The biodiversity data available from this platform may be shared freely for scientific research and other purposes with research institutions and with management agencies of central and state governments responsible for biodiversity and nature conservation. The data are displayed openly in a user-friendly manner so that any users can readily access and use the information. At the same time, our data sharing policies are designed to ensure that: (a) contributors and curators of the research-grade data available on these platforms receive due credit for their contributions, and (b) information on rare, endangered and other vulnerable species may not be accessible to persons who wish to use it for commercial and/or illegal activities that are not in the interest of biodiversity and nature conservation, that violate societal good, or violate India's laws and international agreements. These data-sharing policies are in line with data sharing policies of most research institutions.
Small sections of the biodiversity datasets generated on this citizen science platform may be shared readily at any time. If large-scale data are requested, then chief editors of the websites and/or coordinators from lead institutions should be consulted for collaborative projects, required data citations, terms and conditions of data use, etc. The Indian Foundation for Butterflies Trust serves as steward of the biodiversity data generated on the Biodiversity Atlas - India platform and its associated websites. It is possible that editors/coordinators may request: (a) a specific citation for the source of the data, (b) inclusion of specific data contributors whose contributions or reviewers/editors whose data curation may be critical to the success of the intended work, as collaborators in the project, (c) that a consortium author may be added to the publication to represent the contributor group, e.g., as 'Butterflies of India Consortium' or 'Biodiversity Atlas - India Consortium', so that this citizen science platform and its contributors are credited appropriately for the research-grade data that they provide for broader use, and (d) that specific raw data on the occurrence of rare, endangered and other vulnerable species not be deposited online or shared in a public space where data sharing may further endanger vulnerable species/populations and/or unintentionally aid in unethical/illegal activities such as poaching.
These data policies are within the realm of widely applied policies regarding research ethics pertaining to scientific and collaborative projects and research publications. They have been vetted and approved by practising scientists from prominent research institutions.
Contact us for requests for data sharing and downloads from the Butterflies of India website/mobile app.