European Long-Term Ecosystem Research (LTER-Europe)
LTER-Europe is the umbrella network for Long-Term Ecosystem Research (LTER) in Europe. It's members are national networks of LTER sites.
Long-Term Ecosystem Research (LTER) is an essential component of world-wide efforts to better understand ecosystems. Through research and monitoring, LTER seeks to improve our knowledge of the structure and functions of ecosystems and their long-term response to environmental, societal and economic drivers.
LTER contributes to the knowledge base informing policy and to the development of management options in response to the Grand Challenges under Global Change.
Since its launch in 2003, LTER-Europe has sought to better integrate traditional natural sciences and holistic ecosystem research approaches that include studies of the human component.
LTER-Europe was heavily involved in developing the concept of Long-Term Socio-Ecological Research (LTSER). As a result, LTER-Europe now comprises not only LTER sites but also larger LTSER platforms, where long-term interdisciplinary research is encouraged.
The long-term mission of LTER-Europe is:
- to track and understand the effects of global, regional and local changes on socio-ecological systems and their feedbacks to environment and society.
- to provide recommendations and support for solving current and future environmental problems.
The main objectives are:
- to identify drivers of ecosystem change across European environmental and economic gradients
- to explore relations between these drivers, responses and developmental challenges under the framework of a common research agenda, and referring to harmonised parameters and methods
- to develop criteria for LTER Sites and LTSER Platforms to support cutting edge science with a unique in-situ infrastructure
- to improve co-operation and synergy between different actors, interest groups, networks, etc.
LTER-Europe works towards its objectives by providing a framework for project development, conceptual work, education, exchange of know how, communication and institutional integration.
Source: LTER
- Network
- Europe
- Natural Sciences
Entry created by Giorgio Piccirillo on April 13, 2017
Modified on May 5, 2017
