As a "Collaborating Centre for Integrated Environmental Reporting, Assessments and Forecasting" of UNEP, National Institute of Public Health and Environmental Protection (RIVM), is developing methodologies for integrated environmental assessments at the regional and global level. To describe and assess the impacts on biodiversity and the use of biological resources, RIVM has identified a preliminary core set of six biodiversity and use indicators. WCMC has been asked to assess the availability of data that might support these indicators. Interim results of this feasibility study were adapted and elaborated upon in a discussion paper "Biodiversity indicators for integrated environmental assessments at the regional and global level" of July 1995. The comments of several experts in various parts of the world will be used to further improve the core set of indicators. The intention is to publish the discussion paper in a technical report series of UNEP and to test and improve the indicators by means of pilot studies to take place in 1996 and 1997.