Clearing-House Mechanism

The Clearing-House Mechanism (CHM) is a two-way information exchange platform which can contribute to national planning, implementation and reporting in the context of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). It was established in 1995 with the originally identified objectives: Promotion and facilitation of technical and scientific cooperation; information exchange; and network development accordance with Article 18.3 of the Convention to promote scientific and technical cooperation, and its evolution has been guided by COP decisions, the most recent being X/15 and XI/2 B and XII/2 B. The CHM is a global network with the CBD website as a central hub, national Clearing-House Mechanisms at country level, and partner institutions at thematic or regional levels.

Bhutan ratified the Convention on Biological Diversity in August 1995. As an obligation, Bhutan established the CHM in line with the requirement under Article 18.3 of the Convention. Further, it is also as per the decision X/15, with a mission to contribute significantly to the implementation of the Convention and its Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020, through effective information services and other appropriate means in order to promote and facilitate scientific and technical cooperation, knowledge sharing and information exchange, and to establish a fully operational network of Parties and partners.