Terms of use

Draft notice

Draft — pending legal review. These terms have not yet been reviewed by counsel. The following items are still in square brackets and must be confirmed before this page is final:

• Last updated date: [date]
• Governing law: [governing law — to confirm with counsel]
• Limitation of liability: [limitation of liability — to confirm with counsel]
• Disputes and jurisdiction: [jurisdiction — to confirm with counsel]

1. Who we are and what these terms cover

These terms apply to your use of the GeoSutra website (geosutra.com), the Himalayan Observatory (observatory.geosutra.com) and the GeoSutra Field Android app. They are provided by GeoSutra Pvt. Ltd. (जियोसूत्र प्रा. लि.), registered in Nepal, 2026, Kathmandu, Nepal. Contact: [email protected]. By using these services you agree to these terms. If you do not agree, please do not use them.

2. The services

• Website: information about GeoSutra, free tools, open data, research and an information hub.
• Himalayan Observatory: an environmental-intelligence platform with maps, datasets and analysis for Nepal.
• GeoSutra Field: an Android app that records observations, photos, audio and GPS against project protocols, works offline, and exports evidence with SHA-256 checksums.

3. Accounts

Some parts of the Observatory and the GeoSutra Field app need an account, and accounts are for approved users. The same account works for the Observatory and GeoSutra Field. Keep your login details private, give accurate information, and tell us at [email protected] if you think your account has been used by someone else. You are responsible for what is done under your account.

4. Acceptable use

• Do not try to break, overload or gain unauthorised access to the services, accounts or data.
• Do not use the services to break the law or to harm people, communities or the environment.
• Do not share restricted layers or project data with people who are not meant to see them.
• Do not put false, misleading or deliberately altered records into the services.
• Do not use the services to identify or track individuals, or to reveal sensitive species locations.

5. Data, sources and limits

Maps, datasets and analysis are provided as-is. Each dataset lists its source, method and limitations, and results can be limited by the resolution and quality of the sources. They are not a substitute for professional judgement or field verification, so please check anything important against the primary sources.

GeoSutra does not claim government approval of its data, methods or outputs, and does not claim that its services meet any particular legal or regulatory requirement. Operational forest plans are prepared for approval by the relevant Division Forest Office, not by GeoSutra.

6. Collectors: evidence and consent

If you collect records with GeoSutra Field or upload field data, you are responsible for:

• getting the informed consent of anyone you record or photograph, including for any audio or testimony recording;
• having the permissions you need for the sites and projects you work on;
• the accuracy and honesty of the records you capture, and for where you save or share exported files;
• following the project protocol and respecting community agreements.

See the privacy policy for how the app handles data. You can ask us to delete your account at /delete-account.

7. Content and licences

Open datasets released by GeoSutra are published under CC BY 4.0 unless the dataset page says otherwise; please credit GeoSutra as the dataset citation shows. Data from other open sources keeps the licence of its source and is credited by name and licence. Restricted Observatory layers and project data are available only to the people they were made for. Records you or your organisation collect for a project stay subject to the agreement for that project. The GeoSutra name, logo and the design of the website are not covered by these open licences.

8. Availability and changes

We may change, suspend or stop any part of the services, and we may close accounts that break these terms. We may update these terms and will post the new version here with a new date.

9. Limitation of liability

[limitation of liability — to confirm with counsel]

10. Governing law and disputes

[governing law — to confirm with counsel]

[jurisdiction — to confirm with counsel]

11. Contact

Questions about these terms: [email protected].