The Nature Conservancy. Protecting nature. Preserving life.™

How to Apply for a Research Permit
To apply for a research permit, please download and fill out our application and send it to us electronically. Appropriate Conservancy staff will be involved with reviewing the application, including scientists, land managers and program directors. We also coordinate with staff of other agencies, in particular the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, for many of our research permits.

We strongly advise prospective researchers to submit completed applications early. We strive to provide good service and to keep the application process as simple as possible. Depending on the complexity of the request, necessary reviewers, staff availability and other factors, it may take as long as a month to issue the permit. A permit will be issued within one month of receipt for those projects that qualify. Permits are not valid until counter-signed by the researcher and returned to The Nature Conservancy

Examples of Past Research Projects on Conservancy Preserves

• Biodiversity responses to biofuel cropping systems at Thomson Memorial Prairie
• The effects of trail use on nesting birds in the Baraboo Hills
• Plant and animal inventories across Wisconsin by university labs and classes
• Abiotic resistance to plant invasions in fens of the Waubesa Wetlands
• Monitoring the migration of peregrine falcons and other raptors along the Lake Michigan shoreline
• Characterizing root zone water uptake following floodplain restoration along the Pecatonica River
• Dodecatheon responses to climate change at the Hogback Preserve

Eligibility to Conduct Research
We welcome all researchers to apply. Past researchers have included university professors, undergraduate and graduate students, independent consultants and agency scientists.