Cookies

This Cookie Policy (“Policy”) explains how the U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities, Inc., a Delaware non-profit corporation (the “Endowment,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) uses cookies, web beacons, and similar tracking technologies on the Forestry Analytics for Carbon Tracking Platform (“FACT” or the “Site”) located at forestryanalytics.org and related services. This Policy applies to all Users of the Site, whether Users choose to create an account or use the Site anonymously.

FACT is a forest carbon data delivery system that provides carbon information across U.S. forest lands, harvested wood products, and end-use life-cycle assessments. FACT allows Users to explore forest carbon trends, analytical outputs, and related information derived from publicly available data and documented methodologies. FACT was developed with the assistance of the United States Forest Service.

BETA PLATFORM NOTICE. FACT is an evolving service that may contain errors, omissions, incomplete functionality, or data limitations. Features, datasets, methodologies, and outputs may be modified, updated, suspended, or removed without notice. Users acknowledge that service interruptions, technical issues, delayed updates, or temporary unavailability may occur and agree that such conditions are inherent to a beta-stage service.

Users do not pay to access or use FACT. We do not require personal information to use our calculation features. We use cookies to improve Users’ experience, maintain session information, and understand how our Site is used.

Cookies are small text files that are stored on Users’ devices (computers, mobile phones, or tablets) when Users visit the Site. We also use similar technologies such as web beacons, pixels, and local storage to track Users’ interactions with the Site.

The following describes the types of cookies we use on our Site:

Our cookies do not collect personal information (such as a User’s name, email, or phone number) unless Users voluntarily create an account and choose to save their data. Even when Users create an account:

• Users’ account information is separate from cookie data and is explicitly consented to by Users.
• Users’ carbon calculation data is only linked to Users’ accounts if Users choose to save it.
• We do not use cookies to track Users across third-party websites.
• All calculation data is input voluntarily by Users and remains under Users’ control.

For more information, please visit our Privacy Policy.

Under applicable U.S. state and Canadian privacy laws:

• Consent Banner: When Users first visit the Site, Users will be shown a consent banner allowing Users to accept or refuse non-essential cookies. Users may withdraw Users’ consent at any time through Users’ account settings or by clearing Users’ cookies.
• Browser Controls: Users can control cookies through Users’ browser settings. Most browsers allow Users to refuse cookies or alert Users when a website attempts to place a cookie on Users’ device. Instructions for managing cookies in common browsers are available at www.aboutcookies.org.
• Opt-Out Links: For analytics cookies provided by third parties (see Section 8), we provide opt-out mechanisms.

We may use third-party services to analyze Site traffic and understand Users’ behavior. These services may set their own cookies. These third parties are contractually obligated to use Users’ information only as necessary to provide services to us and to comply with applicable privacy laws.

Common third-party services include analytics platforms. We will update this section with specific vendor names and applicable privacy choices. Analytics cookies are enabled only if a user affirmatively consents through the cookie banner. Users who do not consent will receive only essential cookies. Users may also manage their preferences through any privacy or choice mechanisms provided by the applicable third-party vendors.

There are two main categories of cookie duration:

• Session Cookies: These are temporary cookies that are deleted when Users close their browsers.
• Persistent Cookies: These remain on Users’ devices for a set period and allow us to recognize Users on future visits.

We retain cookie data and any associated information for the following periods:

• Session cookies: Automatically deleted when Users close their browsers
• Preference cookies: Retained for 1 year unless Users clear Users’ cookies
• Analytics data: Retained according to our analytics provider’s default retention policy (typically 13-24 months)
• Account information: Retained for as long as Users’ accounts are active, or until Users request deletion

After deletion or expiration, we retain anonymized and aggregated data for analytics purposes.

Some browsers have incorporated "Do Not Track" (“DNT”) features that can send a signal to the websites you visit indicating you do not wish to be tracked. Because there is not yet a common understanding of how to interpret DNT signals, our services do not currently respond to browser DNT signals. For more information on DNT, see https://allaboutdnt.com/. However, we are committed to your privacy and do not deploy certain tracking technologies other than those described above for analytics and essential purposes. To opt out of analytics and preference cookies, see Section 5 above.

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, THE ENDOWMENT, ITS OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES, AGENTS, CONTRACTORS, SERVICE PROVIDERS, AND CONTRIBUTORS SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES ARISING FROM OR RELATING TO THE USE OF COOKIES, TRACKING TECHNOLOGIES, OR ANY DATA COLLECTED THROUGH SUCH TECHNOLOGIES ON FACT.

THE ENDOWMENT MAKES NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, REGARDING THE FUNCTIONALITY, ACCURACY, OR RELIABILITY OF COOKIES OR SIMILAR TECHNOLOGIES DEPLOYED ON FACT AND DISCLAIMS ALL LIABILITY FOR ANY LOSS OR DAMAGE RESULTING FROM THEIR USE.

IN NO EVENT SHALL THE ENDOWMENT HAVE ANY OBLIGATION TO INDEMNIFY ANY USER OR THIRD PARTY FOR ANY CLAIM ARISING UNDER OR RELATED TO THIS COOKIE POLICY.

If Users have questions about this Cookie Policy, or if Users wish to exercise Users’ privacy rights under applicable privacy laws, please contact us at:

the Endowment
10 S Academy St
Greenville, SC 29601
Email: general@usendowment.org
Website: forestryanalytics.org

We may update this Cookie Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, legal requirements, or other factors. We will notify Users of material changes by posting the updated Policy on our Site and updating the “Effective Date” above. Users’ continued use of the Site following the posting of the revised Policy means that Users accept and agree to the changes.

This Cookie Policy should be read together with the FACT Terms of Use, Privacy Policy, and Security Policy. For more information about how we collect, use, and protect Users’ personal information, please contact us using the contact information provided in Section 10 above.