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Licences for scientific, educational and conservation purposes

You may require a 'scientific licence' under section 132C of the National Parks and Wildlife Act if you wish to undertake an activity or project for research, education or conservation purposes that is likely to result in one or more of the following:

• Harm to any protected fauna, or to an animal that is a threatened species or is part of an endangered population or an endangered ecological community. 
• Picking of any protected native plant, or any plant that is a threatened species or is part of an endangered population or an endangered ecological community. You will need a licence if you plan to collect voucher specimens for identification purposes, pick cuttings or whole plants, or collect seed. 
• Damage to critical habitat.
• Damage to a habitat of a threatened species, an endangered population or an endangered ecological community. 
• Research within the NPWS reserve system.

Find out more about applying for or updating a scientific licence, or go to the Government Licensing Service to make an online application.

Scientific licence class descriptions

Use this table to determine the right licence class for your project.

Licence class	Description	Licence term
Research	All actions for scientific research purposes that are undertaken by academics, their students or private researchers. Projects may be specific or broad-based in nature.	Up to 3 years for low conservation risk projects.
Ecological Survey/ consultancy	A licence class specifically for commercial consultants who undertake general flora and fauna surveys. The location of work and target species may not be known prior to application and can potentially cover many sites.	1 year
Biodiversity assessment/ Species Impact Statement assessments	Applies to projects for Species Impact Statement preparation and for general or targeted biodiversity survey activities involving protected native plants and fauna.	1-3 years. Longer terms may be used for projects where the project is associated with a government department or similar statutory authorities.
Translocations/ reintroductions	Projects for the experimental introduction, reintroduction or supplementation of a species to the wild.	Project dependent (up to 3 years)
Bush regeneration	Bush regeneration activities for conservation purposes in Endangered Ecological Communities (EEC), the habitat of Threatened species or critical habitat.	2-5 years for landholder managed sites. Other sites are project dependent.
Seed collection	The collection of seed or cutting material of protected flora for regeneration or propagation purposes. This is generally used in conjunction with bush regeneration applications. It excludes collection for commercial use.	2-5 years for landholder managed sites. Other sites are project dependent.
Ecological burns	Permits areas of EEC or threatened species habitat to be burnt for ecological purposes. Generally used in conjunction with bush regeneration applications.
Karst research	Work within a Karst environment, including any component species or habitat. Licences are only required where the research is to be conducted within the NPWS reserve system.	Up to 3 years for low conservation risk projects.
Bird/Bat banding	Bird and bat banding activities on approved project sites within NSW. Banding approvals are issued separately via the Australian Bird and Bat Banding Scheme.	5 years
Education	Issued to educators to house some species of protected fauna at a school, or the collection of protected plant samples for teaching purposes. Can also apply to holding a reference collection of fauna specimens, excluding taxidermy animals.	3 years
Abiotic sampling	Applies to projects for research and sampling of non-living specimens such as soil, water, fossil and sub-fossil material. Licences are only required where the research is to be conducted within the NPWS reserve system.	Up to 3 years for low conservation risk projects.
Other	Projects not adequately covered by any of the above classes e.g. visitor surveys, field trips etc.	Up to 3 years for low conservation risk projects.