CODES FOR THE NATURALIST

It is important to remember that we share this planet with every living thing in it and that we are stewards of everything in it.Therefore, we can observe but we should invade or pillage the earth. These codes are suggested by a number of various nature organisations. A list of 39 creatures are protected in Britain and these are contained in Schedule 5 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. This list includes bats, a number of butterflies and moths, some newts and toads, and several lizards and snakes. Schedule 8 of the Act contains a list of 61 protected plants.

1. Take no more specimens than are necessary for your purpose.

2. Do not take the same species in numbers from the same place year after year.

3. Predators or parasites of whatever you collect should not be destroyed.

4. Do not disturb all potential home sites in your search for a species. For example, don't turn over all the rotting logs in a wood or investigate all holes in ever tree.

5. When taking plant samples cut the material cleanly with a knife or secateurs- do not break it off.

7. For local or rare species, take only one or two specimens and avoid collecting in well-worked or over-worked areas.

9. Tell the authorities of unusual finds that you make, and if you are collecting in an area of special interest to conservationists then supply a list of species found.

9. Never collect for commercial gain.

10. In taking specimens for your permanent collection, especially of rare species, wherever possible you should take the creatures into captivity, breed them and release those surplus to your requirements.

11. Do not attempt to reintroduce species or reinforce endangered populations with-out the advice and consent of the proper authorities.

12. When taking animals for breeding or rearing at home, make sure you take no more than you can support by the available food supply. Be sure that you are leaving enough food for your specimens' wild relatives. And remember that the specimens you take may themselves be the food source of another species.

13. Never disturb a member of an endangered species. Captive breeding of endangered species is an acceptable practice, and indeed is the only hope for some species since the numbers in the wild are too low to recover naturally. But it should be done only by experts and only after much discussion with both conservationists and the governmental authorities of the country concerned.

CODE FOR THE COUNTRYSIDE

1. Leave things as you found them. This means stones or rocks you have overturned or weeds that you have dragged in from a lake.

2. Don't litter especially in a water supply.

3. Guard against starting a fire. Every year a vast area of forest or scrubland is laid waste by carelessly lighted fires started by campers or picnickers.

4. In farming areas, keep to the paths - don't walk straight across fields.

5. Drive or cycle carefully and keep pets under control for a slow tractor or a herd of cows might be around the bend.

6. Obtain permission to enter private lands and, were necessary, public nature reserves.

7. Don't leave tell-tale signs that might give away the location of a nest or burrow to predators (both human and otherwise).

8. Make yourself aware of the laws in your country pertaining to wild areas and their inhabitants. In Britain, for example, it is illegal to uproot any plant unless it is on your own land and it is illegal to disturb any nesting bird for whatever purpose. Also, permits are required for photography for some of the rarer birds.

9. Do not tell just anybody where you find something interesting. Remember that a secret shared in many cases no longer remains a secret - only tell people whim you know will respect the information.