LTER-Europe and ILTER

Here you can find information about the European Long-Term Ecosystem Research Network LTER-Europe as regional group of the global LTER network (International Long Term Ecological Research Network, ILTER).

LTER-Europe

LTER-Europe (Long-Term Ecosystem Research in Europe) is the networking component of the European LTER. It consists of 26 national LTER networks (April 2025).

The evolution and all components of the European LTER process incl. LTER-Europe are described here.

Thanks to European flagship projects and by entering Europe’s formal research infrastructure development process (ESFRI), the European LTER has made substantive progress in strategic and organisational development that is comparable to several other advanced national LTER networks, such as TERN in Australia and SAEON in South Africa.

LTER-Europe has been serving as the first entry point in the European LTER process, because it is least formal and has been catalysing the bottom-up initiation of LTER networking in the countries.

Since its foundation in 2007, LTER-Europe has in the global context specifically 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 over 550 LTER sites but also over 50 LTSER platforms, where long-term interdisciplinary research is encouraged. LTER-Europe chaired ILTER 2015-2019. In this phase major advancements were made, incl. the establishment of a first and simple set of site and platform categories, mandatory documentation in the site registry DEIMS, and a permanently operated secretariat. LTER-Europe has two seats in the ILTER Executive Committee.

If you want to initiate a national LTER network in a European country, help can be provided based on the most suitable examples and experiences from other European countries. Please contact office@elter-ri.eu. Also let us know if you operate a LTER-like site in a country that does not have a formal national LTER network.

Contact office@elter-ri.eu

International Long-Term Ecological Research Network (ILTER)

ILTER is the international counterpart of eLTER. It is an umbrella organisation encompassing 39 LTER networks, mostly on a national scale, including European LTER networks. LTER Europe is one of the regional groups of ILTER.

ILTER’s focus is on long-term, site-based research and monitoring. Specifically, the purpose of ILTER is to provide a globally distributed network and infrastructure of long-term research sites for use in the fields of ecosystem, biodiversity, critical zone and socio-ecological research, and to secure highest quality interoperable services in close interaction with related regional and global research infrastructures and networks.

The European LTER provides major contributions to ILTER, including substantial work on DEIMS-SDR, the metadata portal which holds all information on the ILTER site. Currently, the ILTER co-chair and the ILTER secretary are provided by the European LTER.

ILTER Facilities

Explains the in-situ components of the wider LTER-Europe network. These LTER sites and LTSER platforms serve as basis for the construction of the eLTER RI’s physical network (selection of participating sites and platforms ongoing).

ILTER facility

An umbrella term for any location where LTER might take place (in-situ facilities: site, platform) and whatever might facilitate LTER-activities (e.g. logistics, laboratories, on-site supporting institutions).

LTER site

(“traditional” LTER site; Long Term Ecosystem Research site):

LTER-facility of limited size (up to 10 km²) and comprising mainly one habitat type and form of land use. Activities concentrate on small scale ecosystem processes and structures (biogeochemistry, selected taxonomic groups, primary production, disturbances etc.).

LTSER platform

(Long-Term Socio-Ecological Research platform):

Modular LTER-facility consisting of sites which are located in an area with defined boundaries. Besides this physical component, LTSER platforms provide multiple services like the networking of actor groups (e.g. research, local stakeholders), data management, communication and representation (management component). The elements of LTSER platforms represent the main habitats, land use forms and practices relevant for the broader region (up to 10000 km²) and cover all scales and levels relevant for LTSER (from local to landscape). LTSER platforms should represent economic and social units or coincide/overlap with such units where adequate information on land use history, economy and demography is available to allow for socio-ecological research.

Given the more specific national or regional specifications and formalisation, the categories of LTER facilities have been further developed and specified in more detail e.g. in South Africa (SAEON), Australia (TERN) and China (CERN). In Europe this formalisation is an ongoing activity in the eLTER ESFRI process. In general LTER facilities are provided and operated by national networks, which are members of LTER-Europe.

Access to Sites and Platforms

Complete metadata:
DEIMS-SDR

Geographic map:
LTER sites in Europe

Geographic map:
LTSER platforms in Europe

Funded transnational and remote access scheme:
eLTER TA-RA scheme

National LTER networks in Europe:
National LTER networks in Europe

Videos of sites and platforms:
Videos of sites and platforms