Persons desirous of exporting wild plants or animals must complete the relevant form “INTEND TO EXPORT WILD FLORA AND FAUNA” form from the Wildlife Section, Forestry Division, Farm Road, St. Joseph.
Applicants must complete the form providing their name, and address, and relevant information regarding the plant or animal species including origin, reason for export, amount of specimens, name and address of consignee, C.I.T.E.S. Appendix and description.
The Wildlife Section will review the application and make a recommendation to the Chief Game Warden.
Upon approval, the applicant will be informed and an “Export Permit” will be granted to the applicant.
A document which is used for the importation of wild plants and animals. It is prepared by the Wildlife Section of the Forestry Division to inform the relevant Sections of the Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries regarding the conservation status and origin of the wild plants and animals intended to be imported by persons.
Persons desirous of importing wildlife must obtain the relevant form “INTEND TO IMPORT WILD FLORA AND FAUNA” from the Wildlife Section, Forestry Division, Farm Road, St. Joseph.
Applicants must complete the form providing their name and address and other relevant information regarding the plant or animal including species, origin, reason for import, amount of the specimens, exporter’s name and address, C.I.T.E.S. Appendix and description.
The Wildlife Section will review the application and make a recommendation to the Chief Game Warden.
Upon approval the applicant will be informed.
What is a permit to keep a Second Schedule Animal?
A permit made mandatory by legal Notice 137 of 2016 to keep captive five (5) species of seed-eating Cage Birds mentioned under Part III of the Second Schedule. These are the Chestnut-bellied Seed Finch commonly called Chicky Chung and Bullfinch (Oryzoborus angolensis), the Grey Seedeater or Picoplat (Sporophila intermedia), the Lined Seedeater or King Chat (Sporophila lineola), the Lesser Seedeater or Nun Chat or Common Chat (Sporophila bouvronides) and the Yellow-bellied Seedeater or Silver-beak (Sporophia nigricollis)
How to access this service
Persons desirous of obtaining a Permit to keep a Second Schedule Animal must apply on the appropriate form which can be obtained at the following Forestry Division Locations
- Forestry Division North East Office, Damarie Hill, Sangre Grande
- Forestry Division Wildlife Section, farm Road, St. Joseph
- Forestry Division South Office, Balisier Ave, Pleasantville
- Forestry Head Office, Long Circular Rd, St. James
- Forestry Rio Claro, Ranns Building, Naparima-Mayaro Rd
- Applicant must complete in duplicate the form entitled “APPLICATION TO KEEP SPECIFIED BIRDS LISTED UNDER PART III OF THE SECOND SCHEDULE (AMMENDMENT REGULATIONS 7:4A LEGAL NOTICE 137 OF 2017)”
- Applicant must ensure the office staff stamps a copy and returns it as the applicant’s record of application
- The minimum housing requirement for keeping any Cage Bird is (i) not less than one square foot in floor space (ii) not less than one foot in height and (iii) not less than one cubic foot in volume, excluding the trap section.
- The applicant will be called for arrangement of a site visit by Game Wardens or someone else from the Wildlife Section. The Wildlife personnel will make a recommendation to the Chief Game Warden for a permit to be granted or not;
- Consideration for recommendation will be based on whether the acquisition of the animal was legal, the housing and the environment and health and disease risks among others
- Once the Wildlife Section personnel is satisfied, a recommendation will be made for a permit to be granted from the date the application is approved, this is valid until the December 31st of that year.
Contact us
- Forestry Division Head Office
Long Circular Road
St. JamesSecretary to Conservator of Forests – 225-3868
Secretary to Deputy Conservator of Forests – 225-3861
Receptionist – 225-3865 - Forestry Division
Balisier Avenue
PleasantvilleSecretary to South Coordinator – 225-3756
Receptionist – 225-3774 - North West Conservancy
Assistant Conservator of Forests – 225-3802
Receptionist – 225-3807 - North Central Conservancy
Assistant Conservator of Forests 643-9595 - North East Conservancy
Assistant Conservator of Forests – 225-3720
Secretary – 225-3732 - South West Conservancy
Assistant Conservator of Forests -225-3761
Receptionist – 225-3774 - South Central Conservancy
Assistant Conservator of Forests – 225-3760
Receptionist – 225-3774 - South East Conservancy
Assistant Conservator of Forests – 225-3740
Receptionist – 225-3747Forestry Information Unit/Library –225-3846
Secretary to Director, Forest Resource Inventory and Management – 225-3856
Wildlife Section -225-3837
National Parks Section – 227-3792
Community Forestry – 225-3821
Private Forestry/Incentive Unit – 225-3817
What is a Protected Animal?
Section 2 of Conservation of Wild Life Act (CoWA) states that a Protected Animal is any animal not listed or mentioned under the Second or Third Schedule of the Act.
