Canada began to develop the Canadian Biodiversity Information Network (CBIN) in 1996 as an internet based resource centre to serve as Canada's national node to the global Clearing House Mechanism. Canada's first national report to the convention stated that CBIN was to become operational in the same year.
Canada's third national report to the Convention on Biological Diversity described CBIN stated that the site covered developments under the convention and information on implementing the Canadian Biodiversity Strategy, and that it provided access to biodiversity related information from academia, industry, non-governmental organizations, and governments.
Environment Canada used CBIN as a public outreach platform during the 2010 International Year of Biodiversity, where it turned into a virtual meeting place where Canadians were able to share stories about how they were celebrating the year.
See also: Criticisms of the biodiversity paradigm