The Clearing House Mechanism

What is a Clearing-House?
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.

Why a Clearing-House Mechanism?
The status of a biosphere reserve aims to reconcile biodiversity conservation with sustainable development. This objective will not be achieved without coordination and cooperation among all relevant stakeholders. Access to and sharing of information sets the basis for a joint approach.

The "Clearing-House Mechanism" (CHM) is based on the philosophy that broad participation and easy access must be a top priority.  It ensures that all relevant agencies have access to the information they need for the promotion and facilitation of sustainable resource management in the TSBR.
The CHM is coordinated by the TSBR Secretariat.