Regulation 9 (1) made under Section 24 of CoWA states that “No person shall keep a protected animal in captivity unless he is authorized so to do by permit issued under these Regulations”.
Regulation 9 (2) made under Section 24 of CoWA states that “Any person who contravenes subregulation (1) is liable on summary conviction to a fine of two hundred dollars”. A permit to keep a Protected Animal is therefore required.
How to access this service
Persons desirous of obtaining a Permit to keep a Protected Animal must apply on the appropriate form which can be obtained at the following Forestry Division Locations:
-
- Forestry Division North East Office, Damarie Hill, Sangre Grande
- Forestry Division Wildlife Section, farm Road, St. Joseph
- Forestry Division South Office, Balisier Ave, Pleasantville
- Forestry Head Office, Long Circular Rd, St. James
- Forestry Rio Claro, Ranns Building, Naparima-Mayaro Rd
- Applicant must complete in duplicate the form entitled “APPLICATION TO KEEP PROTECTED ANIMALS [Regulation 9 (1)]”.
- Ensure the office staff stamps a copy and returns it as the applicant’s record of application. The applicant must ensure to obtain information regarding the requirements for keeping that specific animal
- The applicant will be called for arrangement of a site visit by Game Wardens or someone else from the Wildlife Section. The Wildlife personnel will make a recommendation to the Chief Game Warden for a permit to be granted or not.
- Consideration for recommendation will be based on whether the acquisition of the animal was legal, the housing and the environment and health and disease risks among other considerations
- Once the Wildlife Section personnel is satisfied, a recommendation will be made for a permit to be granted from the date the application is approved, this is valid until the December 31st of that year.
Contact us
- Forestry Division Head Office
Long Circular Road
St. JamesSecretary to Conservator of Forests – 225-3868
Secretary to Deputy Conservator of Forests – 225-3861
Receptionist – 225-3865 - Forestry Division
Balisier Avenue
PleasantvilleSecretary to South Coordinator – 225-3756
Receptionist – 225-3774 - North West Conservancy
Assistant Conservator of Forests – 225-3802
Receptionist – 225-3807 - North Central Conservancy
Assistant Conservator of Forests 643-9595 - North East Conservancy
Assistant Conservator of Forests – 225-3720
Secretary – 225-3732 - South West Conservancy
Assistant Conservator of Forests -225-3761
Receptionist – 225-3774 - South Central Conservancy
Assistant Conservator of Forests – 225-3760
Receptionist – 225-3774 - South East Conservancy
Assistant Conservator of Forests – 225-3740
Receptionist – 225-3747Forestry Information Unit/Library –225-3846
Secretary to Director, Forest Resource Inventory and Management – 225-3856
Wildlife Section -225-3837
National Parks Section – 227-3792
Community Forestry – 225-3821
Private Forestry/Incentive Unit – 225-3817
The application procedure is as follows:
- Collect an application form from the following stations:
-
- Forestry – Sangre Grande
- Wildlife Section – St. Joseph
- Forestry South office
- Forestry Head office – St. James
- Forestry, Rio Claro
- Fill out the form in duplicate and it must be stamped by one of the office staff, where you the applicant leaves with a copy.
- The Game Wardens will call the applicant to arrange a site visit, where they will assess if the protected animal or second schedule animals are domesticated
- If the surroundings are conducive for keeping the animal, i.e. the cage size/ habitat and the sanitary conditions, persons ability to offer adequate care.
- The location of the animals e.g. Parrots/ Macaws, their noise level would not be a burden to neighbours.
- Once all the standards are met a permit will be granted from the date the application is approved, this is valid until the December 31st of that year.
- State how was protected animal acquired lawfully.
Contact Us
- Forestry Division Head Office
Long Circular Road
St. James
Secretary to Conservator of Forests – 225-3868
Secretary to Deputy Conservator of Forests – 225-3861
Receptionist – 225-3865 - Forestry Division
Balisier Avenue
Pleasantville
Secretary to South Coordinator – 225-3756
Receptionist – 225-3774 - North West Conservancy
Assistant Conservator of Forests – 225-3802
Receptionist – 225-3807 - North Central Conservancy
Assistant Conservator of Forests 643-9595 - North East Conservancy
Assistant Conservator of Forests – 225-3720
Secretary – 225-3732 - South West Conservancy
Assistant Conservator of Forests -225-3761
Receptionist – 225-3774 - South Central Conservancy
Assistant Conservator of Forests – 225-3760
Receptionist – 225-3774 - South East Conservancy
Assistant Conservator of Forests – 225-3740
Receptionist – 225-3747
Forestry Information Unit/Library –225-3846
Secretary to Director, Forest Resource Inventory and Management – 225-3856
Wildlife Section -225-3837
National Parks Section – 227-3792
Community Forestry – 225-3821
Private Forestry/Incentive Unit – 225-3817
The process for receiving the permit is simple:
- Members of the public come to the Forest Office Rio Claro to set an appointment date and submit an application
- Forest Officer goes out and does an inspection
- Upon approval of the application, public will have to pay for the permit at the Revenue Office
- Permit is issued (permit is permission to remove logs from roadside to sawmill).
