one hopes that there is something there to hold people responsible for their actions

There is something there HS, the truth of the matter is, we all have it. What is it though? It's something we are born with, I firmly believe all humans are, the problem being that it has become fashionable to ignore it. It has become socially prevalent to purposefully deny its existence, predominantly for personal gain. This rare and critically endangered attribute is called "YOUR CONSCIOUS".

I will never be convinced that people who go about doing wrong are not aware that they are. Never have I said that we (I) don't have skeletons, and in the Tarantula hobby, this has always been the case. An example would be perhaps a little box collected from the post office, some with foreign postage markers. All of us know this is against the law, yet we do it. When it comes to the matter at hand, keeping local protected species under permit, the "little voice" in our heads should become a thundering symphony. If not, chances are this wonderful opportunity will die in the womb.

To answer Legions question.

The Tarantula hobby is more widespread than just this forum. There are spider enthusiasts that are out of social circles and have become legends in the quiet. The problem is, very few people know who they are. In light of this, Ian suggested that a NOMINATION thread be started on this forum where 619 (at the moment) members have the opportunity to NOMINATE Tarantula keepers IN GAUTENG that might be considered for permitting. This task was given to Taki at the meeting and will be started in due course.

It will be our responsibility to NOMINATE keepers that will fit the ethical mould associated with this responsible task. From the nominations, the five keepers with the highest count of nominations will be presented to NatCon for CONSIDERATION. A lot of water has to flow, and IF NatCon approves the PROPOSAL brought to the table, five (or less) keepers MIGHT be issued with the required permits.

IT MUST BE CLEAR THAT THIS IS ONLY THE ROUTE CONSIDERED AND IS CURRENTLY ONLY WRITTEN IN SAND. SHOULD WE SCREW UP, THOSE DELICATE WRITINGS WILL BE BLOWN OUT THE WINDOW IN NO TIME AT ALL, AND WILL NEVER COME BACK TO US AGAIN.

Sorry for the long post, but here are the discussion points from the Nat Con meeting last Sat:

