Data Use Terms and Conditions

• Montana Natural Heritage Program (MTNHP) products and services are based on biological data and the objective interpretation of those data by professional scientists.  MTNHP does not advocate any particular philosophy of natural resource protection, management, development, or public policy.


• MTNHP has no natural resource management or regulatory authority.  Products, statements, and services from MTNHP are intended to inform parties as to the state of scientific knowledge about certain natural resources, and to further develop that knowledge.  The information is not intended as natural resource management guidelines or prescriptions or a determination of environmental impacts.  MTNHP recommends consultation with appropriate state, federal, and tribal resource management agencies and authorities in the area where your project is located.


• Information on the status and spatial distribution of biological resources produced by MTNHP are intended to inform parties of the state-wide status, known occurrence, or the likelihood of the presence of those resources.  These products are not intended to substitute for field-collected data, nor are they intended to be the sole basis for natural resource management decisions.


• MTNHP does not portray its data as exhaustive or comprehensive inventories of rare species or biological communities.  Field verification of the absence or presence of sensitive species and biological communities will always be an important obligation of users of our data.


• MTNHP responds equally to all requests for products and services, regardless of the purpose or identity of the requester.


• Because MTNHP constantly updates and revises its databases with new data and information, products will become outdated over time.  Interested parties are encouraged to obtain the most current information possible from MTNHP, rather than using older products.  We add, delete, and change records on a daily basis.  Consequently, we strongly advise that you update your MTNHP data sets at a minimum of every four months for most applications of our information.


• MTNHP data require a certain degree of biological expertise for proper analysis, interpretation, and application.  Our staff is available to advise you on questions regarding the interpretation or appropriate use of the data that we provide.  Contact information for MTNHP staff is posted at: mtnhp.org/contact.asp


• The information provided to you by MTNHP may include sensitive data that if publicly released might jeopardize the welfare of threatened, endangered, or sensitive species or biological communities.  This information is intended for distribution or use only within your department, agency, or business.  Subcontractors may have access to the data during the course of any given project, but should not be given a copy for their use on subsequent, unrelated work.


• MTNHP data are made freely available.  Duplication of hard-copy or digital MTNHP products with the intent to sell is prohibited without written consent by MTNHP.  Should you be asked by individuals outside your organization for the type of data that we provide, please refer them to MTNHP.


• MTNHP and appropriate staff members should be appropriately acknowledged as an information source in any third-party product involving MTNHP data, reports, papers, publications, or in maps that incorporate MTNHP graphic elements.


• Sources of our data include museum specimens, published and unpublished scientific literature, field surveys by state and federal agencies and private contractors, and reports from knowledgeable individuals.  MTNHP actively solicits and encourages additions, corrections and updates, new observations or collections, and comments on any of the data we provide.


• MTNHP staff and contractors do not cross or survey privately-owned lands without express permission from the landowner.  However, the program cannot guarantee that information provided to us by others was obtained under adherence to this policy.