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

Jamaica Clearing-House Jamaica Clearing-House Mechanism (JA-CHM)Mechanism (JA-CHM)

(Clearing House of Clearing (Clearing House of Clearing House)House)

Sean Townsend Sean Townsend SRO-Ja-CHM SRO-Ja-CHM Natural History Natural History

DivisionDivisionInstitute of JamaicaInstitute of Jamaica

Clearing House?Clearing House?

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

OverviewOverview• The Jamaica Clearing-House Mechanism (JA-CHM) is a The Jamaica Clearing-House Mechanism (JA-CHM) is a

national network that gathers and distributes national network that gathers and distributes information on biological diversity via the internet. information on biological diversity via the internet.

• It facilitates access to and the exchange of information It facilitates access to and the exchange of information in an efficient, transparent and coordinated manner.in an efficient, transparent and coordinated manner.

• The CHM was established as one of the activities of the The CHM was established as one of the activities of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).

• Jamaica ratified the Convention in 1995 and the Natural Jamaica ratified the Convention in 1995 and the Natural History Division of the Institute of Jamaica was History Division of the Institute of Jamaica was appointed the National Focal Point for the JA-CHM appointed the National Focal Point for the JA-CHM 1999. 1999.

• The CHM presently houses the portals for biodiversity The CHM presently houses the portals for biodiversity as well as biosafety.as well as biosafety.

Mission StatementMission StatementThe CHM in accordance with The CHM in accordance with Article 18Article 18,, section section 33, has been set up to promote and facilitate , has been set up to promote and facilitate technical and scientific cooperation in technical and scientific cooperation in support of the CBD and its three objectives:support of the CBD and its three objectives:

1)1) The conservation of biological The conservation of biological diversity,diversity,

2)2) The sustainable use of its components,The sustainable use of its components,3)3) The fair and equitable sharing of The fair and equitable sharing of

benefits arising out of the utilization of benefits arising out of the utilization of genetic resources.genetic resources.    

GoalGoalssThe CHM has three goals, all of which are The CHM has three goals, all of which are necessary for achieving the objectives of the necessary for achieving the objectives of the

Convention:Convention:

1)1) Cooperation. Promotion and facilitation of Cooperation. Promotion and facilitation of scientific and technical cooperation.scientific and technical cooperation.

2)2) Information Exchange. Development of a Information Exchange. Development of a global mechanism for exchanging and global mechanism for exchanging and integrating information on biodiversity.integrating information on biodiversity.

3)3) Network Development. Development of the Network Development. Development of the CHM Focal Points and their partnersCHM Focal Points and their partners. 

RoleRole

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

Main Characteristics of any CHMMain Characteristics of any CHM

• Compatible with different levels of Compatible with different levels of national capacity 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 Has no vested interest in controlling

the expertise or information the expertise or information • Created for the mutual benefit of all Created for the mutual benefit of all

Parties and other stakeholdersParties and other stakeholders

RegionRegion Total Total countriescountries

CBD CBD PartiesParties

AfricaAfrica 5353 5252

Asia and the PacificAsia and the Pacific 5656 5454Central and Eastern Central and Eastern EuropeEurope 2323 2323

Latin America and the Latin America and the CaribbeanCaribbean 3333 3333

Western European and Western European and OthersOthers 3131 2828

TotalsTotals 196196 190190

Convention on Biological Diversity

Secretariat CBD

Clearing-House Mechanism

Electronic Media•Websites•Database•Interactive Maps

Scientific & Technical Cooperation (Network of Users)

Print & TraditionalBrochuresPostersFacts SheetsCDsMaps

Informal Advisory Committee (IAC)

CHM Steering Committee

WebsiteWebsite

www.jamaicachm.org.jmwww.jamaicachm.org.jm

www.jamaicachm.org.jm/BCHwww.jamaicachm.org.jm/BCH

Products of the JProducts of the JAA-CHM-CHM

•PresentationsPresentations

•PostersPosters

•BrochuresBrochures

•Fact SheetsFact Sheets

•Biodiversity MapsBiodiversity Maps

PostersPosters

MAPSMAPS

THANK YOUTHANK YOU

www.jamaicachm.org.jmwww.jamaicachm.org.jm