Last updated: January 25, 2026
Digital Forester is designed with privacy in mind. Your tree data and photos are stored locally on your device. Cloud sync is optional and uses your own Google account.
Data We Access
Digital Forester accesses the following data to provide its core functionality:
- Camera: We access your camera to capture photos of trees for species identification and documentation.
- Location: We access GPS coordinates to tag tree locations on the map and organize collection trips.
- Photos/Storage: We store tree photos and data in your device's local storage.
Data Storage
All your tree data, photos, collection trips, and assessments are stored locally on your device using a secure local database. This data does not leave your device unless you explicitly enable cloud sync.
Optional Cloud Sync
If you choose to enable cloud sync:
- Your tree data is synced to Firebase Cloud Firestore, secured by your Google account credentials
- Only you can access your synced data
- You can disable sync at any time and delete cloud data from settings
Third-Party Services
Firebase Analytics: We use Firebase Analytics to understand app usage patterns and improve the user experience. Analytics collects:
- App usage events (screens viewed, features used)
- Device type and operating system version
- General geographic region (country/state level)
Analytics does not collect your tree data, photos, or precise location.
Firebase Crashlytics: We use Firebase Crashlytics to collect crash reports when the app encounters an error. This helps us identify and fix bugs. Crashlytics collects:
- Device model and operating system version
- App version and crash timestamps
- Stack traces (technical error information)
- Anonymous installation identifiers
Crashlytics does not collect personal information or any of your tree/forest data.
You can learn more about Firebase's data practices at firebase.google.com/support/privacy.
Location Data
GPS coordinates are used solely to:
- Tag tree locations for your maps and collection trips
- Enable the compass and navigation features
Location data is stored locally and only synced to cloud storage if you enable that feature. We do not share location data with third parties.
Photo Data
Photos you capture are:
- Stored locally on your device
- Used for on-device ML species identification
- Optionally synced if cloud backup is enabled
We do not upload photos to external servers for processing. Species identification happens on your device.
Data We Do NOT Collect
- Personal information (name, email, phone number) unless you sign in for cloud sync
- Advertising IDs or tracking data
- Contacts or call history
- Browsing history
Data Deletion
You can delete your data at any time:
- Individual trees and trips can be deleted from within the app
- All local data can be cleared through your device settings or by uninstalling the app
- Cloud sync data can be deleted from the app's settings menu
Children's Privacy
Digital Forester does not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. The app is intended for landowners, foresters, and anyone interested in tree identification.
Changes to This Policy
We may update this privacy policy from time to time. Any changes will be posted on this page with an updated revision date.
Contact
If you have questions about this privacy policy, please contact us at: