According to the GBIF Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) a GBIF Participant can be a country, economy, inter-governmental or international organisation, other organisation with an international scope, or an entity designated by them, that has signed the MoU and expressed its intention to observe the provisions therein.

There are two modes of Participation in GBIF:

Voting – includes countries that are willing to observe the provisions of the MoU and to make a financial contribution to the GBIF budget. These Participants have voting rights on the GBIF Governing Board, as well as other benefits.

Associate – includes either countries that are not yet making financial contributions to GBIF, or international organisations, inter-governmental organisations, other organisations with an international scope and economies that are willing to observe the MoU provisions. Associate Participants may take part in the deliberations of the Governing Board, but may not vote. 

The category of an Associate Participant Country is a temporary category of up to five years duration from the date when the Associate Participant Country signs the MoU. During this period the Associate participant Country may decide to become either a Voting Participant, or an Observer or may withdraw from GBIF.  

By becoming a Voting Participant, countries will gain the benefits of the status.

Organisations are not eligible to become Voting Participants.

In order to become a Participant in GBIF an appropriate government agency should send an official Letter of Intent to the Chair of the Governing Board (see below), expressing intent to sign the MoU.

The letter should state that the country/organisation is, in principal, in agreement with the intentions listed in the MoU and should, in particular, outline the willingness to establish a Participant Node, share biodiversity data and actively participate in the implementation of the GBIF Work Programme.

Letters of Intent signed by a Minister or ministerial department should include information on the agency or institution that has been designated to sign the MoU and represent the country on the GBIF Governing Board.

If a country wishes to become a Voting Participant it must, in addition, express its willingness to make a financial contribution to GBIF as outlined in Paragraph 9 of the MoU and establish the details in a financial arrangement with the Secretariat. See Finance section for more information. 

The GBIF Executive Committee will consider all petitions for Participant status and will determine if the application meets the requirements of the MoU and GBIF Rules of Procedure. If a petition is granted, a MoU signature copy will be sent. In the case of Voting Participation, the Secretariat will in addition specify the financial contributions in a financial arrangement.

For further details of the procedure see Article IV – Requirements for Participation in the Rules of Procedure of the Governing Board.

Enquiries concerning participation in GBIF and Letters of Intent may be sent to gbif_@If you can read this, please upgrade to a modern browser.gbif.org.

The letter of intent should be addressed to:

Chair of the GBIF Governing Board
GBIF Secretariat
Universitetsparken 15
DK-2100 Copenhagen Ø
Denmark