Technical and scientific cooperation through the Clearing-House Mechanism

Technical and scientific cooperation through the Clearing-House Mechanism of the Convention on biological diversity by: Han de Koeijer Belgium national focal point CHM, Royal Belgian Institut for Natural Sciences, 29 Rue Vautier, 1000 Brussels, Belgium Morocco training, 12 -17 September 2011, Rabat a

Content of the presentation • Introduction to the Clearing-House Mechanism • Cooperation and the CHM • Exhange of information and the national CHM • Promote information networks • The CHM web site Marocco training, 12 -17 September 2011, Rabat

Introduction to the Clearing-House Mechanism (CHM) Mission: 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. Marocco training, 12 -17 September 2011, Rabat

Introduction to the Clearing-House Mechanism (CHM) Objectives: Goal 1: The central clearing-house mechanism provides effective global information services to facilitate the implementation of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 20112020 1. 3. Effective information exchange services are fully operational. Marocco training, 12 -17 September 2011, Rabat

Introduction to the Clearing-House Mechanism (CHM) Objectives: 1. 4. The CBD Secretariat facilitates the development of a network of experts and practitioners among Parties and partners. 1. 5. Guidance is available for Parties and partners to exchange information through the clearing-house mechanism network Marocco training, 12 -17 September 2011, Rabat

Introduction to the CHM Goal 2: National clearing-house mechanisms provide effective information services to facilitate the implementation of the national biodiversity strategies and action plans. 2. 1. All Parties have the capacity to sustain effective national clearing-house mechanisms. 2. 2. High-quality national clearing-house mechanism websites are available. Marocco training, 12 -17 September 2011, Rabat

Introduction to the CHM 2. 3. National information is exchanged through the clearinghouse mechanism network. 2. 4. Parties collaborate and share knowledge through the clearing-house mechanism network. 2. 5. Partners and the CBD Secretariat have contributed to the development of national clearing-house mechanisms. Marocco training, 12 -17 September 2011, Rabat

Technical and scientific cooperation under the CBD • Who are the people that you want to collaborate? • How can you stimulate cooperation between them ? • What type of information do they need to choose their collaborators ? • What type of information do you want to make public ? Marocco training, 12 -17 September 2011, Rabat

Exchange of information to promote cooperation and public awareness on national level • Information is available, but access to it is not always possible or easy : Ø laws, research, “best practices”, trans-boundary, funding opportunities, who does what • Identify information gaps • Validate the information • Decentralised versus centralised • Intellectual property rights Marocco training, 12 -17 September 2011, Rabat

Exchange of information to promote cooperation and public awareness on national level • Improve public awareness on the Convention Ø Country studies, redlists, relation between the conventions Ø target audiences: policy decision makers, youth, teachers, general public Ø Motivate the public by observation campaigns on biodiversity Ø Publish news and events on a regular basis on the site. Marocco training, 12 -17 September 2011, Rabat

Develop and assist Networks Development • Thematic programs under the Convention • NGOs Assistance • Exchange and provision of information • “Best practices” • Contacts • Forums and revision tools Marocco training, 12 -17 September 2011, Rabat

Cooperation between countries Useful subjects • “Best practices” • Laws • Experts • Contact informations • Transboundary Information Marocco training, 12 -17 September 2011, Rabat

Cooperation between countries Exchange of Information by: • Conferences and workshops • Discussion groups by email/lists servers • Web sites Marocco training, 12 -17 September 2011, Rabat

National CHM web sites • One of the tools available for the CHM • Information portals: ØOn the Convention ØImplementation on national level of the CBD ØInformation on biodiversity ØCooperation ØOther sources of information on the Internet • Use available information • Create only new information if not available elsewhere on the Internet Marocco training, 12 -17 September 2011, Rabat

National CHM web sites • Make information available that is difficult to obtain in and outside the country • Most visited pages on the CHMs: Ø National reports Ø Country studies Ø National strategies and action plans on biodiversity Ø Actors Ø Frequently asked questions about Biodiversity Marocco training, 12 -17 September 2011, Rabat

National training, 11 January 2008, Lusaka

National training, 11 – 15 May 2008, Accra

National training, 11 – 15 May 2008, Accra

Practical advice • Make a survey of existing/available information • Include actors who work in the field of biodiversity from the start • Workshop on the use of the CHM for them • Stimulate a culture of information exchange • Collaborate from the start with national networks linked to the CDB such as: Biosafety CH, Global Invasive Species Programme, Global Biodiversity Information Forum and others Morocco training, 12 -17 September 2011, Rabat

Practical advise • Share resources and human capacity • Use web statistics on most visited pages to improve the information that is most visited • Raise awareness among decision makers on the role and the functioning of the CHM Morocco training, 12 -17 September 2011, Rabat

National training, 11 – 15 May 2008, Accra

National training, 11 – 15 May 2008, Accra

National training, 11 – 15 May 2008, Accra

National training, 11 – 15 May 2008, Accra

Thanks for your attention Marocco training, 12 -17 September 2011, Rabat