Key discussion points: Workshop on a conservation strategy for baboon
spiders and tarantulas
Workshop date: 20 August 2011
Lory Park Zoo, Midrand.
Compiled by Ian Engelbrecht (Gauteng Nature Conservation).
24 August 2011
This document outlines the key points and suggestions from this workshop. These will form the basis for
developing a proposed strategy for baboon spider conservation and minimizing the risk posed by exotic
alien species, which will be presented to the Director: Conservation in Gauteng for approval. The points
below are indicated as they were discussed at the workshop. Additional points by the author have been
indicated with ‘ed’. Readers should be cautioned that the suggestions and points below have not been
accepted nor rejected by Nature Conservation, but are under consideration and serve solely as a record
of the workshop proceedings. They will be addressed comprehensively when the strategy is developed.
History of regulation and legislation
It was indicated that the reason that indigenous baboon spiders had been included in the legislation in
the mid-1980’s was due to a single person in Limpopo province who was collecting large numbers from
the wild and exporting them. (De Wet & Schoonbee (1991) reported two farmers from Limpopo
Province as collecting spiders, as well as spiders being sold at the Rand Show and at a pet shop in
Johannesburg in that period. Accurate statistics on the level of trade and number of traders are always
very difficult to obtain. They key point is that large numbers of spiders were being removed from the
wild during that period, indicating international and local demand for them. Ed)
Regarding exotic species, the question was what happened between the 1990’s, when exotic spider
species were seen by most pet keepers as strictly taboo, and the early 2000’s, when they began
proliferating in the pet trade. It was indicated that a member of the public had taken a case to court
after having stolen an exotic spider from the Montecasino Bird Gardens, and won the case on the
grounds that it was not illegal to possess an exotic tarantula species. This highlighted the fact that only
importation was illegal. Thereafter a number of individuals began to import spiders illegally knowing
that could only be prosecuted if caught in the act of importation.
Breeding indigenous species for the local and international pet trades
It was generally supported that once a supply of captive bred animals is available, the demand for wild
caught specimens would become negligible.
It was suggested that the species that would be introduced to the pet trade not be limited (the original
suggestion was for 10 – 15 large, charismatic species to be introduced to the trade) as the demand is
always highest for the species not easily available. In other words, there would still be a significant
demand for wild caught specimens of those species no easily available in the trade.
In response to the question of who gets permits to collect specimens from the wild, the suggestion was
made that people bid on permits so that funds could be raised for enforcement and other conservation
activities.
It was suggested that harvesting from the wild should take place in areas that are to be developed. This
would allow for a supply of specimens that would have been lost anyway to the trade, thus minimizing
the impact of the trade itself.
It was noted that in order to maintain an interest in breeding and steady supply of specimens, breeders
should be allowed to export excess stock to international markets.
It was also noted that the current permitting system could be very restrictive on a local trade if everyone
was required to obtain a permit for keeping, breeding, selling, etc.
The suggestion was made that pet shops not be allowed to sell indigenous species as this would limit
accountability of those selling and responsibility of those buying.
It was suggested that Nature Conservation consider issuing permits for exotic species in the genera
Ceratogyrus and Pterinochilus. In particular, C. marshalli and P. murinus are very common in the local
pet trade. Permits are required due to a technicality in the legislation where these whole genera were
listed as requiring permits.
It was suggested that an amnesty period be granted for people to apply for permits for spiders already
in their possession.
It was noted that permits would be required from other provinces for collecting specimens from the
wild.
Regulation of exotic species
Regarding the proposed Alien and Invasive Species Regulations it was indicated that a previous species
listing (which included 12 to 14 species) was inaccurate and unfounded, and that the public had
motivated sufficiently for those species not to be listed. (From experience, we can’t be certain about
these regulations will say when finally published. Some additional relevant points about what was
included in the drafts we’ve seen so far have been added to the presentation – ed.)
There is only one known established alien population of theraphosids globally, ie Brachypelma vagans in
Florida, USA, which established after a trader released a large number of spiders into the wild as a result
of not being able to sell them. It was suggested that this indicates minimal risk of exotic species being
able to establish in South Africa. (The point I made in the presentation is that we need an objective,
scientifically well founded assessment of the invasive potential of the species available in the pet trade.
We can’t rely solely on anecdotal evidence of what is happening elsewhere in the world or the opinions
of individuals – ed.)
It was noted that importations of exotic species bear the additional risk of carrying unwanted parasites
or pathogens. (We didn’t specifically discuss importations in the presentations. See extra points there
under the Alien and Invasive Species Regulations in the presentation in this regard – ed.)
It was suggested that illegally imported specimens confiscated by Nature Conservation be made
available to hobbyists on auction. This would allow those specimens to be used in breeding and
contribute to the pool of individuals available in the trade, as well as generating funds for Nature
Conservation. This suggestion applies to indigenous species as well.
It was suggested that permits should also be made available for exporting exotic species, but it was
indicated that export permits are not required under the current legislation.
Other suggestions
It was agreed that a forum would be established consisting of appropriate representatives from the
hobby, Nature Conservation and other stakeholders. The workshop participants agreed that Taki Tsonis
would coordinate the formation of that forum.
It was suggested that a platform for important communications be established. Taki Tsonis will
investigate the possibility of setting up an email news group on the www.tarantulas.co.za website for
this purpose.
Some dissatisfaction over responses to permit applications was voiced. Nature Conservation officials
asked that some examples of such applications be provided so that they could follow up.
Overall everyone felt that the workshop was very positive and informative and they expressed their
gratitude to the Nature Conservation officials making themselves available. The Nature Conservation
officials thanked everyone for attending and Lory Park Zoo for providing the venue.

Just to complete Cerats post above here are the presentations that can be downloaded

Huge thanks Dimitri and Cerat!!

I'm quite new to the Hobby but have read up a lot on the subject and also spent a lot of time talking to breeders and other people in the trade.

Great work you guys. Great to see that finally this matter is being addressed.

Keep it up.

Thanx

Is there any new developments?