RINHS Data License Information
Comprehensive collection and management of data related to Rhode Island’s animals, plants, and natural communities has been central to the mission of the Rhode Island Natural History Survey since its founding in 1994. The Rhode Island Natural History Survey now operates the largest general database of Rhode Island biota available and is widely recognized as the authoritative source for information on spatial distribution and abundance of animals, plants, invasive species, and natural communities in Rhode Island. RINHS is recognized by NatureServe as the principal node in the NatureServe Network for the jurisdiction of the State of Rhode Island.
Between 2002 and 2005, RINHS incorporated all data from the Rhode Island Natural Heritage Program on rare and endangered animals, plants, and communities into its data management system, making substantial improvements in the organization, accessibility, and quality control of these Heritage data. RINHS converted a substantial backlog of Heritage Program data into electronic form. RINHS continues to improve its database by incorporating new field data, historical citations, and supplemental scientific information.
Website visitors have free access to considerable data; however, RINHS charges fees at an hourly rate of $75 to parties requesting custom reports from the databases. There is no fee for use of data on the website or for initial inquiries about custom reports.
Data are delivered electronically as a table or GIS overlay. Other report formats (e.g. poster size maps) may include media and postage charges. Complicated requests requiring substantial programming or custom report formats or products are available: ask about pricing. Fees may be discounted for non-profit organizations, organizational members of the Rhode Island Natural History Survey, and personal, non-professional use by individuals. Typically, fees cannot be discounted below $75/hour for the labor involved in making the requested report.
RINHS holds the copyright to its databases. Because data is continually being added to the databases, data provided by the RINHS is licensed for one-year. Data updates and license renewals after one year are considered on a case by case basis. Additional fees will apply. The RINHS data license fee does not include the right to republish data in substantially the same form or to publish verbatim text from RINHS databases. These rights may be purchased on a different basis depending on the rights requested. Contact RINHS for further information.
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