New European Community biodiversity portal launched

A new, enhanced version of the European Community's Biodiversity Portal - the Clearing House Mechanism (EC-CHM) was launched today in Tallinn, Estonia. The Portal is a tool for exchanging biodiversity information and helping cooperation between European Community Institutions, Member States and the rest of the world. It was developed and is managed by the European Environment Agency in Copenhagen.

This latest version is multi-lingual and can build in national biodiversity portals anywhere in the world, free of charge. It boasts simple and cost effective maintenance and development, easy graphical interface, syndication and simple to use 'Portable Tool Kit' software.

The Portal gives public access to biodiversity news and events, and contains informative sections and links, such as 'Who's Who', 'Cooperation' and 'Organisations and Networks'. Currently, the Portal provides information on the progress of the Streamlining European Biodiversity Indicators by 2010 Process.

Building the Portal and Tool Kit has fulfilled the European Communities commitment to providing a Biodiversity Clearing House Mechanism (CHM). More and more CHMs in Europe are now getting involved in the process of sharing techniques and experience.

Portal – http://biodiversity-chm.eea.eu.int