Terms of Service

Welcome to The Bat Co Lab website. By using this site, you agree to be bound by the following Terms of Use. If you do not agree, please do not use our site.

1. About The Bat Co Lab

The Bat Co Lab is a New Zealand-based platform that operates with two main functions:

  • Professional Consultancy: Offering bat ecology expertise and environmental services to clients including NGOs, councils, iwi, and businesses.

  • National Bat Survey Programme: Enabling professionals and members of the public to participate in bat monitoring using standardised bat detectors, digital access "Bat Packs" and protocols.

All data collected through The Bat Co Lab contributes to national-scale bat conservation efforts and may support research, education, and environmental outcomes.

2. Permitted Use

You may use this website and associated tools only for lawful and authorised purposes. Specifically:

a. Consultancy Clients & Professional Ecologists

If you are a registered client or participating ecologist:

  • You may only access, analyse, and interpret data that you personally collect using The Bat Co Lab’s issued Bat Pack, detectors and related protocols.

  • You may not use, reuse, copy, publish, or distribute data collected by others or aggregate-level survey insights without explicit written permission from The Bat Co Lab.

  • Any ecological conclusions, reports, or outputs derived from Bat Co Lab data must cite the source and remain within the agreed consultancy or survey framework.

b. Survey Participants (Public or Partnered)

  • Participation in the national survey is contingent upon following the protocols, registration process, and using the official Bat Pack equipment.

  • Public or professional participants are not permitted to conduct surveys or submit data outside of The Bat Co Lab’s systems or protocols.

3. Exclusive Access & Restrictions

  • All access to New Zealand bat survey activities and data is coordinated exclusively through The Bat Co Lab. Users may not circumvent this system by attempting to engage directly with partner organisations, including the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO), in relation to the NZ survey infrastructure or associated data.

  • Any attempt to bypass The Bat Co Lab to obtain data, tools, or survey access (e.g. contacting BTO or data system partners independently) is considered a breach of these terms and may result in termination of your participation and access.

4. User Contributions

If you submit data, observations, or other content through our platform:

  • You affirm that the content is accurate, complete, and submitted in good faith.

  • You grant The Bat Co Lab a non-exclusive, royalty-free, perpetual licence to use, reproduce, display, and distribute the content for conservation, research, reporting, and public education purposes.

5. Intellectual Property

All content on this website—including maps, protocols, branding, survey forms, and analysis tools—is owned by or licensed to The Bat Co Lab and may not be copied, modified, or redistributed without permission.

Your access to our content and data does not transfer any ownership or rights.

6. Liability & Disclaimer

The Bat Co Lab strives to provide accurate and timely information. However, we:

  • Do not guarantee uninterrupted or error-free service.

  • Accept no liability for any loss or damage arising from the use or inability to use our site, data, or services.

A. Scientific Accuracy

We make every effort to ensure that the scientific content on this website (including bat ecology information, survey methods, and data summaries) is accurate and up-to-date. However, science evolves, and information may change over time.

We do not guarantee that all content is error-free or suitable for every use case, and we are not responsible for how users apply or interpret information presented.

If you require scientific advice for regulatory, academic, or consultancy purposes, we recommend engaging us in a consulting capacity.

B. DIY Detector Setup & Use

Guides and materials relating to bat detector setup, fieldwork participation, and sound analysis are intended to support citizen science efforts and basic learning.

Participants use detectors and interpret results at their own risk. The Bat Co Lab is not responsible for:

  • Misinterpretation of acoustic recordings

  • Improper equipment use or technical failures

  • Any outcomes resulting from fieldwork undertaken independently

If unsure, users should seek guidance from us directly or consult a trained expert.

C. Environmental & Ecological Advice

Any environmental tips, land-use suggestions, or biodiversity-related content shared on this website or via events, emails, or social channels is not a substitute for professional environmental consultancy.

We encourage landowners, councils, or planners to engage us in a consultant capacity before making decisions that may affect protected species or habitats.

D. External Platforms & Tools

Our website may link to, or integrate with, third-party platforms, such as the British Trust for Ornithology’s survey tools or data dashboards. We are not responsible for the accuracy, functionality, or privacy practices of these external services.

Always consult their individual disclaimers, terms of use, and policies.

E. Liability

To the fullest extent permitted by law, The Bat Co Lab accepts no liability for loss, damage, or harm resulting from your reliance on content, use of our tools, participation in surveys, or application of DIY techniques.

7. Changes to These Terms

We may update these Terms of Use from time to time. Continued use of our website after changes are published constitutes your acceptance of the revised terms.

8. Contact

For questions about these terms, email us at:
hello@thebatcolab.co.nz