The following list of major partners was last updated in 2007 and may therefore be inaccurate:

Pacific Science Association (PSA)

PSA is a regional, non-governmental, scholarly organization that seeks to advance science and technology in support of sustainable development in the Asia-Pacific. PSA was founded in 1920 and is based in Honolulu, Hawaii.

PSA facilitates interdisciplinary and international research and collaboration in the Asia-Pacific region, with a focus on key issues and problems in the region in order to engage science in the service of human needs and improving both the environment and quality of life of the region’s peoples. PSA serves as a catalyst for scientific and scholarly collaboration; develops scientific capacity within the region; fosters effective communication between scientists, policy makers and the public; actively involves the Pacific Island states in regional and international scientific activities; and promotes the “Science of the Pacific”.

Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF)

The purpose of the GBIF is to make the world’s biodiversity data freely and universally available through nodes, such as PBIF, designed to coordinate and integrate regional information. GBIF has taken a two-fold approach to developing this programatic capacity.

Functionally, GBIF encourages, coordinates and supports the development of worldwide capacity to access the vast amount of biodiversity data held in natural history museum collections, libraries and databanks. Technically, GBIF is evolving to be an interoperable network of biodiversity databases and information technology tools using web services and Grid technologies.

As its work programs progress, GBIF will enable users to navigate and put to use the world’s vast quantities of biodiversity information. This information is vital to generating economic, environmental, social and scientific benefits from the sustainable use, conservation and study of biodiversity resources.

Global Taxonomy Initiative (GTI)

The purpose of GTI is to remove or reduce the knowledge gaps in our taxonomic system (including those associated with genetic systems), the shortage of trained taxonomists and curators, and the impact these deficiencies have on our ability to conserve, use and share the benefits of our biological diversity.

The GTI has been established by the Conference of the Parties to address the lack of taxonomic information and expertise available in many parts of the world, and thereby to improve decision-making in conservation, sustainable use and equitable sharing of the benefits derived from genetic resources. The GTI is specifically intended to support implementation of the work programmes of the Convention on thematic and cross cutting issues. Given the many competing demands for capacity building in taxonomy, activities under the GTI must be clearly linked to the implementation of Convention.