GUYANA is a country that is blessed with numerous natural resources. This includes our wild and flora and fauna which many people utilise for various reasons, including economic gain.
To ensure that Guyanese continue to benefit from these gains for generations to come, there is a system in place to manage how, when, where, which and by whom wildlife is utilised. This system is known as the Licensing and Permitting System. There are two aspects to the wildlife trade: international and domestic (local).

International Trade
Internationally, the trade of wildlife is governed by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). As a signatory to the Convention, Guyana is obligated to have certain systems in place to manage the wildlife trade. As such, under the Wildlife Conservation and Management Act (2016), permits and licences are issued for the import, export, re-export, or introduction of any specimen of wildlife from the sea.

In Guyana, the GWCMC is the CITES Management Authority and is responsible for managing the wildlife trade here. To obtain the necessary licences for international trade, the following steps must be taken:
1. Submission of completed application forms for the Licence being applied for.
2. Submission of the following documents:
o National Identification Card, Driver’s Licence, Passport or any other form of national identification
o If a registered business, a sealed certified copy of the Business Registration
o In the case of a company, sealed and certified copies of the following documents
1. Certificate of Incorporation
2. Articles of Association
3. Notice of Directors
o Copy of Transport or Rental or Lease Agreement for Holding Premises
3. Attendance of an interview. This step applies to all new applicants and may also apply to some re-applicants.

Currently, there is a cap of 25 persons who are allowed to engage in international trade.
In addition to obtaining licences to be involved in the import and export of wildlife, international traders are also required to obtain permits whenever they make a shipment. To manage the amount of wildlife that is traded, the GWCMC implements a quota system.

There is a national quota, the total number of a particular species allowed to be exported within a year, while each exporter also has an individual quota, which they must respect. Additionally, international traders must respect closed seasons during which particular species aren’t allowed to be traded. They are also prohibited from trading protected species and species listed in CITES Appendix I.

In the table below, the fees for the permits and licenses are outlined.

For more information on the licensing system, you can log on to: wildlife.gov.gy/licensing-procedure or contact the GWCMC on 223-0939/0940.
Domestic Trade

To supplement the international trade, the GWCMC has also implemented a system to govern the domestic utilisation of our wildlife. This system began with the passing of the Wildlife Conservation, Management and Sustainable Use Regulations (2019). Under these Regulations, various categories of licences govern particular uses of wildlife within the country.
Under Regulation 10 (1) of the aforementioned Regulations, the six categories of licences are as follows:

Indigenous Village Councils may also have to apply for a licence to cover wildlife users who are registered members of the village.
Each licence will specify the sizes, numbers and species of wildlife that a user’s activities cover, as well as where an individual is allowed to carry out these activities.
To obtain a licence for any category of wildlife use, applicants will be required to submit the following:
1. An application form
2. National Identification Card or Passport (original and copy, back and front)
3. Two (2) recent Passport size photos
4. TIN Certificate (Original and Copy)
5. Firearm Licence (Original and Copy) for Hunters only
6. Show proof of having adequate housing for trapped wildlife (for trappers and middlemen)
7. Food Handling Certificate (Restaurants, cook-shops, rum-shops/bars)
The commission vets applications and once approved, the applicant is required to pay the corresponding fee.
Application forms can be obtained from the Licensing and Permitting Division of the GWCMC or applications can be made online at https://application.dlms.wildlife.gov.gy/#/.
Like international traders, domestic wildlife users must also respect closed seasons, during which particular species aren’t allowed to be traded and they are also prohibited from trading protected species.
Remember, for more information on the wildlife trade you can log on to wildlife.gov.gy/licensing-procedure.