The network is convened by Mark Westoby and Ian Wright at Macquarie University with administrator Samantha Newton . The network is mainly funded by the Australian Research Council for activity in Australia, and by Landcare Research New Zealand (Manaaki Whenua) for activity in New Zealand. There is also support from Macquarie University, Australian Centre for Plant Functional Genomics, University of Minnesota and University of Queensland.

The Network pursues research by bringing people from different disciplines together in working groups for purposes of scientific advancement. The topics of these working groups address high-impact research targets by identifying areas that can benefit from active collaboration between leading scientists in the field. Our goals are to produce high-impact publication, to coordinate joint grant proposals, and to develop young researchers through active collaboration and exchange.

2. We ask for acknowledgement in publications that arise from or are influenced by network-funded activity. Acknowledgement might typically take a form of words like "This work arose from the [insert relevant Working Group] of the ARC-NZ Research Network for Vegetation Function". Please also make sure the Network knows the publication has appeared or been accepted.

3. The membership of the Network has ever-moving boundaries. New people are continually coming to particular working groups, invited because the organizers of that group thought they contributed something important. We list everyone who has participated in a Network activity as members of the whole Network. But it is while you are participating in some specific activity that the Network will be most apparent to you, providing you with travel and accommodation and asking for some of your time and expertise in exchange. Being listed as a member does not carry any obligations, except through particular activities. If you wish to be removed from the membership list, just let us know.

4. Once a year we email all participants asking you to list any of your publications or other outputs that you feel have been made possible or stimulated or influenced by a working group or other Network activity. Thus, it is up to you to decide when the Network had a role, whether large or small. This information serves for our annual reporting to ARC and to keep our Science Advisory Board in touch with activity around the Network.