CA Fish and Wildlife Scientific Collecting Permits issues?

[Michelle S. Koo]

Sorry for the late notice but this came together only in the last week or so-- in case you havent seen this announcement, please attend if you have issues with CDFW Scientific Collecting Permits. Direct communications have started with the permitting and leadership of CDFW and your voice should be heard! See below for townhall details 

All the best, MK

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Dear Colleague,

You’re invited to a virtual forum on Friday, May 23 at 3:00 PM for scientific stakeholders who conduct fieldwork in California and rely on scientific collecting permits from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW).

This forum is an opportunity to hear updates, ask questions, and contribute to an ongoing effort to improve the scientific collecting permit (SCP) process. Over the past several months, CDFW staff and a small group of researchers have been in dialogue about ways to improve the process. We’re now expanding the conversation to include a broader group of stakeholders.

The discussion will be moderated by Shannon Bennett (California Academy of Sciences), Trina Roberts (Natural History Museum of L.A. County), and Michelle Koo (Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, UC Berkeley).

Agenda

1. Background and update on the discussions with CDFW and this coordinated effort
2. Discussion on top wish list items for the CDFW permitting portal revamp, summarized from this spreadsheet and other feedback from the scientific community
3. Identify other major concerns and needs, propose solutions for a reformed SCP process including the SCP portal
4. Next steps

To help us plan a productive conversation:

• Please RSVP here
  
  
• Share your top three issues or questions about the permit portal in this form; responses received by 5/22 will help our discussion on 5/23 but the form will stay open through 5/30

For additional background, you can review:

• Science community recommendations to CDFW
  
  
• CDFW’s responses to those recommendations

These are summarized in the attached review of progress to date.

Thank you and please feel free to share this invitation with other interested colleagues.