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<div><span style="font-family: Aptos, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; font-weight: 400;">Good morning,</span></div>
<div><span style="font-family: Aptos, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; font-weight: 400;">This message is addressed to European entomologists or entomology specialists from European institutions. It is a brief inquiry in the
form of a quick survey.</span></div>
<div><span style="font-family: Aptos, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; font-weight: 400;">In Spain, nature conservation regulations are very restrictive regarding the collection of organisms, affecting all animal groups. While
these measures are understandable and necessary for vertebrates and larger invertebrates—considering that many collection activities are related to hunting or consumption without a scientific purpose—the situation in entomology is different.</span></div>
<div><span style="font-family: Aptos, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; font-weight: 400;">Currently, in Spain, insect collecting is prohibited and regulated throughout the national territory. Permits can only be obtained within
the framework of research projects, which are accessible only to a small group of professionals and require a considerable amount of administrative paperwork. There is a catalog of protected species, where some insect species are strictly prohibited from being
collected, which is logical and reasonable. However, the regulations also apply to all other species, including common insects and even pest species, making their collection technically illegal without a permit.</span></div>
<div><span style="font-family: Aptos, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; font-weight: 400;">This situation is having a severe impact on amateur entomology, particularly affecting the availability of data on insect distribution
in our country. As a result, there is a significant gap in information regarding the current status and evolution of populations, affecting both common and rare species.</span></div>
<div><span style="font-family: Aptos, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; font-weight: 400;">We are gathering information on how insect collecting is regulated in other European countries. Therefore, we would like to know:</span></div>
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<span><span style="font-family: Aptos, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; font-weight: 400;">Is insect collecting regulated in your country?</span><br>
</span></li><li style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Aptos, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; list-style-type: "2- ";">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">If so, does the prohibition apply to all species unless a permit is obtained, or only to those listed in protected species catalogs, allowing the collection of the rest?</span><br>
</li><li style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Aptos, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; list-style-type: "3- ";">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">If there are regulations, has there been a decline in amateur entomology and a loss of chorological data in recent years as a result of these restrictions?</span><br>
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<div><span style="font-family: Aptos, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; font-weight: 400;">We need responses, so any contribution will be greatly appreciated. Please feel free to reply using the following format, that is so
fast!</span></div>
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<div><span style="font-family: Aptos, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; font-weight: 400;">Example:</span><br data-start="2280" data-end="2283">
<span style="font-family: Aptos, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; font-weight: 400;">Poland, 1-YES, 2-ALL SPECIES, 3-NO</span></div>
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<div><span style="font-family: Aptos, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: normal; font-weight: 400;">We sincerely appreciate any information you can provide.</span></div>
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<span style="text-decoration: none; font-family: Aptos; color: rgb(33, 33, 33);"><span style="font-family:Aptos, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:12pt;line-height:normal">Best wishes</span></span>
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<div style="text-decoration: none; font-family: Aptos; color: rgb(33, 33, 33);"><span style="font-family:Aptos, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:12pt;line-height:normal">Sergio</span></div>
<div data-end="2379" data-start="2321" style="text-decoration: none; font-family: Aptos; color: rgb(33, 33, 33);">
<span style="font-family:Aptos, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:12pt;line-height:normal">--</span>
<div><span style="font-family:Aptos, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:12pt;line-height:normal">********************************</span></div>
<div><span style="font-family:Aptos, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:12pt;line-height:normal">Sergio Montagud Alario</span></div>
<div><span style="font-family:Aptos, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:12pt;line-height:normal">Museu [UV] Història Natural</span></div>
<div><span style="font-family:Aptos, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:12pt;line-height:normal">Universitat de València</span></div>
<div><span style="font-family:Aptos, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:12pt;line-height:normal">e-mail:<span> </span><a href="mailto:sergio.montagud@uv.es" style="color: rgb(0, 120, 215);">sergio.montagud@uv.es</a></span></div>
<span style="font-family:Aptos, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:12pt;line-height:normal">********************************</span></div>
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