Required documents
Documents required to apply for a Private Removal Permit:
- Most recent Land Tax Receipt
- One (1) Form of Identification
- Land Deed clearly stating Owner of Property
Private Removal Permits are valid for 30 days and cost TT$30.00 (Extensions cost TT$10.00/week)
Note: If the property is owned by more than one person, approval letters from each individual owner must accompany the application
Contact us
- Forestry Division Head Office
Long Circular Road
St. JamesSecretary to Conservator of Forests – 225-3868
Secretary to Deputy Conservator of Forests – 225-3861
Receptionist – 225-3865 - Forestry Division
Balisier Avenue
PleasantvilleSecretary to South Coordinator – 225-3756
Receptionist – 225-3774 - North West Conservancy
Assistant Conservator of Forests – 225-3802
Receptionist – 225-3807 - North Central Conservancy
Assistant Conservator of Forests 643-9595 - North East Conservancy
Assistant Conservator of Forests – 225-3720
Secretary – 225-3732 - South West Conservancy
Assistant Conservator of Forests -225-3761
Receptionist – 225-3774 - South Central Conservancy
Assistant Conservator of Forests – 225-3760
Receptionist – 225-3774 - South East Conservancy
Assistant Conservator of Forests – 225-3740
Receptionist – 225-3747Forestry Information Unit/Library –225-3846
Secretary to Director, Forest Resource Inventory and Management – 225-3856
Wildlife Section -225-3837
National Parks Section – 227-3792
Community Forestry – 225-3821
Private Forestry/Incentive Unit – 225-3817
What You Need to Know about a Plant Import Permit
The issuance of a Plant Import Permit is critical because it gives legal authorization to bring/import plant material from other countries into Trinidad and Tobago. With the importation of plant and plant products into the country, these items can pose a threat to the natural environment, our food security and economy. In this regard, the term “Plant Quarantine”, includes a group of measures taken by countries to prevent the introduction and spread of insect pests, diseases, and weeds.
The Plant Quarantine Service (PQS) of the Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries (MALF) regulates trade through the issuance of plant import permits. Persons requesting this document can therefore submit an electronic application via the e-permits and Licenses module on the TTbizlink – Online Applications (www.ttbizlink.gov.tt) website.
Plant and Plant Products also include a range of goods from live plants, all seeds for propagation, cut flowers and foliage, peas, beans, fruits, vegetables and lumber.
PQS also facilitates exports from Trinidad and Tobago by ensuring that the conditions of the importing country are met and issues phytosanitary certificates to exporters where required. The Plant Quarantine Unit of the Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries is the Government’s PQS agency authorized to issue Plant Import Permits and Phytosanitary Certificates.
- Plant and Plant Products Purchase Online
Persons accessing Amazon, eBay or any other online market facility are advised that you are required to apply for a plant import permit following the same application path. Therefore, the Ministry strongly advises that before committing to any online purchase please engage the “seller” to ensure that a Phytosanitary Certificate can be issued for the intended purchase. If these requirements are not met, the items may be seized and destroyed.
The same guidelines also apply to the travelling public, as passengers transiting the airport must abide by the rules and regulations of meeting the documentary requirements – Import Permit and Phytosanitary Certificate to ensure compliance.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries reminds persons that is important to declare all agriculture items and avoid placing plant or plant products in your luggage without a plant import permit issued by T&T and a Phytosanitary Certificate from the exporting country.
Finally, receiving or sending plant and plant products in any form into Trinidad and Tobago by mail or courier also requires a plant import permit and phytosanitary certificate. Unauthorized items from outside Trinidad and Tobago (online or other) will be confiscated at the border, destroyed and may lead to fines and imprisonment.
- Note: Plant Protection Act.
- (1) Subject to this Act, no person shall import into Trinidad and Tobago any fruits, planting material, plant pest, pathogens, plant products, soil, vegetables or any other prescribed articles (hereinafter referred to as “restricted articles”) unless he first obtains a permit in accordance with the provisions of this Act or the Regulations.
(2) A person who contravenes subsection (1) is guilty of an offence and is liable—
(a) on a first conviction to a fine of five thousand dollars or to imprisonment for two years or to both and;
(b) on a second or subsequent conviction to a fine of ten thousand dollars or to imprisonment for two years or to both.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries is asking for the cooperation of the public on this issue and we wish to thank everyone for your continued support.
For further information please contact: 642-0718; 280-7938 or e-mail: plantquarantine.centeno@gov.tt
What You Need to Know about a Plant Import Permit
Step by Step Process for Applying for a Plant Import Permit
Ttconnect Requirements for Completion of Online ttconnect ID eTax TTBizLink
