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COP 10 Decision X/15

X/15.Scientific and technical cooperation and the clearing-house mechanism

The Conference of the Parties,
Having considered the report and recommendations prepared by the Executive Secretary in consultation with the informal advisory committee of the clearing-house mechanism, 44
Appreciating the progress made so far by the Parties and the Executive Secretary in the implementation of the clearing-house mechanism,
Taking into account the updated Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 which reaffirms the important supporting role of the clearing-house mechanism in the implementation of the Convention,
1.Adopts the mission, goals, and objectives of the clearing-house mechanism for the period 2011-2020 annexed to this decision, and welcomes the priority activities for the intersessional period in annex II to the progress report of the Executive Secretary as well as other suggestions for further development; 45
2.Encourages Parties to:
(a)Continue to take the necessary steps to establish, strengthen, and ensure the sustainability of, national clearing-house mechanisms (goal 2), and to implement, as appropriate, the activities mentioned in annex II to document UNEP/CBD/COP/10/15;
(b)Contribute, whenever possible, to cooperation initiatives aiming at developing regional, subregional, thematic, or national clearing-house mechanisms;
(c)Include support for the clearing-house mechanism when requesting funding from the Global Environment Facility for updating and implementing national biodiversity strategies and action plans;
3.Encourages relevant partners to further contribute to the expansion of the clearing-house mechanism network and services (goal 3);
4.Requests that the Executive Secretary and the Global Environment Facility cooperate to facilitate access to funding for the clearing-house mechanism as a key component to support the implementation of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020, as well as the implementation of national biodiversity strategies and action plans;
5.Requests the Executive Secretary, subject to available resources, to:
(a)Further develop the information services provided by the central clearing-house mechanism (goal 1);
(b)Prepare, in consultation with the informal advisory committee and interested Parties, a realistic work programme for the clearing-house mechanism, in line with the adopted Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020;
(c)Explore, in collaboration with Parties, other Governments, relevant partners and members of the Conservation Commons, ways to promote free and open access to data and information for conservation purposes, and report back on progress at the next meeting of the Conference of the Parties;
(d)Further improve the Convention's website, and make this website readable in all United Nations languages.

Annex

MISSION, GOALS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE CLEARING-HOUSE MECHANISM FOR THE PERIOD 2011-2020

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.

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

Goal 1:The central clearing-house mechanism provides effective global information services to facilitate the implementation of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020.

1.1.The CBD Secretariat has the capacity to sustain an effective central clearing-house mechanism.
1.2.A high-quality CBD website is available in all United Nations languages.
1.3.Effective information exchange services are fully operational.
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.

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.
2.3.National information is exchanged through the clearing-house 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.

Goal 3:Partners significantly expand the clearing-house mechanism network and services.

3.1.Partners can sustain their participation in the clearing-house mechanism.
3.2.High-quality regional and thematic clearing-house mechanism websites are available.
3.3.Partner information is exchanged through the clearing-house mechanism network.
3.4.Partners collaborate and share knowledge through the clearing-house mechanism network.
44 UNEP/CBD/COP/10/15.
45 The following additional suggestions will be included in the list of priority activities:
(a)Promote networking of Parties and partners by linking the central and national clearing-house mechanisms;
(b)Analyse and disseminate concrete and practical information as well as best practices on ongoing activities that support, facilitate, or promote technology transfer as well as scientific and technological cooperation;
(c)Enhance the accessibility of national clearing-house mechanism websites through the involvement of inter institutional steering committees with the participation of relevant organizations and stakeholders;
(d)Evaluate the effectiveness of information services contributing to the implementation of national biodiversity strategies and action plans.