Re: Trading fossils illegal in Italy?

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Date
>> Glen Kuban replied:
>> Let me get this straight.  Italy expects (and benefits from) other countries
>> open policy on fossils, but wants to strictly restrict its own?  Well, isn't
>> that special?  My reaction to this is the same as that to the posting
>> regarding Australian restrictions.  I think it is a misguided and
>> counterproductive trend.  Any nation (of museum) that hords its own fossils
>> cannot expect others to freely share theirs.  The result if this catches on
>> will be a stiffling of the exchange of data and specimens, which paleontology
>> needs in order to thrive.  It also benefits from encouraging amateur
>> collecting and use of fossils for teaching purposes--requiring all fossils to
>> be stored in a museum is also counterproductive.
>>
>> You'd think that governments and national scientific organizations would have
>> learned what most five year olds did while playing in the sandbox.  If you
>> don't share with others, others are not likely to share with you.
>
>Three Points:
>1. As with many laws, the majority of well-intentioned and honest
>people are often put to a disadvantage because of the past actions of
>an irresponsible few.  Australia is currently having a major debate
>over gun restrictions, caused by just this factor.  We all have to
>live with it - it is part of living as a society.
>
>2. The export of fossils was probably caught up with the policy
>development on trading in artefacts - which is a much more serious
>problem. However, there have been examples of theft and
>clandestine export of significant fossil specimens.
>
>3. The restrictions are cumbersome - but the system does work. It is
>quite possible to export material that is not of significant
>scientific value. Export of specimens which potentially may be made
>types of new species is definitely out - these should be lodged in a
>suitable local museum.
>
>In practice, there seems to be no difficulty in exporting/ taking out
>samples of fossil-bearing sediments that have not been picked over.


The situation in Australia at the moment is that the export of fossils is
covered by the Protection of Movable Heritage Act (1986) (PMCH) which was
designed to protect against the loss of culturally important material.
Because fossil and meteorites are named on the restricted list (Class B
items), an export permit must be granted before they can be sent out of the
country.

Remember that this Act covers all culturally important material including
aboriginal artifacts, war memorabilia, coins and stamps, antiques, fine
art, even stream locomotives. However, despite the breadth of the Act, last
year applications for permits for fossils accounted for more that 50% of
all permits sought!

Clearly this situation needs to change so that open trading of
scientifically unimportant specimens can be conducted more freely and such
measures are currently being examined. However, we have a right and a
responsibility to ensure that or natural heritage is protected and
preserved for future generations.

The PMCH is a Commonwealth act and does not affect the hobbyist, amatuer or
professional collecting of fossils in Australia; that issue is dealt with
by each state. Generally there are very few restrictions on fossil
collecting over here. In Queensland you do need a licence to collect
invertebrate fossils (but, ironically, not vertebrate fossils) and in
Western Australia all fossils remain the property of the Crown (until we
become a republic I suppose). Elsewhere in Australia there are no
restrictions on fossil collecting outside of declared reserves (which are
depressingly few).

So the PMCH does not restrict the basic level of collecting that Glen Kuban
thinks that it does. Further, applying for and receiving an export permit
for common fossils is a simple process that costs the applicant nothing
except a little time. This seems a small price to pay to protect our
heritage and it could not be construced as a serious obstruction to
international swapping and trading in common fossils.

Cheers, Paul

pwillis@ozemail.com.au