September 23-24,1993 Estes Park, Colorado
Global scientific interest in developing long-term ecological research programs is expanding very rapidly, reflecting increased appreciation of their importance in assessing and resolving environmental issues. Many countries have either implemented or are planning ecological research programs of this type. However, contacts among these programs have generally been informal and opportunistic, often occurring in connection with conferences focused on other topics. To share information and experience and explore the potential potential for collaboration, an international gathering of representatives of established and nascent programs will be hosted by the U. S. Long-Term Ecological Research Network in conjunction with the third LTER All Scientists Meeting in Estes Park, Colorado September 18-24. The distinguished group of scientists invited to the LTER International Summit include leading representatives from long-term ecological research efforts in the United Kingdom, China, France, Canada, Australia, Mexico, New Zealand, Italy, Taiwan, Germany, Portugal, Russia, Sweden, Finland, Norway, and Central and South America, among other countries.
The agenda for the International Summit will provide an opportunity for attendees to exchange information in presentations on:
- The status of their current or planned long-term ecological research programs
- The potential value of international networking among research programs oriented to long-term ecological research
- The relationship of an international LTER network to other international programs and networks of sites
Summit workshops will address information exchange and communication systems, including the potential value, problems, costs, and logistics; common measurement programs and/or protocols across an international LTER network; multi-site experiments, including identification of potential hypotheses and topics; and mechanisms to nurture development of major longtemi ecological research sites in Third World countries, including the potential for collaborative projects.