ZIP-540: Research Ethics & Data Governance

Abstract

This ZIP establishes the framework for ethical research practices and responsible data governance in Zoo Labs Foundation conservation initiatives. It defines ethical review processes, data management standards, publication ethics, and technology deployment principles.

Research Ethics Framework

Ethical Principles

Principle	Application
Beneficence	Research benefits conservation and communities
Non-maleficence	Minimize harm to wildlife, habitats, communities
Justice	Fair distribution of benefits and burdens
Respect	Respect for communities, wildlife, ecosystems
Integrity	Honest, rigorous scientific practice

Ethical Considerations by Domain

Wildlife Research

Consideration	Requirement
Animal welfare	Minimize disturbance and harm
Necessity	Research justified by conservation need
Methods	Least invasive appropriate method
Sample sizes	Minimum needed for valid results
Release	Safe return to wild

Community-Engaged Research

Consideration	Requirement
FPIC	Full consent process (see ZIP-530)
Benefit sharing	Communities share benefits
Participation	Meaningful involvement
Data sovereignty	Community data rights

AI/Technology Research

Consideration	Requirement
Privacy	Protect human privacy
Bias	Test for and mitigate bias
Transparency	Disclose AI use
Accountability	Clear responsibility

Ethics Review Process

Review Categories

Category	Criteria	Review Level
Exempt	Existing data, no human/wildlife contact	Self-assessment
Expedited	Minimal risk, standard methods	Staff review
Full	Higher risk, new methods, sensitive	Committee review

Review Criteria

Criterion	Assessment
Scientific merit	Sound methodology
Conservation value	Clear benefit
Risk assessment	Identified and mitigated
Consent	Appropriate consent processes
Data management	Responsible data plans
Dissemination	Appropriate sharing plans

Ethics Committee

Role	Responsibility
Chair	Process oversight
Conservation scientist	Scientific review
Community representative	Community perspective
Indigenous representative	Indigenous rights
External reviewer	Independent assessment

Review Process

1. Research proposal submission
    ↓
2. Category determination
    ↓
3. Review (appropriate level)
    ↓
4. Decision (approve/revise/reject)
    ↓
5. Monitoring (ongoing compliance)
    ↓
6. Completion review

Timeline

Review Type	Timeline
Exempt	1 week
Expedited	2 weeks
Full	4-6 weeks
Amendments	1-2 weeks

Wildlife Research Standards

Welfare Requirements

Requirement	Standard
Capture methods	Approved, minimally invasive
Handling	Trained personnel, minimal duration
Tagging/marking	Appropriate size, minimal impact
Samples	Minimum needed, justified
Release	Monitored recovery

Permit Compliance

Requirement	Implementation
Research permits	Obtained before research
CITES	Compliance for protected species
National laws	Local legal compliance
Access agreements	Site access permissions

Invasive Procedures

Procedure	Requirement
Surgery	Veterinary supervision
Implants	Justified necessity, appropriate size
Sampling	Minimum quantities
Euthanasia	Only when necessary, humane methods

Monitoring & Reporting

Requirement	Implementation
Welfare monitoring	Ongoing during study
Incident reporting	Immediate report of problems
Annual reporting	Summary to ethics committee
Post-study	Long-term impact monitoring

Data Governance

Data Principles

Principle	Implementation
FAIR	Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable
CARE	Collective benefit, Authority, Responsibility, Ethics
Quality	Accurate, complete, consistent
Security	Protected from unauthorized access
Sustainability	Long-term preservation

Data Categories

Category	Examples	Governance
Species data	Observations, monitoring	Open with exceptions
Sensitive location	Endangered species sites	Restricted access
Community data	Survey responses, knowledge	Community-controlled
Indigenous knowledge	Traditional practices	CARE principles
Personal data	Researcher info	Privacy protected

Data Lifecycle

Collection → Storage → Analysis → Sharing → Archiving → Deletion
     ↑          ↑          ↑          ↑          ↑           ↑
   Policy    Policy     Policy     Policy    Policy      Policy

Data Management Plan

Element	Requirement
Description	What data will be collected
Formats	Data formats and standards
Storage	Where and how stored
Security	Protection measures
Sharing	Who can access, when
Preservation	Long-term archiving
Responsibilities	Who manages the data

Sensitive Data Protection

Data Type	Protection Measures
Endangered species locations	Coordinate fuzzing, access control
Anti-poaching operations	Encryption, strict access
Community data	FPIC, community control
Personal data	Privacy laws compliance

Data Sharing Standards

Sharing Level	Access
Open	Public access, no restrictions
Registered	Requires account/agreement
Restricted	Case-by-case approval
Confidential	Partners/funders only
Sovereign	Community-controlled

Publication Ethics

Publication Principles

Principle	Implementation
Integrity	Accurate, honest reporting
Attribution	Proper credit to all contributors
Transparency	Disclose methods, data, conflicts
Access	Open access where possible
Sensitivity	Protect sensitive information

Authorship Standards

Criterion	Required
Substantial contribution	Design, data, analysis, or writing
Drafting/revision	Critical intellectual input
Final approval	Agree to submitted version
Accountability	Responsible for accuracy

Community Authorship

Requirement	Implementation
Knowledge contributions	Acknowledged as authors
Community review	Right to review before submission
Community veto	Right to prevent publication
Appropriate credit	Named appropriately

Sensitive Information

Information Type	Handling
Endangered species locations	Generalized or withheld
Poaching vulnerability	Exclude exploitable details
Traditional knowledge	Community consent for publication
Personal information	De-identified

Open Access

Commitment	Implementation
Gold OA	Prefer fully open access journals
Green OA	Deposit preprints/postprints
Data availability	Share data where appropriate
Code availability	Open source analysis code

Technology Deployment

Deployment Standards

Standard	Requirement
Testing	Thorough testing before deployment
Validation	Local validation
Training	User training
Support	Ongoing technical support
Monitoring	Performance and impact tracking

AI Ethics in Conservation

Requirement	Implementation
Transparency	Disclose AI use
Accuracy	Validate AI outputs
Bias	Test for bias against species/regions
Human oversight	Human review of critical decisions
Accountability	Clear responsibility for errors

Technology Transfer

Principle	Implementation
Capacity building	Build local expertise
Sustainability	Ensure long-term viability
Appropriateness	Fit local context
Ownership	Clear ownership arrangements

Compliance & Monitoring

Compliance Framework

Level	Mechanism
Self-assessment	Researcher checklist
Internal review	Staff review
Ethics committee	Formal review
External audit	Independent assessment

Monitoring Activities

Activity	Frequency
Protocol compliance	Ongoing
Data management	Quarterly
Publication ethics	Per publication
Annual review	Annual

Non-Compliance Response

Severity	Response
Minor	Correction, documentation
Moderate	Remediation plan, monitoring
Serious	Investigation, suspension
Critical	Termination, reporting

Related ZIPs

• ZIP-500: ESG Principles for Conservation Impact
• ZIP-501: Conservation Impact Measurement
• ZIP-510: Species Protection & Monitoring
• ZIP-520: Habitat Conservation
• ZIP-530: Community Partnerships & FPIC

Changelog

Version	Date	Changes
1.0	2025-12-17	Initial draft

Copyright

Copyright and related rights waived via CC0.