The International Working Group on Taxonomic Databases is a not for profit scientific and educational association, affiliated to the International Union of Biological Sciences, formed to establish international collaboration among biological database projects so as to promote the wider and more effective dissemination of information about the World's heritage of biological organisms for the benefit of the world at large.

To achieve its goals, TDWG (a) develops, adopts and promotes standards and guidelines for the recording and exchange of data about organisms, (b) promotes their use through the most appropriate and effective means, (c) acts as a forum for discussion through holding meetings and through publication such as a newsletter