In 1997, the 12 original members of GT-net established the GTN ecology network at a meeting of experts on ecological networks. Envisioned as an umbrella network linking like-minded ecological efforts, the group collaborates with GTOS on projects ranging from the Net Primary Productivity demonstration project (NPP) and the future biodiversity TEMS module. Each member represents a different focus within the ecology observation realm, thus enforcing an overall effort for comprehensive, harmonized data on ecological change.

The members are:

• Arab Centre for the Studies of Arid Zones and Dry Lands (ACSAD)
  ACSAD is a regional center for research and studies pertaining to the development of the arid and semi-arid areas of the Arab World. It was established in Damascus, Syria, in 1971 within the framework of the League of Arab States.

• Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme (AMAP);
  AMAP researches the status of threats to the Arctic environment and provides scientific advice to Arctic governments.

• Chinese Ecosystem Research Network (CERN);
  The CERN network contains 29 field stations in China that observes a range of ecological fields including agriculture, forests, grasslands, freshwater and marine ecosystems.

• Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR);
  CGIAR's projects focus on scientific advancement as a means to increase agricultural productivity in over 100 countries, thus decreasing hunger, poverty and nutrition problems.

• Integrating Worldwide CO2 Flux Measurements (FLUXNET);
  A global network of 150 micrometeorological tower sites that use eddy covariance methods to measure the exchanges of carbon dioxide (CO2), water vapor, and energy between terrestrial ecosystem and atmosphere.

• International Cooperative Programme on Integrated Monitoring of Air Pollution Effects on Ecosystem (ICP IM); This network focuses on determining and predicting the impact of air pollutants, particularly nitrogen and sulphur, on terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems.

• International Long-Term Ecological Research (ILTER) network;
  This network is focused on coordinating and linking the efforts of long-term ecological observation systems worldwide.

• Réseau d'Observatoires de Surveillance Ecologique à Long Terme (ROSELT);
  ROSELT provides multi-disciplinary (soil, vegetation, water resources, biodiversity, climate, and socio-economic) data collected in a wide range of ecosystems, land uses, and geographical coverage. It has a particular focus on Africa.

• UK Environmental Change Network (ECN);
  Also a worldwide ecological observation system, ECN has developed climate change and water quality indicators.

• US Long-term Ecological Research Networks (LTER);
  This observation system represents the United States component of the larger ILTER project.

• Worldwide Network of Biosphere Reserves (MAB-BR)
  Biosphere reserves are areas of terrestrial and coastal ecosystems promoting solutions to reconcile the conservation of biodiversity with its sustainable use.