NatureServe Network

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NatureServe Policy for Acceptable Uses of Network Data

The following section defines the ways NatureServe staff can use Network Program data (including, but not limited to, use of Element Occurrences (EOs), Source Features, and Observations) shared with NatureServe, as well as products derived from Network Program data (including, but not limited to, species habitat models, range maps, ecological system data, analyses, and other derived products). These “acceptable uses of Network data” are guided by terms outlined in the Data Sharing Agreements in place between most Network Programs and NatureServe, and data sharing rules documented by Network Programs in the Data Provider Portal. They encompass both acceptable external uses of Network data, including with external partners, and acceptable internal uses.

“Internal” means NatureServe staff. “External” refers to sharing of Network Program data with other Network Programs or third parties. Specific guidance related to acceptable external uses of Network data and acceptable internal uses of Network data are outlined below.

Acceptable External Uses of Network Program Data

The following are allowable external uses of Network Program data as defined in NatureServe’s standard licensing agreement. Written permission by Network Programs is not required for:

  1. Data Defined as Public in the Data Provider Portal.  
  2. General Data Use: Use of Network Program data to generate general (non-precise) maps, statistics, or statements is allowable as long as the external product does not present the data in a way that will compromise any species, habitat, or ecosystem. 
  3. Groups of Species: Images that include the precise mapped locations or precise model outputs for Level 2 groups of species can be shared externally at any scale or precision (see list of Level 2 groups below). If NatureServe requires reporting on species groups not included on this list, we will contact Network Programs.

LEVEL_2

  • Vertebrates 
  • Mussels, Snails, & Other Mollusks
  • Crayfish, Shrimp, & Other Crustaceans
  • Insects - Bees
  • Insects - Beetles
  • Insects - Butterflies and Moths
  • Insects - Caddisflies, Mayflies, and Stoneflies
  • Insects - Damselflies and Dragonflies
  • Insects - Flies
  • Other Invertebrates - Terrestrial/Freshwater
  • Invertebrates - Marine
  • Vascular Plants - Ferns and relatives
  • Vascular Plants - Conifers and relatives
  • Vascular Plants - Flowering Plants
  • Nonvascular Plants
  1. Images of Single Species/Natural Communities:
    1. Images that include the precise mapped locations or precise model outputs for a single species, or natural community, can be shared externally at a fixed scale of 1:5,000,000 or coarser scale. If the scientific and common names, and other identifying information (e.g., species type) for the species, are excluded from the image it can be shared externally at any scale.
    2. Images of maps that display presence/absence of individual species or natural community at the scales of U.S. County, 8-digit Hydrologic Units, or any type of grid cell unit larger than or equal to a 343 square mile area, can be shared externally. Exception would be species excluded from being shared at a 343 square mile area in the Data Provider Portal.
  2. Any external uses that do not fall into the “allowable external” uses defined above require written permission or notification (as determined by Network Programs).

Allowable Internal Uses of Network Program Data

Below are allowable ways for NatureServe to use EO/Observation data internally.

  1. Conservation Rank Evaluations

NatureServe Science staff regularly review EO/Observation data in central Biotics when reviewing/updating Global Conservation Status Ranks, including through use of the Rank Review tool.

  1. Species Habitat Models & Range Maps

NatureServe staff may use EO/Observation data contained in central Biotics to internally set up, run, and review species habitat models and create range maps. Any external sharing of EO/Observation as part of the development and review of species habitat models or range maps must comply with data sharing rules defined by Network Programs in the Data Provider Portal.

In the case of externally sharing species habitat models, if the Data Provider Portal rules for a jurisdiction prohibit NatureServe from sharing the full precise model, the modeling team will request written permission from the jurisdiction, re-run the model without EO data from that jurisdiction, or clip out the portion of the model that occurs in that jurisdiction.

  1. Ecosystem/habitat data

NatureServe Science staff may utilize community EOs that are contained in the central Biotics system to label them to standard classification concepts and combine those with other observations to nationally map distributions of the standard classification concepts, upgrade our IVC Granks, refine and standardize EORANK criteria, and help build ecoregional distribution maps. The primary use of species EO data is for overlays with mapped ecosystem distributions to help document habitat relationships.

  1. Other EO derived products or analyses 

NatureServe staff may use EO/Observation in other types of analyses including in estimating fees that require knowing percentage of EOs being requested, and other internal analyses that inform assessments, statistics, or reports.

Enforcement of External Use Data Licensing Terms

To further protect Network Program precise/sensitive data, NatureServe will adhere to the following policies and procedures. 

NatureServe will: 

  1. Always provide precise/sensitive NatureServe Data under a data license agreement and include data use terms defined in the data license template linked above. 
  2. Ensure all users of precise/sensitive EO data complete NatureServe’s online Data Use Training that includes an overview of data, appropriate data uses, and information about the proprietary and sensitive nature of NatureServe nonpublic/precise NatureServe Data. 
  3. Notify NatureServe Network Programs and take action to address all instances where NatureServe becomes aware that a Data user has breached the terms of a data licensing agreement, up to and including recovery of damages and termination of the data license.  
  4. Prior to expiration of a data license agreement, contact the Data user to ensure that its license agreement is extended, or work with the Data user to ensure Data are deleted from their local systems once the license expires.