existing remote sensing and biodiversity databases should be used to derive harmonised biodiversity variables of all the countries when possible the use of modern monitoring techniques for enhancing implementation of the essential biodiversity variables ebv concept in ecosystem assessments eg for cbd and ipbes has been recently suggested skidmore etal vihervaara etal during the nordic introductory and scoping study a simple excel metadatabase with information on the main literature and sources identified for the nordic assessment forming annexes to this project plan has been constructed see annex