Box 1. Definitions of key structures and roles in the GBIF network at the level of Participant country
Participant: a country, economy or organization that joins GBIF by signing a Memorandum of Understanding and establishing a co-ordinated effort to support open access and use of biodiversity data, to advance scientific research, and to promote technological and sustainable development.
Biodiversity information facility: Variously described as a ‘BIF’, a system or a network, a broader structure of people and institutions, coordinated by the node, that collectively forms an infrastructure for delivering biodiversity information to relevant stakeholders.
Participant node: a coordinating team designated by the Participant to coordinate a network of people and institutions that produce, manage and use biodiversity data, collectively building an infrastructure for delivering biodiversity information.
Delegation: the team of people nominated by Participants to represent them in GBIF decision making, under the leadership of the Head of Delegation.
Head of Delegation: the person designated by the Participant to act as its representative to the GBIF Governing Board and take part in the global-level decision making.
Node manager: the person designated by the Participant to manage the activities of the node to coordinate a biodiversity information facility.
Node staff: the team of people working in a Participant node. They are usually focused on specific areas such as user support, scientific liaison or technical development.
Biodiversity information facility stakeholders: any person from within a Participant country or organization who contributes to the overall work of the biodiversity information facility or benefits from it. Some examples include publishers of biodiversity data, users of GBIF-mediated data (e.g. scientific researchers, planning agencies and the private sector) and policymakers involved in the development of data policies.