Welcome to the Vermont Atlas of Life help center. Find answers here on how VAL works, how to share your observations, and more. Choose a topic from the menu, or browse the frequently asked questions below. Still have questions or need support? Email us at .
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Vermont Atlas of Life?
The Vermont Atlas of Life (VAL) is an online library of knowledge about Vermont’s plants, animals, fungi and other life. It brings together biodiversity data from many sources into maps, photos and records that anyone can use. VAL is a program of the Vermont Center for Ecostudies. Learn more about VAL.
Where does VAL’s data come from?
Most of it comes from community naturalists who share observations on iNaturalist Vermont, eBird Vermont, eButterfly and other community science platforms. VAL also includes digitized museum specimen data, historical records, and data from research projects.
How can I contribute?
The easiest way is to photograph wild plants, animals and fungi in Vermont and share them on iNaturalist Vermont. You can also help by identifying other people’s observations.
Is VAL data free to use?
Yes. VAL data are open for anyone to explore and download. We just ask that you cite VAL and the original data providers when you use them.
How do I cite VAL?
Good citation practices ensure transparency and reproducibility by guiding others to the original sources of information. They also reward data-publishing institutions and individuals by reinforcing the value of sharing open data and demonstrating its impact to their stakeholders and funders. Through GBIF, VAL provides a Digital Object Identifier (DOI) for every occurrence record data download. Please ensure the DOI is cited in any publications utilizing data within a download. Users of VAL are requested to acknowledge the Vermont Atlas of Life in any publications resulting from use of VAL facilities or projects.
Can I share my own data with VAL?
Yes! Whether it’s a spreadsheet, field notebooks or a large dataset, we can help publish it so it’s credited and available for science and conservation. Learn more about becoming a data provider.
