(CHM) PORTAL OF BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

Biodiversity Clearing – House Mechanism (CHM) Portal of Bosnia and Herzegovina

This portal is part of the global information exchange network established by the Convention on Biodiversity (Clearing House Mechanism – CHM). Its purpose is to provide comprehensive information on biodiversity through effective information services and to facilitate technical and scientific cooperation, knowledge sharing and information exchange. The CHM portal provides information on the implementation of the Convention in Bosnia and Herzegovina and brings up-to-date information on events, conferences and other related issues. It contains national biodiversity-related information that is required to assist policy makers and stakeholders to meet the obligations defined by the Convention and to conserve and sustainably use biodiversity.

What is the Clearing - House Mechanism (CHM)?

The term “clearing – house” includes any agency that brings together seekers and providers of goods, services or information, thus matching demand with supply. In terms of the implementation of the Convention on Biodiversity, the Clearing – House Mechanism aims to:

Contribute significantly to the implementation of the CBD and its Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 through effective information services and other appropriate means
Promote and facilitate technical and scientific cooperation, knowledge sharing and information exchange
Establish a fully operational network of Parties and partners

National Clearing – House Mechanism (or National CHM) is a website that provides relevant information on the Convention on Biological Diversity in a particular country.

What is Biodiversity

Biodiversity or biological diversity is one of the key terms in conservation, encompassing the richness of life and the diverse patterns it forms.

The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) defines biological diversity as “the variability among living organisms from all sources including, inter alia, terrestrial, marine and other aquatic ecosystems and the ecological complexes of which they are part; this includes diversity within species, between species and of ecosystems”.

Landscape diversity means the variability of a group of geological formations and of vegetation types with different space use. Therefore, a group of different ecosystems can be referred to as a landscape. Genetic diversity, the level of biodiversity, refers to the total number of genetic characteristics in the genetic makeup of a species. It serves as a way for populations to adapt to changing environments.

Strategic Plan and Aichi Biodiversity Targets

At its Tenth meeting held from 18th to 29th of October 2010, in Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, Japan, the COP adopted a revised and updated Strategic Plan for Biodiversity, including the Aichi Biodiversity Targets, for the period 2011-2020 (COP decision X/2).

This new plan is the overarching framework on biodiversity, not only for the biodiversity-related conventions, but for the entire United Nations system.
Additionally, in its decision X/10, the COP decided that the fifth national reports, due by 31st of March 2014, should focus on the implementation of the 2011 – 2020 Strategic Plan and progress achieved towards the Aichi Biodiversity Targets. Read more…