The new GBIF Memorandum of Understanding was opened for signature on 18 June 2006, following a Governing Board meeting in Madrid.

As of 2 October 2006, the Secretariat had received 9 signed MOUs from Voting Participants, 2 from Associate Participant countries and 8 from Associate Participant Organizations. In addition, letters of intent to sign had been received from 7 Voting Paricipants.

Based on these numbers and the reports of delegations to the 13th semiannual meeting held in Iquitos, Peru from 2 - 4 October, the Governing Board concluded that there is sufficient commitment to continue GBIF.

A running tally is being kept of signatures to the MOU. A table that provides details is available at this link.