The extension and/or update of the registry of timber flora trading companies is the procedure before the National Council of Protected Areas (CONAP) that every registered company must complete annually to keep its authorization current to trade and export timber under the Guatemalan System of Protected Areas (SIGAP) regulations. The goal of an updated registry is to guarantee control over activities inside protected areas and over species regulated nationally and internationally.
Quick summary: CONAP procedure that is free (Q0), 30 business days. Mandatory annual renewal for every timber flora trading company. Result: Update of the registry that allows the company to keep operating legally in domestic and international trade. Applies to both individuals and corporations.
Who Needs This Procedure
The extension/update is mandatory for:
- Timber flora exporters already registered with CONAP that need to keep their registry current annually.
- Individuals or corporations trading regulated timber flora species inside or outside the country.
- Companies expanding their scope — adding new species, modalities (import/export), warehouses or branches.
- Companies with changes to legal representative, business name, fiscal address or shareholding.
It does not apply to those never registered with CONAP — that is a different procedure (initial registration). It also does not directly apply to companies whose only activity is wood from forestry plantations registered at INAB, which have a different primary regulator.
Cost & Time
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Official cost | Free (Q0) |
| Resolution time | 30 business days |
| Result | Registry update |
| Validity | 1 year (mandatory annual renewal) |
| Modality | In person (physical file submission) |
CONAP charges no administrative fee. The only associated costs are notarial (legal representative appointment deed, mercantile registry certifications) and administrative costs of certified photocopies.
Requirements
According to the official tramites.gob.gt catalog, the requirements are:
a) Registration application form for individuals or corporations engaged in the trade of timber flora at the national and international level, duly completed, signed and stamped by the owner or legal representative.
b) Letter of application for extension and/or update for individuals or corporations trading wild flora and fauna at the national and international level, signed and stamped by the owner or legal representative of the company.
c) Copy of the certification evidencing prior registration as a trading company before CONAP, issued by the Wildlife Department of CONAP.
d) Copy of the notarial deed evidencing the legal representative’s current appointment, duly registered.
e) Copy of the Personal Identification Document (DPI) of the owner or legal representative.
f) Documentation evidencing the data subject of the registry extension (new species, modalities, warehouses, etc.).
Note: For exporters, CONAP usually also asks for the updated Unified Tax Registry and the list of traded species with their CITES codes when applicable.
Procedure Steps
- Verify current registration — confirm prior registration with the Wildlife Department of CONAP and download the official form.
- Fill out forms — complete the application form and the extension/update letter according to the nature of the change.
- Gather documents — DPI, current notarial deed of the legal representative, prior certification, support of the data to be updated.
- File submission — deliver the complete physical file at CONAP central offices or at an authorized regional office.
- Technical review — the Wildlife Department reviews documentation, checks consistency with SIGAP databases and, where applicable, CITES.
- Resolution / registry update — in approximately 30 business days CONAP issues the updated registry.
- Document pickup — the company picks up the updated certificate, required by customs and the Ministry of Agriculture to authorize shipments.
How to Apply
CONAP has not published an official online portal for this application, so the process is conducted in person at the Wildlife Department offices. The main address and hours are published at conap.gob.gt.
Before starting this procedure, make sure you have current:
- Your mercantile registration and, if not yet incorporated, complete first the company registration.
- Your NIT and the CUI-NIT linkage verification.
- Your Unified Tax Registry (RTU) updated at SAT.
For parallel procedures related to use or hunting of fauna in protected areas, see the CONAP hunting license replacement and CONAP hunting license renewal guides.
Common Mistakes That Delay the Procedure
- Expired notarial deed — the legal representative’s appointment must be current and properly registered with the Mercantile Registry or the corresponding registry.
- List of species without CITES codes — for CITES-regulated species, CONAP requires the current international code.
- Insufficient supporting documents for extensions (e.g., new warehouses without municipal license, new species without harvesting permit).
- Expired DPI of the legal representative — check the expiration date before filing the file.
- Omitting the prior registration certificate — without the previous certificate issued by CONAP, the office will not process the update.
Frequently Asked Questions
“What happens if I let the annual registry expire?”
The company loses the authorization to trade and export timber flora until it regularizes. Pending shipments can be held at customs and, in repeat cases, CONAP can initiate sanctioning proceedings.
“Does it apply only to exporters or also to domestic trade?”
It applies to domestic and international trade of regulated species. Domestic trade also requires CONAP registration when involving SIGAP species or species regulated by CITES.
“Which species are regulated?”
Those listed in the CITES appendices and in the SIGAP threatened-species lists. CONAP publishes the current list on its portal and updates it periodically. Common species like mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla) and cedar (Cedrela odorata) are regulated.
“Can an individual register, or is a company required?”
Both individuals and corporations can register. Individuals submit DPI and their own NIT; corporations submit the deed of incorporation and current legal representative appointment.
“Is this procedure CITES too?”
No. The CONAP registry is a local requirement. CITES certificates for international shipments are different procedures, also processed at CONAP (Guatemala’s CITES authority) per shipment or per periodic permit.
“Can I file from abroad?”
If you are the legal representative and live outside Guatemala, you can grant a notarized special power of attorney at a Guatemalan consulate so that an attorney-in-fact can file. Signatures on the form and the application letter must be authenticated.
Related CONAP Procedures
- CONAP Hunting License Replacement — for sport licenses related to wild fauna.
- CONAP Hunting License Renewal — annual renewal.