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Pathanga/Data contribution
Plate A

Data
contribution

EMPRI · Karnataka

Pathanga is a citizen science platform developed and maintained by the Environmental Management & Policy Research Institute (EMPRI), Government of Karnataka, to facilitate the collection, documentation, monitoring and dissemination of butterfly observations and associated biodiversity information.

§ 00

About this statement

The platform enables citizens, researchers, students, educational institutions, naturalists, government agencies and conservation organisations to voluntarily contribute biodiversity observations for scientific research, conservation planning, environmental education and climate change studies.

By registering, accessing or using the Pathanga mobile application or website, users agree to the terms outlined in this Data Contribution, Privacy and Terms of Use Statement — set out across this page, Privacy and Terms of Use.

§ 01

Purpose of data collection

The primary objectives of Pathanga are to:

  • document butterfly diversity and distribution
  • monitor seasonal and long-term changes in butterfly populations
  • support biodiversity conservation and habitat restoration
  • facilitate climate change impact assessments
  • support ecological research
  • promote citizen science participation
  • strengthen environmental awareness and education
  • assist government agencies in biodiversity planning and policy development
§ 02

Data contribution

Registered users may voluntarily contribute:

  • butterfly photographs
  • observations of butterfly behaviour
  • life stage observations
  • host plant information
  • nectar plant information
  • habitat information
  • weather observations
  • additional notes

Users are encouraged to upload additional observations supported by photographs wherever possible.

§ 03

AI-assisted species identification

Pathanga may provide Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based species identification to assist users.

AI-generated identifications are intended only as preliminary suggestions and should not be considered taxonomically definitive.

Final verification may be performed by:

  • subject experts
  • moderators
  • authorised reviewers

EMPRI does not guarantee 100% identification accuracy.

§ 04

Ownership of contributed data

Photographs uploaded by contributors remain the intellectual property of the respective contributors.

By uploading photographs and associated biodiversity observations, contributors grant EMPRI a non-exclusive, royalty-free, perpetual licence to store, display, analyse, publish, archive, reproduce and use the submitted observations for:

  • biodiversity monitoring
  • scientific research
  • climate change studies
  • conservation planning
  • environmental education
  • awareness programmes
  • government reports
  • policy formulation
  • academic publications
  • non-commercial outreach activities

Ownership of photographs is not transferred to EMPRI.

§ 05

Data sharing

Individual observations may be shared with:

  • Government of Karnataka departments
  • Forest Department
  • Karnataka Biodiversity Board
  • educational institutions
  • research organisations
  • universities
  • conservation organisations
  • biodiversity authorities
  • national biodiversity databases

Data may also be integrated into:

  • biodiversity atlases
  • scientific publications
  • environmental assessments
  • climate vulnerability assessments
  • conservation prioritisation exercises

Personal information of contributors will not be shared except where required by law or with explicit consent.

§ 06

Data quality

Contributors are responsible for ensuring that submitted observations are accurate to the best of their knowledge.

EMPRI reserves the right to:

  • review observations
  • edit obvious errors
  • reject improper submissions
  • remove misleading information
  • remove duplicate records
§ 07

Research and publications

Compiled datasets generated through Pathanga may be used for:

  • scientific publications
  • technical reports
  • government publications
  • climate change research
  • biodiversity assessments
  • environmental planning
  • educational material
  • conservation programmes

Where practicable, contributors will be acknowledged. However, due to the large volume of observations, individual acknowledgement may not always be possible.

§ 08

Citizen science contributions

All contributions are voluntary.

By contributing observations, users acknowledge that:

  • observations become part of a larger citizen science database
  • aggregated datasets may be analysed without seeking individual permission for every study
  • data may contribute to scientific discoveries and conservation actions
§ 09

Contact

Pathanga Support
Environmental Management & Policy Research Institute (EMPRI)
Department of Forest, Ecology and Environment
Government of Karnataka
pathangaempri@gmail.com

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