Last updated: 17 June 2026 • Applies to the NaturalistTripper Android application (package com.naturetools.naturalisttripper).
NaturalistTripper (“the app”, “we”, “us”) is published by Nature Tools. The app helps naturalists, educators, conservationists, and everyday explorers plan field trips and explore community-science observation data. We designed it to be privacy-respecting: there is no Nature Tools account, no backend server that stores your data, no advertising, and no analytics or tracking SDKs. This policy explains what data the app handles, what it sends to third-party services to function, and how it is protected.
Summary
- No account and no backend. Your saved plans, trips, wantlist, places, and settings stay on your device.
- No ads, no analytics or tracking SDKs. We do not build advertising profiles or sell data.
- Location is used only when you ask for it (by tapping the current-location control) to center the map and bias search results. It is not stored on a server, not shared, and there is no background location access.
- Third-party data sources receive only the minimum needed to return results (e.g. a bounding box and date/taxon filters). See the table below.
- Purchases are processed by Google Play Billing; we never see or store your payment details.
Data Stored on Your Device
The following is stored locally on your device and is not transmitted to us:
- Saved plans, trips, wantlist entries, and saved places.
- App settings and preferences.
- Your eBird API key (optional), stored with Android Keystore-backed encryption.
- An iNaturalist OAuth token, if you choose to sign in (optional).
Files you export contain your plan data and are shared only when you explicitly choose to share them through Android’s share sheet. Uninstalling the app removes locally stored data.
Location
The app requests approximate and precise location permissions. Location is accessed only when you tap the current-location control, and is used in that moment to center the map and bias search results toward your area. Location is not collected in the background, is not stored on any server, and is not shared with us. You can decline or revoke the permission in Android Settings; the app remains usable, and you can search by manually choosing a location instead.
Third-Party Data Sources
Depending on the mode and settings you use, the app queries the external services below. Each request sends only what is needed to return results. These services have their own privacy policies, linked below.
| Service | What is sent, and when | Their policy |
|---|---|---|
| iNaturalist | Search coordinates / bounding box, date and taxon filters to fetch observations. Optional sign-in shares an OAuth token to personalize results and your life list. | Privacy |
| eBird (Cornell Lab of Ornithology) | Only when you add an eBird API key: your key plus search location to fetch recent bird observations. The key is stored encrypted on this device. | About / terms |
| GBIF | Bounding box, date and taxon filters (and a contact email in the request User-Agent) to fetch occurrence records. | Terms |
| Wikipedia (Wikimedia) | A species name to fetch a short summary for the species detail view. | Privacy |
| Mapbox | Map view and tile requests, plus place-search text you type, to render maps and geocode locations. | Privacy |
| OpenStreetMap / Nominatim | A region name to fetch administrative boundary polygons for Species Finder. | Privacy |
| Open-Meteo | Coordinates to fetch current weather for the field-conditions panel. | Terms |
| USGS National Map | Standard map-tile requests for the topographic and imagery basemaps. | Policies |
When the app contacts these services, the service necessarily receives your device’s IP address as part of the network request, as is standard for any internet connection. We do not control how third-party services use the data they receive; please review their policies above.
Purchases and Subscriptions
NaturalistTripper offers an optional “Pro” upgrade (monthly and annual subscriptions, and a one-time lifetime purchase). All purchases are processed by Google Play Billing. We do not receive or store your payment card details. Google provides the app with purchase and entitlement status so the app can unlock Pro features; this is handled by Google Play and governed by Google’s Privacy Policy. Subscriptions renew through Google Play unless cancelled before the renewal date; the lifetime option is a one-time, non-renewing purchase. You can manage or cancel subscriptions in the Google Play Store.
Notifications
The app may request permission to post notifications (for example, trip- or plan-related reminders). You can grant or deny this permission, and change it at any time in Android Settings.
Children’s Privacy
NaturalistTripper is a general-audience app and is not directed to children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. Because the app has no account system and stores data only on the device, no personal information is collected by us from any user.
Data Security
Network requests to third-party services use encrypted HTTPS connections. Sensitive values such as your eBird API key are stored using Android Keystore-backed encryption on your device. Because we operate no backend and store no user data ourselves, there is no central database of user information to breach.
Your Choices
- Decline or revoke location and notification permissions in Android Settings at any time.
- Use the app without signing in to iNaturalist and without an eBird key.
- Delete locally stored data by clearing the app’s data or uninstalling it.
- Manage or cancel Pro subscriptions through Google Play.
Changes to This Policy
We may update this policy as the app evolves. Material changes will be reflected here with an updated “Last updated” date. Continued use of the app after an update constitutes acceptance of the revised policy.
Contact
Questions about this policy or your data? Contact us at radd@nature-tools.com.