According to the GBIF Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), a Participant is: “A country, economy, inter-governmental or international organisation, other organisation with an international scope, or an entity designated by them that has signed this MoU and has expressed its intention to implement the contents thereof.” GBIF ’members’ are called ‘Participants’ under the MoU. The MoU is open for signature to any country or relevant international organisation. See list of current GBIF Participants.

Institutions, individuals and regional/national/sub-national organisations that wish to share their data via the GBIF network do not have to sign the MoU (see the Data Publisher section).  

Under the GBIF MoU, all Participants, both Voting and Associate, agree to:

• Participate actively in the formulation and implementation of the GBIF Strategic Plan and the Work Programme, both cooperatively in the Governing Board and through development of national policies as appropriate.
• Share biodiversity data through GBIF under a common set of technical standards and within an intellectual property rights framework such as described in Paragraph 8 of the MOU.
• Form a Participant Biodiversity Information Facility (with a Node or network of Nodes), to organise and/or provide access to biodiversity data and metadata, standards, software tools or other services to enhance the GBIF network.
• Secure its national intellectual, technological and data mobilisation investments as a Participant in GBIF.
• As appropriate, make other investments in biodiversity information infrastructure in support of the GBIF mission and national, regional and international needs, as well as help to co-ordinate and hormosie the biodiversity informatics programmes of the Partcipants.
• As appropriate, contribute to training and capacity development for promoting global access to biodiversity data, including implementing specific programmes to enhance the biodiversity informatics capacity and technical skills base of developing countries.

Find out more on becoming a Participant in How to Join.