Issuing opinions on plantation and farm breeding of strictly protected and protected wild plant and animal species

In order to protect, conserve and utilize biodiversity, biological resources and genetic material, especially of strictly protected and protected wild species of plants and animals in a way that enables their survival, diversity, regeneration and improvement in the case of disturbance, a series of measures and activities are being implemented to manage their populations. The Law on Nature Conservation defines the possibility of collecting strictly protected and protected wild species of plants, animals and their parts from nature for the purpose of acquiring a "parent stock" and breeding them in in-situ and ex-situ conditions (outside their natural habitats). The permits for collecting "parent stock" wildlife species of plants, animals and their parts for the purpose of propagation, cultivation and traffic in their offspring for commercial purposes at the registered plantations and farms are issued by the Ministry of Environmental Protection upon obtaining the opinion of the Institute for Nature Conservation of Serbia.

As part of the permitting procedure, the Ministry submits to the Institute the request of a legal entity, entrepreneur or natural person for an official opinion. The submitted request should include:

- Name and address of the applicant with contact telephone.
- The scientific and traditional folks name of the wild species and the number of specimens or parts to be collected.
- The purpose of collecting.
- The names of sites where the collection would take place.
- Manner and period of collection.
- Cadastral parcels and municipalities where cultivation would take place.

Upon obtaining a permit for collecting "parent stock" specimens of strictly protected and protected wild species, it is necessary for a legal entity, entrepreneur or individual to submit to the Institute for Nature Conservation of Serbia a request for field survey in order to record the collected number of individuals of wild species of plants, animals and their parts.

Upon entering the plantation or farm, "parent stock" specimens are further monitored through the procedure of issuing the opinion on the plantation or farm breeding.

A legal or natural person engaged in the breeding of strictly protected and protected species for the purpose of their trade should address the Institute with a request for recording and evaluation of breeding. The request should include the following:

- Name, address, contact telephone and tax identification number of the legal entity.
- Name, address and contact telephone number of the farmer hired by the legal entity for plantation or farm breeding.
- Name and address of the individual and contact telephone.
- The scientific and traditional folks name of the wild species cultivated.
- Number of cadastral parcels, cadastral municipalities and municipalities where plantations or farms have been established and registered.
- The size of the facility.

The request shall be accompanied by:

- A photocopy of the ownership sheet for the cadastral parcel on which cultivation is carried out, or the lease agreement, if the parcel is not owned by the grower.
- A permit for collection from nature issued by the competent ministry determining the origin of specimens of wild species taken from nature and proof if they are offspring of the "parent stock" specimens or the imported specimens (photocopy of invoice or delivery note, gift certificate of planting material, etc.).
- Certificate of payment of the Republic Administrative Fee for issuing an opinion, determined in accordance with the Law on Republic Administrative Fees.

After examining the submitted request, the attached documentation and the Central Register of Protected Natural Resources kept by the Institute, expert associates of the Institute shall organize a field survey of the plantation or farm in order to determine the growing conditions, the parameters of care and the dynamics of production. On the basis of the collected data, the Institute shall issue to the applicant an opinion on the plantation or farm production of wild plants, animals and their parts, thus confirming the origin of the specimens bred in captivity.

The owners of specimens of strictly protected and protected wild animal species are obliged to ensure that specimens of wild species do not escape into nature. In the event of escape, they are responsible for the damage caused by these animals.

It should be noted that only "parent stocks" of protected wild species of fungi, lichens, plants, animals and their parts are allowed to be collected for plantation and farm breeding. Breeding of strictly protected wild species is possible only if they are imported.

It is also possible for the Ministry to prohibit breeding if, based on the opinion of a scientific or professional organization, it determines that breeding or artificial propagation of strictly protected and protected wild species poses a threat to human health, animal welfare or the environment.