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Research article2013Peer reviewed

Using long-term ecosystem service and biodiversity data to study the impacts of and adaptation options in response to climate change: insights from the global ILTER sites network

Vihervaara, Petteri; D’Amato, Dalia; Forsius, Martin; Angelstam, Per; Baessler, Cornelia; Balvanera, Patricia; Boldgiv, Bazartseren; Bourgeron, Patrick; Dick, Jan; Kanka, Robert; Klotz, Stefan; Maass, Manuel; Melecis, Viesturs; Petrik, P; Shibata, Hideaki; Tang, Jianwu; Thompson, Jill; Zacharias, Steffen

Abstract

The International Long Term Ecological Research (ILTER) network can coordinate ecological research to provide observations of the ecosystem changes, and their socio-economic impacts on human societies at different scales. In this paper we demonstrate the importance of the ILTER network in the study and monitoring of environmental changes at a global level. We give examples of how biodiversity and ecosystem service data can be used to study impacts and adaptation options in response to climate change. Analysis of the 107 recent publications from LTER networks representing 21 countries show that LTER studies are often local and heterogeneous. There are some ecosystem types, such as agricultural or coastal ecosystems that are not covered with current ILTER network. Standardized monitoring schemes and techniques should be considered for future steering of ILTER collaboration. Integrating and synthesizing the collected data should be prioritized for future cooperation, and integrated in decision-making.

Keywords

Cooperation and data synthesis, Global ecosystem trends, ILTER network

Published in

Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability
2013, Volume: 5, number: 1, pages: 53-66

    Sustainable Development Goals

    SDG15 Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss
    SDG13 Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts

    UKÄ Subject classification

    Environmental Management

    Publication identifier

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cosust.2012.11.002

    Permanent link to this page (URI)

    https://res.slu.se/id/publ/51502