Data Stewardship & Confidentiality Policy

Purpose

Wildlife Conservation Systems, LLC (“WCS”) recognizes that effective wildlife management, conservation, research, monitoring, and conflict mitigation often require access to sensitive information regarding wildlife, private property, agricultural operations, government projects, and natural resources.

The trust placed in us by our clients is fundamental to our mission. WCS is committed to responsible data stewardship, rigorous confidentiality practices, and the protection of sensitive information entrusted to our care.

This policy describes how WCS collects, manages, stores, uses, protects, and discloses project-related information.

Our Commitment

WCS believes that the responsible management of information is essential to conservation, land stewardship, scientific integrity, public trust, and client success.

Unless otherwise authorized or required by law, WCS will treat sensitive client information as confidential and will take reasonable measures to prevent unauthorized access, disclosure, distribution, or misuse.

Information Covered by This Policy

This policy applies to information collected, generated, maintained, analyzed, or stored by WCS in connection with its services, including but not limited to:

Confidentiality of Sensitive Wildlife Information

WCS recognizes that wildlife location information can create risks for wildlife, landowners, research programs, conservation objectives, agricultural operations, and public safety.

Accordingly, WCS will not disclose, provide, publish, distribute, discuss, identify, explain, indicate, infer, confirm, verify, display, map, or otherwise communicate sensitive wildlife information to unauthorized individuals or organizations without prior written authorization from the client or the client’s authorized representative.

This protection applies to information including, but not limited to:

• Exact coordinates
• Approximate coordinates
• GPS locations
• Capture methods
• Capture locations
• Release locations
• Post-release outcomes
• Animal movement patterns
• Collar locations
• Telemetry locations
• Individual animal identification
• Ear tag information
• Collar identification numbers
• Identifying physical characteristics
• Sex
• Age class
• Reproductive status
• Pregnancy status
• Presence of offspring
• Denning locations
• Nesting locations
• Roosting locations
• Bedding locations
• Travel corridors
• Seasonal concentration areas
• Sensitive habitat locations
• Monitoring schedules
• Survey locations
• Camera locations
• Monitoring equipment locations

WCS will not disclose such information through verbal communication, written communication, reports, maps, presentations, photographs, metadata, GIS products, digital platforms, social media, websites, public presentations, or any other medium unless expressly authorized.

Client Ownership of Project Information

Unless otherwise specified by contract, clients retain ownership of information they provide to WCS.

Project-specific information generated through WCS services shall be governed by the applicable service agreement, contract, statement of work, memorandum of understanding, permit condition, or other governing document.

Nothing in this policy shall be construed as transferring ownership of client information to WCS.

Internal Access Controls

Access to sensitive information shall be limited to personnel, subcontractors, consultants, and project partners who have a legitimate business need to access such information for authorized project purposes.

WCS will seek to apply the principle of least necessary access whenever practicable.

Use of Photographs, Video, and Project Materials

WCS will not use client-specific photographs, videos, maps, project details, wildlife observations, or property information for marketing, promotional, educational, or public-relations purposes without appropriate authorization.

Where authorization is granted, WCS may redact, anonymize, generalize, or otherwise remove identifying information to protect sensitive resources and client interests.

Sensitive Species and Conservation Data

WCS recognizes that disclosure of information regarding sensitive, threatened, endangered, rare, or otherwise vulnerable species may increase risks including harassment, disturbance, unlawful take, habitat degradation, poaching, unauthorized collection, or interference with ongoing management efforts.

Accordingly, WCS may apply additional protections to such information even when not explicitly required by law or contract.

Legal and Regulatory Exceptions

WCS may disclose information when disclosure is:

• Required by law
• Required by court order
• Required by subpoena
• Required by permit conditions
• Required by contractual obligations
• Required by lawful governmental authority
• Necessary to protect human life or public safety
• Authorized in writing by the client

When legally permissible, WCS will make reasonable efforts to notify affected clients before such disclosure occurs.

Data Security

WCS employs reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards designed to protect information from unauthorized access, loss, misuse, alteration, or disclosure.

While no system can guarantee absolute security, WCS is committed to continuously improving its data management and security practices.

Scientific Integrity

WCS is committed to maintaining the integrity of scientific information while balancing legitimate confidentiality concerns.

The protection of sensitive information shall not be interpreted as permission to alter, fabricate, misrepresent, or conceal scientific findings. Confidentiality protects access to information, not the accuracy of the information itself.

Questions Regarding Data Stewardship

Questions regarding data stewardship, confidentiality practices, or information-sharing requests may be directed to: