Who’s who at GBIF?

Find out in this section, which covers: GBIF's governing bodies and functions, the Governing Board, the Executive Committee, the Advisory Committees of the Board, the Secretariat and relevant regulations approved by the Governing Board for the operation of GBIF.

GBIF is a multi-lateral initiative established by inter-governmental agreement (initially 17 countries) and based on a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). There have been two time-limited MoUs, but the present one, from 1 January 2012, is open-ended.

Participants in GBIF are countries (governments), economies, inter-governmental or international organisations, or organisations with an international/global/regional mission mission (or entities designated by them to sign the MoU, having expressed their intention to observe the provisions therein).