The CSCF manages data of different origins :

- originating from other data bases ( partial or integral copies of data base deposited at the CSCF, but built, administrated and updated by other institutions, p.e. bats, reptiles-amphibians)

- museographic data (collected during special projects or received from museums)

- field observations received from permanent or occasional collaborators (individuals or legal entities)

- bibliographic data (this source of data is difficult to check and will therefore be gradually abandoned)

Field observation given to the CSCF by a third party (individual or legal entity) are confidential. The CSCF commits itself to neither publish nor distribute part of or complete catalogues of such raw data without the explicit agreement of the party concerned. However, the CSCF reserves the right to use this data without notice within the following limits :

- comparative studies of species distribution belonging to different taxa for zoogeographic or eco-faunistic synthesis

- peridodic updating of atlas and catalogues for new editions

- external inquiries concerning threatened species or sites

-help for our permanent collaborators or volunteers in context with one or more national inventories

- participation in national or international synthetic research in zoogeography, species protection and protection of valuable sites.

Recent museographic data (less than 20 years) in our databank are treated as field observations and inquiries concerning these data will thus be ruled by the same conditions.

Bibliographic data compiled by the CSCF are public property.

In general (except special agreements) the CSCF does not carry out appraisals on data from databanks of which we are only the guardian. Such appraisals must be requested directly at the institutions concerned (bats, reptiles-amphibians).

The CSCF owns a huge amount of data. We can provide the following information :

- complete or partial lists of raw data (with or without secret data) per station, habitat or small surface unit (smallest resolution 2 x 2 km² ) and corresponding maps

- species lists per medium surface unit (resolution larger than 5 x 5 km² )

- species lists per commune, canton or faunistic area

- potential species lists per type of habitat according to a specific faunistic area

- appraisal and analysis combined according to part or all of the taxa treated

- thematic files (on paper or on floppy disk) : systematic lists, localities per km² and per biogeographic region, regional, cantonal and national distribution maps …

The following chart summarizes the applied principles and the limits of the use of delivered data.

Captions :

Services :

DBS : complete catalogue of raw data, with secret data

DB : Complete catalogue of raw data (without secret data) per station or per small surface unit

CPF : catalogue of data summarized per station or per small surface unit, corresponding maps

CPM : catalogue of data summarized per medium surface unit, corresponding maps

CPG : faunal lists per area, canton or habitat

ANA : summarized analysis per station or any surface unit

DBI : bibliographical data and old data (+20 years)

AUT : other services

Confidentiality, operational limits :

C1: no publication of data; no information flow towards other individuals or institutions; in case of use in a confidential study, the agreement of the observer must be obtained and his name must be mentioned; copyright must be mentioned (© CSCF/SZKF Neuchâtel)

C2: data can be used in publications; data cannot be passed on to a third party; in case of publication, the agreement of the observer must be obtained and his name must be mentioned; copyright must be mentioned (© CSCF/SZKF Neuchâtel)

C3: large use of data possible but copyright must be mentioned (© CSCF/SZKF Neuchâtel); data cannot be passed on to a third party

C4: free access to data, no limitation of use

POTENTIAL USER / SERVICES	DBS	DB	CPF	CPG	CPM	ANA	DBI	AUT	FAC
Members of the foundation, and supporting members
Confederation (general data)	---	C1	C1	C2	C3	C3	C3	C4	-
Pro Natura (selected data)	---	C1	C1	C2	C3	C3	C3	C4	-
Cantons (cantonal data)	---	C1	C1	C2	C3	C3	C3	C4	-
Other public institutions
Cantons (cantonal data)	---	C1	C1	C2	C3	C3	C3	C4	+
Communes (communal data)	---	C1	C1	---	---	C3	C3	C4	+
Private institutions (selected data)
Private agency	---	---	---	C2	C3	C3	C3	C4	+
Nature conservancy organization	---	---	---	C2	C3	C3	C3	C4	+
International institution	---	---	---	---	C3	---	---	C4	-
Private person or legal entity
Observator (own data)	C4	C4	C4	C4	C4	C4	C4	C4	-
director of project (per project)	C1	C1	C1	C2	C3	C3	C3	C4	-
internal collaborator (general data)	C1	C1	C1	C2	C3	C3	C3	---	-
Permanent collaborator (per species / area)	---	C1	C1	C2	C3	C3	C3	C4	-
Scientist / specialists (per taxa)	---	C1	C1	C2	C3	C3	C3	C4	-
occasional collaborator	---	---	---	---	C3	---	---	C4	+
Amateur / private person	---	---	---	---	C3	---	---	C4	+

Column FAC in above chart shows institutions, persons and moral entities who will be invoiced for our information. Bilateral agreements can be worked out (annual subsidy).

In accordance with our statutes and our code of ethics, we are commited to :

- deliver information as desired on the distribution of rare or endangered species, on the value of certain habitats or on the invertebrate population of specific environments to institutions who subsidize us

- deliver similar information to any other institution engaged in special projects of species or habitat protection

- deliver information as requested to Swiss or foreign specialists of taxa we have in our database and to our permanent collaborators

- help as far as possible any specialist interested by our activities to publish catalogues or distribution atlas of taxa not yet treated or in need of revision.

- help volunteer naturalists interested by our activities to exploit their field observations. This technical assistance will be given to our permanent collaborators and to any person who will give us new faunistic data.