Privacy Policy

Last updated: 6 July 2026

1. Introduction

This Privacy Policy explains how the Youth Environmental Association “Zeleni centar” collects, uses, stores and protects personal data relating to users of the Trebjesa BioMap web platform, available at trebjesabiomap.me.

We respect user privacy and process personal data only to the extent necessary to operate the website, communicate with users, implement the project, process field reports and protect the security of the platform.

2. Data Controller

The data controller is:

Youth Environmental Association “Zeleni centar”
Manastirska 21
81400 Nikšić
Montenegro

Email: eumzelenicentar@gmail.com
Phone: +382 69 812 223
Registration/Tax number: 02951304

For questions regarding privacy, data processing or the exercise of your rights, please contact us using the email address above.

3. Scope of This Policy

This Privacy Policy applies to:

• the Trebjesa BioMap website;
• the contact form;
• the species sighting and environmental problem reporting form;
• the interactive BioMap application;
• email communications;
• website analytics, where the user has provided consent;
• other digital features forming part of the platform.

4. Personal Data We May Collect

Depending on how you use the platform, we may collect the following information:

Information You Provide

• first and last name;
• email address;
• telephone number, where voluntarily provided;
• the content of your message or enquiry;
• the name of an organisation or institution;
• photographs and other media;
• a description of a reported sighting or problem;
• the date and time of an observation;
• a location or geographic coordinates;
• a suggested name of a plant or animal species;
• other information you voluntarily enter into a form.

Technical Data

When you use the website, certain technical information may be recorded automatically, including:

• IP address;
• device type;
• operating system;
• internet browser;
• access time;
• pages visited;
• technical error and security logs;
• language and cookie preferences.

Analytics data is collected only where consent is required and the user has provided such consent.

5. Photographs and Location Data

Where you submit a photograph or location through the citizen science form, the information may be used to:

• review and identify the reported sighting;
• assess an environmental problem;
• determine the approximate location;
• communicate with experts or competent authorities;
• improve information about Trebjesa’s biodiversity;
• create anonymous or professionally verified content for the BioMap platform.

Photographs may contain technical metadata, including device and location information. Where such information is not required, it may be removed or restricted before public display.

The precise locations of sensitive, rare or protected species may be hidden, generalised or made available only to the expert team in order to protect the species and its habitat.

6. Purposes of Processing

We may process personal data for the following purposes:

• responding to contact enquiries;
• providing requested information;
• processing species sightings and environmental problem reports;
• professional verification of submitted information;
• communicating with the person who submitted a report;
• forwarding a relevant report to experts or competent authorities;
• preventing abuse and spam;
• maintaining the security and stability of the platform;
• improving content and user experience;
• maintaining project and administrative records;
• complying with legal and contractual obligations;
• producing anonymous statistics on platform use;
• publishing professionally verified findings where an appropriate legal basis exists.

7. Legal Bases for Processing

Personal data may be processed on one or more of the following grounds:

• your consent, where expressly requested;
• taking steps at your request, such as responding to an enquiry;
• our legitimate interest in operating the platform, protecting its security, responding to users and carrying out environmental and educational activities;
• compliance with legal obligations;
• protection of vital interests in situations of immediate danger, where such processing is permitted.

You may withdraw your consent at any time. Withdrawal does not affect the lawfulness of processing carried out before consent was withdrawn.

8. Citizen Science and Expert Verification

Information submitted through the reporting form is not automatically considered scientifically verified and is not automatically published.

Reports may be:

• reviewed by the administrative team;
• forwarded to a biologist or another expert;
• forwarded to a competent authority or service;
• marked as verified, incomplete, unreliable or irrelevant;
• archived without public display.

The contact details of the person submitting a report will not be published.

The name of a photographer or observer may be published only where the user has provided the appropriate permission.

9. Sharing of Personal Data

We may share personal data only where necessary and justified, with:

• engaged experts;
• technical contractors and hosting providers;
• email service providers;
• competent institutions and public services;
• partners involved in professional verification;
• analytics or media service providers, where the required consent has been provided;
• public authorities where disclosure is required by law.

Parties processing data on our behalf are required to use it only for the agreed purpose and to apply appropriate safeguards.

We do not sell or rent personal data.

10. Third-Party Services

The website may contain third-party content or services, including:

• video content;
• interactive maps;
• analytics tools;
• social media content;
• anti-spam protection;
• links to external media portals.

Optional services that may place cookies or collect data are activated in accordance with your cookie preferences where consent is required.

Third parties may apply their own privacy policies, over which we have no direct control.

11. International Data Transfers

Some providers of technical, hosting, analytics or media services may process data outside Montenegro.

Where personal data is transferred to another country, we will seek to ensure that appropriate legal, contractual and technical safeguards are in place.

12. Data Retention

We retain personal data only for as long as necessary for the purpose for which it was collected.

Our general retention criteria include:

• contact enquiries — until the communication is completed and for no longer than 24 months after the last relevant communication;
• contact details contained in reports — for the duration of the review process and for no longer than 24 months after its completion, unless longer retention is justified;
• professionally verified and anonymised biodiversity and location data — for as long as it remains relevant for educational, environmental, research and project purposes;
• security and technical logs — for the period necessary to protect the system and resolve technical issues;
• records of cookie consent — for the period necessary to demonstrate the user’s choice;
• data required to be retained by law — for the applicable statutory period.

After the relevant retention period, data will be deleted, anonymised or permanently separated from information that can identify an individual.

13. Your Rights

Subject to applicable law, you may request:

• confirmation as to whether we process your data;
• access to your personal data;
• correction of inaccurate or incomplete data;
• deletion of personal data;
• restriction of processing;
• objection to processing;
• withdrawal of consent;
• data portability, where applicable;
• information about recipients of your data;
• the right to lodge a complaint with the competent data protection authority.

To exercise your rights, contact:

eumzelenicentar@gmail.com

To protect your information, we may request reasonable proof of identity before acting on a request.

You also have the right to contact the Agency for Personal Data Protection and Free Access to Information of Montenegro.

14. Children’s Data

The platform is intended for the general public, including students and young people participating in educational activities.

Minors should submit contact details, photographs or locations with the knowledge and supervision of a parent, guardian, teacher or another responsible adult.

We do not knowingly collect personal data from minors that is not required for the activities of the platform.

15. Data Security

We apply reasonable technical and organisational measures to protect personal data against:

• unauthorised access;
• loss;
• misuse;
• alteration;
• unauthorised disclosure;
• destruction;
• other forms of unlawful processing.

However, no method of online transmission or storage can be completely free of risk.

16. External Links

The website may contain links to other websites, institutions, media outlets and social networks.

We are not responsible for the content, availability or privacy practices of external websites. We recommend reviewing their privacy policies before submitting personal information.

17. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy to reflect changes to the platform, services used or applicable law.

The date of the latest update will appear at the top of this page.

18. Contact

For privacy-related questions, requests or complaints, contact:

Youth Environmental Association “Zeleni centar”
Manastirska 21, 81400 Nikšić, Montenegro
Email: eumzelenicentar@gmail.com
Phone: +382 69 812 223