All specimens must be collected and transported legally, in accordance with state, federal, and international laws as applicable. Donors are responsible for understanding and complying with applicable laws and regulations. Additional regulations may apply to the transport of living material, which are not addressed here.
If you are unsure what permits or permissions are required, please email MICH staff and we may be able to assist you.
Failure to include required documentation will significantly delay or prevent the specimens from being accepted and incorporated into the collection.
Land-use permission: Provide documentation that the removal of plant or fungal material from a given locality was performed legally.
For specimens from privately owned property, please provide evidence the specimen was collected with permission from the land owners. For other localities, provide a collecting permit or scientific research permit from the responsible agency, or show documentation that the locality allows the removal of plant or fungal material without a permit. Localities that may require a collecting or research permit include, but are not limited to, nature preserves, State Parks, State Forests, National Parks, and National Forests.
Collecting and transport permits for threatened or endangered species: Include copies of collection and transport permits for endangered or otherwise protected species, if applicable.
The most commonly required permits address the following:
- International transport of species covered by CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora). For more information, consult the following resources:
- Collection and transport of federally-protected species listed in the Endangered Species Act. For more information, consult the following resources:
- Collection of state-protected species. Many states have acts that protect and list species considered to be threatened or endangered within the state. For more information about the Michigan Department of Natural Resources’ Threatened and Endangered species, consult the following resources:
International shipments
All international shipments of specimens intended for research or donation must be coordinated in advance with MICH staff to ensure shipments are in compliance with the US Department of Agriculture APHIS regulations.