1. Collecting and export permits in Venezuela Oficina Nacional de Diversidad Biológica (ONDB) Contact person at ONDB: Marilyn Castillo Phones: 58-212-4087777 and 4084757 http://www.minamb.gob.ve/index.php?option=com_content&view =section&layout=blog&id=6&Itemid=49

2. Procedures: Ministerio del Poder Popular para el Ambiente Viceministerio de Ordenación y Administración Ambiental -Oficina de Permisiones -Forms on-line in pdf files Approved (or not) by Oficina Nacional de Diversidad Biológica (ONDB) If land vertebrates are involved: “Hunting” permit for scientific purposes. If aquatic/marine vertebrates (fish): “Fishing” permit for scientific purposes If marine invertebrates: “Capture” permit for scientific purposes If plants: Botanical permits

3. Procedures: If in national park: INPARQUES If near populated centers: permit from Consejo Comunal Timeline: at least 6 months, usually 2 years. Permits issued for 1 year maximum. Export: additional forms Renewal: previous report required

4. Procedures: Fill forms (includes desription of which species and how many of each will be collected along with their “uses”*). In case of inventories, species name are not requiered but families are. Project (in Spanish) CVs of researchers and IDs Institution letter (approving project) If access to genetic material: Permiso de Acceso a Recursos Genéticos plus sign contract with the MPPA Pay fees If export: MOU (Convenio) between Venezuelan and foreign institution Letters of approval of project by both institutions Letter of approval by Fonacit *Uses: live specimen, eggs, skin, bones, blood, organs, foreign agents such as parasites, etc….

5. In summary: (if all permits involved) -Access to genetic resources (1-2 years) -National park (1 year) -Collecting: 6 months to 1 year -Export: ????