(Clearing House of Clearing House) Sean Townsend SRO-Ja-CHM Natural History Division Institute of Jamaica

Clearing House? The term "clearing-house" originally referred to a financial establishment where checks and bills are exchanged among member banks so that only the net balances need to be settled in cash. Today, its meaning has been extended to include any agency that brings together seekers and providers of goods, services or information, thus matching demand with supply. The term "clearing-house" originally referred to a financial establishment where checks and bills are exchanged among member banks so that only the net balances need to be settled in cash. Today, its meaning has been extended to include any agency that brings together seekers and providers of goods, services or information, thus matching demand with supply.

The Jamaica Clearing-House Mechanism (JA-CHM) is a national network that gathers and distributes information on biological diversity via the internet. The Jamaica Clearing-House Mechanism (JA-CHM) is a national network that gathers and distributes information on biological diversity via the internet. It facilitates access to and the exchange of information in an efficient, transparent and coordinated manner. It facilitates access to and the exchange of information in an efficient, transparent and coordinated manner. The CHM was established as one of the activities of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). The CHM was established as one of the activities of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). Jamaica ratified the Convention in 1995 and the Natural History Division of the Institute of Jamaica was appointed the National Focal Point for the JA-CHM Jamaica ratified the Convention in 1995 and the Natural History Division of the Institute of Jamaica was appointed the National Focal Point for the JA-CHM The CHM presently houses the portals for biodiversity as well as biosafety. The CHM presently houses the portals for biodiversity as well as biosafety.

The CHM in accordance with Article 18, section 3, has been set up to promote and facilitate technical and scientific cooperation in support of the CBD and its three objectives: 1) The conservation of biological diversity, 2) The sustainable use of its components, 3) The fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising out of the utilization of genetic resources. 3) The fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising out of the utilization of genetic resources.

Goal s The CHM has three goals, all of which are necessary for achieving the objectives of the Convention: 1)Cooperation. Promotion and facilitation of scientific and technical cooperation. 2)Information Exchange. Development of a global mechanism for exchanging and integrating information on biodiversity. 3)Network Development. Development of the CHM Focal Points and their partners 3)Network Development. Development of the CHM Focal Points and their partners.

Clearing-House Mechanism" ensure that all governments as well as the general public have access to the information and technologies they need for their work on biodiversity. This faciltated by the establishment of databases that can be accessed traditionally of electronically

Compatible with different levels of national capacity Compatible with different levels of national capacity Needs-driven Needs-driven Structurally decentralized Structurally decentralized Provides access to information Provides access to information Supports decision-making Supports decision-making Has no vested interest in controlling the expertise or information Has no vested interest in controlling the expertise or information Created for the mutual benefit of all Parties and other stakeholders Created for the mutual benefit of all Parties and other stakeholders

Region Total countries CBD Parties Africa5352 Asia and the Pacific 5654 Central and Eastern Europe 2323 Latin America and the Caribbean 3333 Western European and Others 3128 Totals196190

Convention on Biological Diversity Secretariat CBD Clearing-House Mechanism Electronic Media Websites Database Interactive Maps Scientific & Technical Cooperation (Network of Users) Print & Traditional Brochures Posters Facts Sheets CDs Maps Informal Advisory Committee (IAC) CHM Steering Committee

PresentationsPresentations PostersPosters BrochuresBrochures Fact SheetsFact Sheets Biodiversity MapsBiodiversity Maps

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