Activities requiring a permit
In Queensland you may need a permit to conduct Scientific, Educational, Conservation and Research activities involving cultural or natural resources including flora, fauna, soil and water. Depending on the location and resources/animals to be interfered with, the permits applicable will vary.
Find out more about what activities in which areas require a permit below.
Information for activities planned on protected areas
A resource permit, or specifically a permit to take, use, keep or interfere with cultural or natural resources, is required to undertake activities for scientific or educational purposes within protected areas under the Nature Conservation Act 1992. Protected areas include:
- national park
- national park (scientific)
- national park (Cape York Peninsula Aboriginal Land)
- national park (Aboriginal land)
- national park (Torres Strait Islander land)
- nature refuge
- special wildlife reserve
- conservation park
- resources reserve
- coordinated conservation areas
If your planned research or educational activity is to be undertaken on a protected area, navigate to the Protected area scientific and educational research page to understand the types of activities relevant, and what information you require prior to submitting an application for a permit.
Information for activities planned on non-protected areas
Under the Nature Conservation Act 1992, research permits (educational purposes permits or research permits), are required for research or educational activities involving the taking, usage, keeping, or interference of protected animals outside of the protected area estate. This includes private or freehold land, public purposes reserves, and estates that are not defined as protected areas, marine parks, state forests or recreational areas.
If your planned research or educational activity is to be undertaken outside of a protected area, or you require further information regarding the taking, usage, or keeping of protected animals outside of the protected area estate, navigate to the Protected animal permits for scientific/research or educational purposes – non-protected areas webpage. This webpage details the types of activities relevant, and what information you require prior to submitting an application for a permit.
Protected plants in non-protected areas are not subject to scientific, research or educational purposes permits, but you may need a permit to clear, harvest or grow protected plants.
Activities in state forests, forest reserves, or timber reserves
A permit to collect (biological and geological material), is required to conduct scientific research or educational activities in State forests, forest reserves, or timber reserves under the Forestry Act 1959. This permit regulates the usage of plants from these tenures, but not animals.
If the research also involves the taking, keeping, usage, or interference with protected animals, then a research permit under the Nature Conservation Act 1992will also be required as state forests tenures are not classed as ‘Protected areas’.
Using Online Services, you will not need to apply for these permit types separately. The one application form can be used to apply over different tenures, and the appropriate permit types will be.
Activities in marine parks
A marine park permit is required to conduct scientific or educational activities within state marine parks in certain circumstances. If your activity also involves protected animals such as cetaceans, marine turtles or any other animals listed in the Nature Conservation (Animals) Regulation 2020, you will also require a research permit as detailed above. Some research activities are considered ‘limited impact research’ and may be exempt from requiring a permit within the relevant marine park zoning plan. For more information about if your activity may be exempt from requiring a marine park permit, please submit a pre lodgement request here.
Using Online Services, you will not need to apply for these permit types separately. The one application form can be used to apply over different tenures, and the appropriate permit types will be.
However, activities planned to occur within the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park (Commonwealth) require a joint marine parks permit from the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority. Read more about joint marine park permits via GBRMPA Permits Online.
Further information
If you are proposing to take, keep or use protected animals for scientific, research or educational purposes at a number of sites, and on a range of tenures (private land as well as national parks, nature refuges, state forests, recreation areas and marine parks), you may need more than one permit/authority to conduct the activities across all locations. If this is the case and you wish to discuss your project, please submit a pre lodgement request here.