Privacy Policy

Introduction

The Water Hyacinth Research Network ("we," "our," or "the site") is committed to protecting the privacy of visitors to waterhyacinth.org. This Privacy Policy describes how we collect, use, and safeguard information when you visit our website.

This site is an educational and scientific resource. We do not sell products or services, and we do not collect personal information beyond what is described below.

Information We Collect

Automatically Collected Information

When you visit our site, our hosting provider may automatically collect certain technical information, including:

• IP address (anonymized where possible)
• Browser type and version
• Operating system
• Referring URL
• Pages visited and time spent on each page
• Date and time of access

This information is collected through server logs and is used solely for site performance monitoring and security purposes.

Information You Provide

We do not require registration, login, or account creation to access any content on this site. We do not collect names, email addresses, or other personally identifiable information unless you voluntarily provide it through a contact form or email correspondence.

Cookies

Cookies are small text files stored on your device when you visit a website. Our site may use the following types of cookies:

• Essential cookies — required for the basic functionality of the site, such as remembering your cookie consent preferences.
• Analytics cookies — used to understand how visitors interact with our site, including which pages are most frequently visited. Analytics data is aggregated and anonymized.

You can control and manage cookies through your browser settings. Disabling cookies may affect certain functionality of the site. You may withdraw your cookie consent at any time by clearing your browser cookies for this domain.

How We Use Information

Information collected through this site is used exclusively for the following purposes:

• Ensuring the technical operation and security of the website
• Analyzing aggregate usage patterns to improve content and site structure
• Responding to direct inquiries if you contact us

We do not sell, trade, or otherwise transfer your information to third parties for marketing purposes.

Third-Party Services

Our site may use third-party hosting and analytics services that process data on our behalf. These services are bound by their own privacy policies and are selected for their commitment to data protection. We do not embed third-party advertising, social media tracking pixels, or affiliate marketing tools.

Data Retention

Server logs and analytics data are retained for a maximum of 12 months, after which they are automatically deleted. Cookie consent preferences are stored locally on your device and persist until you clear your browser data.

Your Rights

Depending on your jurisdiction, you may have the right to:

• Access the personal data we hold about you
• Request correction or deletion of your personal data
• Object to or restrict the processing of your data
• Withdraw consent for cookie usage at any time

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the information provided below.

Children's Privacy

This site is designed as an educational resource and does not knowingly collect personal information from children under the age of 13. If you believe a child has provided personal information through this site, please contact us so that we can take appropriate action.

Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or applicable regulations. Any changes will be posted on this page with an updated revision date. Continued use of the site after changes are posted constitutes acceptance of the revised policy.

Contact

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or wish to exercise your data rights, you may contact us at: privacy@waterhyacinth.org