Research Conducted in Indigenous Areas

For Kuna Yala area you should contact directly and in person  the Kuna Congress Office, located in Balboa, Panama City. We can provide you the address and telephone upon request.

If your study requires the collection of flora/fauna, you should also apply for the ANAM collecting permit, at STRI-ANAMpermits@si.edu

If your study requires paleontology, archeology or socio-cultural anthropology research you will require additional authorization from INAC or MICI.

General information

Applications should be submitted at least three (3) months in advance of expected arrival.
All information requested is mandatory.

• Due to the complexity of the authorizations, we recommend you pay a first visit to the area in advance of any permit request.
• Preliminary personal contact by the visitor with the authorities in the area of study is a requirement before any permission or authorization is requested.
• Office of External Affairs will assist you obtaining a written consent from the Director of the Indigenous Affairs Dept. of the Ministry of the Interior when necessary, to visit or talk to the community chief.
• Some indigenous areas are divided by Comarcas and others not.
• Permission depends if the area you selected falls within the Comarca or not.
• You should obtain permission from the community chief where research is scheduled to be conducted .
• This permit should be obtained first, if you are planning to do collection of flora or fauna from ANAM.
• A copy of the written agreement/consent obtained should be sent by you to the Office of External Affairs, STRI.
• It is a host country requirement to provide a copy of any publication or reproduction from the research including an abstract in Spanish, after completing your study.
• Proper acknowledgments should be made in the publication to authorities facilitating the research.
• It is mandatory from the Office of External Affairs to notify the corresponding national authorities of your project.
• The submission of the permit application does not imply that your project will be approved.
• Please notify the visitor’s office at STRIRegistration@si.edu with arrivals/departure dates and areas selected. The Visitor’s office will help you with the online registration and provide logistic assistance.

What You Need To Submit

Protocol of the research:

• The Protocol of research should be sent in Spanish. Your description should not be too technical. Be explicit about any possible environmental impact. Minimum 4 or 5 pages. Write it in Report format and must include the following:
  1. Title of Research Project
  2. General objective
  3. Duration of the project
  4. Justification
  5. Methodology
  6. Place or area where the study will take place
  7. Describe area and send a map attached to this application.
  8. Source of funds (if STRI Scientist)
  9. Itinerary/working schedule – dates and sites to be visited
  10. Samples collected - scientific and common names
  11. Describe any field marks and equipment that will be placed in the field and specify when they will be situated and removed.
  12. Principal Investigator’s name
  13. Research assistant/s name/s
  14. Nationality/ies
  15. Passport number/s and attach copy of passport/s of each participant
  16. STRI sponsor/advisor
  17. Resume / of each participant
  18. Any other information you may consider relevant to the project.

All above are guidelines. Don't write beside them.

Information should be submitted to Celideth De Leon, e-mail deleonc@si.edu, Tel. +507. 212-8050, STRI/Office of External Affairs, Tupper Bldg. 628.

General Recomendations

The Agreement /Consent with The Indigenous Authorities should be based on:

• Consultation at all time with the community chief.
• Consent to do the work in the area.
• Analysis of information.
• Develop work methodology with the community chief or special members.
• Acces to data and information from the chief or members of the community.
• Expectation of the study.
• Intelectual property, confidencialtiy and access to the final investigation.
• On site translators.
• Respect to the culture and community.
• Protection and respect to their knowledge and life style.
• Requirements may vary depending on the community. Different arragements may be necessary.
  

*This information may be subject to change*