Clearing-House Mechanism

The Clearing-House Mechanism (CHM) provides the information exchange platform of the Convention on Biological Diversity. Created in accordance with Article 18(3), it has evolved into a global network of websites with the CBD website (www.cbd.int) as its central node, and national Clearing-House Mechanisms as national nodes of the network. The mission of the clearing-house mechanism for the period 2011-2020, as adopted by decision X/15, is "to contribute significantly to the implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity 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".

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 clearing-house is based on the philosophy that broad participation and easy access must be a top priority.

General information on the Clearing House Mechanism of the Convention of Biological Diversity can be found on the CBD website.

Since 2021 the Dutch CHM website is being supported by the CBD secretariat through the Bioland tool. In the Netherlands this website is maintained by the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality.