Regulatory Database

[Phil Bunch]

Stephen:

Good idea.  I'll work with you on this as time allows.  There are a
lot of web links to various agencies and the text of the laws and
regulations is available at least for the federal level in the United
States.  I'm pretty sure that a lot of the required information at the
state level also is accessible via the web.  The CITES treaty and
means of communication with administrators that will answer questions
is available. As previously mentioned I think the agencies would be
glad to cooperate in making information easily available.

Phil Bunch

-----Original Message-----
From: Stephen P. Rae <srae at musci.com>
To: Richard Hill <REHill at IX.NETCOM.COM>
Cc: Shelton.Sally at NMNH.SI.EDU <Shelton.Sally at NMNH.SI.EDU>;
pbunch at CTS.COM <pbunch at CTS.COM>; anamaria at GRINNELL.BERKELEY.EDU
<anamaria at GRINNELL.BERKELEY.EDU>; dpaulson at ups.edu <dpaulson at ups.edu>
Date: Sunday, February 11, 2001 12:07 PM
Subject: Re: Can Kids Collect?


>Dennis:
>
>I am continually amazed at the ignorance of the very people who are
>entrusted with the education of our young and future professionals.
of
>course, trying to find out about regulations is confusing.  however,
the
>search cannot be as confusing as decoding the human genome or
researching
>synonymy for rare plant species.
>
>Of course, there is a need to identify the generic groups or
categories of
>regulatory and enforcement agencies that may permit the collection
>activities proposed.  And, yes, of course, such a listing should have
area
>specific identifiers for ownerships and jurisdictions, as well as
legal
>categories or status of the species in questions.  That, however, is
>relatively simple to design into a database.  What I see here is an
absence
>of commitment on the part of the researchers or casual collectors to
make an
>effort to compile such a listing, or to assist in its compilation.
>
>Proposing a conference and society workshop to discuss and debate is
all
>well and good, but may be pointless unless underscored by commitment.
And,
>I don't mean by a large group.  Progress doesn't typically flow from
large
>groups.  We move ahead due to dedicated individuals or small groups.
having
>said that, here is my offer.  I host my own server farm and can
control
>content easily.  That means that if I want to help implement such a
listing,
>I can do so.  And, I want to do just that.  Is there anyone out there
who is
>willing to help gather relevant information and work with me to get
it into
>a usable web-enabled form?  Just let me know and we can get started.
>
>This is not an offer to work on a book.  The content needs to be
dynamic
>(capable of revision and correction when necessary, and searchable
from
>varying angles, ie random-access).  I am referring to a database
accessible
>online.
>
>I have seen email on the subject of collection permits and
regulations for
>years but have not yet seen anyone commit to doing anything concrete.
Well,
>here is an offer.  Now, where can we go together?
>
>Please let me know if you have interest in this effort.
>
>Steve