The first LTER-sponsored international summit on long-term ecological research -- was convened in Estes Park, Colorado, USA, September 23-24, 1993 in conjunction with the third LTER All Scientists Meeting. Forty-four scientists and administrators from 17 countries participated, reporting on the status of long-term ecological research projects and networks, and highlighting the potential value of international networking for their particular countries or regions.
The plenary session established a steering committee on International Long-Term Ecological Research (ILTER), comprised of one member from each of the countries or major regions represented, and chaired by Jerry Franklin (LTER, United States). Other members of the ILTER Steering Committee are:
- Mick Brown (Australia/New Zealand)
- C.H. Chou (Southeast Asia)
- OW. Heal (Europe)
- Patricia Roberts-Pichette (Canada)
- Osvaldo Sala (South America)
- Zhao Shidong (China)
A connectivity committee was created and charged with finding and implementing ways to improve electronic communication and information exchange in the field of long-term ecological research worldwide. The members of the Connectivity Committee are:
- Mick Brown (Australia)
- Tom Callahan (National Science Foundation, United States)
- Victor Mario (Brazil)
- Rudolf Nottrott (Chair, LTER, United States)
- Zhao Shidong (China)
- Mike Sykes (United Kingdom)
Summit participants were asked to articulate the most important contributions the group could make towards the realization of a global network. Areas of common concern were identified and five working groups met to formulate plans for immediate and long-term action and to address issues of concern to the global long-term ecological research community. Topics addressed include:
- Improving Communication and Information Access for LTER Researchers Worldwide
- Developing a Global Directory of Long-Term Ecological Research Sites
- Developing Sets of Sites
- Developing LTER Programs Worldwide
- Education, Public and Community Relations, and Relations with Decision makers
In the final session, working group findings and recommendations were presented and discussed, and the full group decided on an organizational structure and tentative schedule for future activities. Action items adopted include:
- Convene the first meeting of the ILTER Steering Committee
- Expand the Steering Committee to achieve broader regional representation
- Develop a plan to improve electronic communication and access to information and data on the international Internet and other networks
- Develop a plan to compile a global list of long-term ecological research sites to be made available both electronically and in hard-copy
- Develop projects that initiate or advance the linkage of individual (paired) research sites through reciprocal visits by senior scientists and exchanges of other researchers and students between sites, and develop specific proposals for joint research and comparisons between sites
- Contact funding agencies and appropriate international organizations throughout the world to encourage their participation in the expansion of global long-term ecological research capabilities
A report summarizing the groups’ ideas and proposals for facilitating international efforts in long-term ecological research on an international scale, including comments on the potential value of international networking, is in production at the Network Office. The first meeting of the Steering Committee is scheduled for August 23-29, 1994 in conjunction with the INTECOL meetings in Manchester and Rothamsted, England.
For more information. Rudolf Nottrott, 206-543-8492, rNottrott@LTERnet.edu