The contributors to GEO BON consist mostly of intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, academic institutions and national governmental institutions. These contributors collaborate with one another on a voluntary basis to advance the development and dissemination of observations, data, information, analyses and decision-support services on biodiversity.

A steering committee supports the efforts of the GEO BON community by identifying gaps in global biodiversity observations, making recommendations, coordinating efforts and identifying new partners and resources. The committee establishes working groups to advance specific issues.

DIVERSITAS is a partnership of inter-governmental and non-governmental organisations formed to promote, facilitate and catalyse scientific research on biodiversity – its origin, composition, ecosystem function, maintenance and conservation.

The European Biodiversity Observation Network (EBONE) intends to be the basis of a cost effective data collection system for biodiversity including extant data, both past and present, at national, regional and European levels. It is a crucial European contribution to the work of GEO BON.

The Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) is a global network of data providers that builds biodiversity information infrastructure and promotes the growth of biodiversity information content on the Internet by working with partner initiatives and coordinating activities worldwide.

International Long Term Ecological Research (ILTER) consists of networks of scientists engaged in long-term, site-based ecological and socioeconomic research. Our mission is to improve understanding of global ecosystems and inform solutions to current and future environmental problems.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is a membership organization made up of more than 1,000 organizations, as well as 10,000 individual scientists and experts structured in six Commissions.

The US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Earth System Science conducts and sponsors research, collects new observations from space, develops technologies, and extends science and technology education to learners of all ages.

The United Nations Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC) evaluates and highlights the many values of biodiversity and put authoritative biodiversity knowledge at the centre of decision-making.

The US Geological Service (USGS) provides reliable scientific information to describe and understand the Earth; minimize loss of life and property from natural disasters; manage water, biological, energy, and mineral resources; and enhance and protect the quality of life.

The Sir Alister Hardy Foundation for Ocean Science (SAHFOS) is an international charity that operates the Continuous Plankton Recorder (CPR) survey.

The Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ) is the leading research institute in The Netherlands for the marine sciences.

The ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity (ACB) is an intergovernmental, regional centre of excellence that facilitates cooperation among the members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and relevant national governments and regional and international organizations on the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity and the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the use of such biodiversity.

The Ocean Biogeographic Information System (OBIS) and its global network of regional and thematic OBIS nodes integrates data from many sources over a wide range of marine themes, from the poles to the equator, and from microbes to whales.

Plus many others (list to be completed shortly)

The steering committee

The GEO BON steering committee consists of about 20 representatives of leading biodiversity organizations and independent experts. It establishes working groups to assist it in carrying out its work. The Committee’s responsibilities include prioritizing activities, partnerships and projects, identifying gaps and promoting greater awareness of GEO BON.

The current steering committee members are:

GEO BON Steering Committee

(as of 1 January 2012)

Chair

• Bob Scholes, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), South Africa

GEO BON Task Co-Leads

• DIVERSITAS – Anne Larigauderie
• European Union (European Biodiversity Observation Network, EBONE) – Rob Jongman
• US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) – Woody Turner with Gary Geller

Executive Officer

• Michele Walters, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), South Africa
  

Organizations

• ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity - Sheila Vergara
• Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) Secretariat – Robert Höft
• European Space Agency (ESA) - Marc Paganini
• Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) – Olaf Banki
• International Long Term Ecological Research (ILTER) – Terry Parr
• Centro de Referência em Informação Ambiental (CRIA) - Dora Ann Lange Canhos
• Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ)/MARS/MARBEF - Carlo Heip
• Smithsonian Institution – Leonard Hirsch
• United Nations Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC) – Jon Hutton
• US Geological Survey (USGS) – Roger Sayre
• International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) – Simon Stuart

 

Independent experts

• Daniel Faith
• Simon Ferrier
• Norbert Jürgens
• Georgina Mace
• Hal Mooney
• Henrique Miguel Pereira

Working Groups 

The GEO BON steering committee has established eight working groups to advance the implementation of specific topics. The working group leads are indicated in parenthesis:

1. Genetics (Tet Yahara and Daniel Faith)
2. Terrestrial Species Monitoring Programmes (Henrique Pereira)
3. Terrestrial Ecosystem Monitoring (Rob Jongman)
4. Freshwater Ecosystem Monitoring (Ian Harrison)
5. Marine Ecosystem Monitoring (Carlo Heip)
6. Ecosystem Services (Hal Mooney)
7. In-situ / Remote-sensing Integration (Simon Ferrier)
8. Data Integration and Inter-operability: Informatics and Portals (Hannu Saarenmaa and Eamonn O Tuama)