arthropod or noxious weed regulated by these rules except under permit issued by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. The list of species controlled under these rules is extensive. Contact The Division of Plant Industry for details (also see the: Plant Inspection page).
• The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Animal Plant and Health Inspection Service Federal noxious weed program is designed to prevent the introduction into the United States of nonindigenous invasive plants and to prevent the spread of newly introduced invasive plants within the United States. Important sections include: regulations and the the Federal Noxious Weed List.
• Noxious Weeds in the United States and Canada (a USDA supported part of the Invaders Database System) provides a searchable database of the noxious weed lists for all U.S. states and six southern provinces of Canada. The database can be searched by plant name, state name, or by clicking on a map.

LEGALLY PROTECTED LANDS

You should have permission of the property owner or responsible agency for all properties on which you collect plants. This includes:

• Florida State Parks. Natural and cultural resources are protected on all Florida State Park lands and may not be removed without written permission. Collection of materials is only allowed for scientific and educational purposes under the Research/Collection Permit program.
• National Parks. Permission is required to collect plants in U.S. National Parks. The U.S. National Park Service has created a Research Permit and Reporting System web site embedded in the Nature Net / Science sections. The site covers all National Park units in the United States.
• National Forests (USDA, Forest Service). Permission is required to collect plants in National Forests. Applications are evaluated on a case-by-case basis in accordance with current policy and the potential biological impact of the collecting. Researchers should contact the respective forest district or the state national forest office for permit applications. The National Forests in Florida web page provides an overview of the four forests in the state (Apalachicola, Choctawhatchee, Ocala and Osceola) and contact information.
• State Forests
• Private Property. Permission of the land owner is required before you cross onto and collect plants from private property.
• Transportation Corridor Right-of-Ways (Highways, Railroads, etc.)
• U.S. Military Bases, Naval Air Stations and Training Facilities.

LINKS TO OTHER SITES WITH PERMIT INFORMATION

• National Science Collections Alliance -(formerly Association of Systematic Collections) provides a Government and Policy section with links and information on funding, regulatory issues, policy and legislation that affect natural history collections, museums and research scientists.
• Internet Directory for Botany Conservation and Threatened Plants links.
• United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service - issues permits that may pertain to collection, transport and possession of pressed plant and herbarium specimens. Many of these permits are administered by Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ). Examples include, plant pathogens, federal noxious weeds and parasitic plants and Phytosanitary Issues Management. The USDA guide, "Miscellaneous and Processed Products," provides useful information in connection with the importation of herbarium specimens.
• Plant Importation by Alan Meerow discusses importing of plants from foreign countries. This document appears to pertain to import of nursery grown material and not to scientific collecting. It is important to contact the appropriate governmental authority in the country where you plan to collect to arrange for export permits.

University of Florida Herbarium collections: Vascular Plants | Herbarium Library Bryophyte and Lichens | Mycological Wood | Paleobotany (affiliated collection)