European long-term ecosystem, critical zone and socio-ecological systems research infrastructure PLUS

Project Information

eLTER PLUS

Grant agreement ID: 871128

DOI

10.3030/871128

Project closed

EC signature date 17 January 2020

Start date 1 February 2020

End date 31 January 2026

Funded under

• EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Research Infrastructures

Total cost

€ 10 065 009,44

EU contribution

€ 9 999 989,75

Coordinated by

HELSINGIN YLIOPISTO
Finland

Periodic Reporting for period 3 - eLTER PLUS (European long-term ecosystem, critical zone and socio-ecological systems research infrastructure PLUS)

Reporting period: 2023-02-01 to 2024-07-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

Human existence depends on well-functioning ecosystems; however these systems are experiencing severe threats arising from direct human impacts and indirect impacts from e.g. climate change. Understanding the functioning of these systems at both local and global scales represents a profound research challenge that no single discipline can fully address. The social and bio-geo-physical dimensions of these challenges are intimately intertwined. This calls for the development of a holistic whole-system approach that brings together multiple knowledge bases to confront sustainability challenges. This is pivotal if we want to reverse ongoing environmental degradation and steer socio-ecological systems toward sustainability. eLTER RI offers a continental, integrated ecosystem research infrastructure for multiple user communities to address the Global Grand challenges related to ecosystems, biodiversity loss, climate change and environmental sustainability. eLTER RI seeks to produce scientifically robust information to address major societal challenges while operating as a cost-efficient distributed infrastructure. It will continuously enhance its services and in-situ facilities to meet evolving research needs, positioning Europe as a global leader in ecosystem science.

eLTER PLUS is the Advanced Community project testing services and engaging users of eLTER RI. eLTER RI is unique in its coverage both geographically and with respect to multidisciplinarity. eLTER PLUS strives to engage the best expertise and infrastructure available, and to optimise and advance the collaborative use of these services by key user groups. The outcomes of eLTER PLUS provide key input to the eLTER ESFRI process through adjacent Preparatory Phase Project, particularly in relation to understanding the requirements of the wider scientific communities, agreeing a feasible site design, and establishing optimal protocols and service portfolios required to sustainably develop eLTER RI operations. eLTER PLUS uses the transdisciplinary Whole Systems approach for analysing biodiversity loss, climate change adaptation, food security and the related social changes. eLTER PLUS focuses on creating tools for an efficient, innovative and specialised set of observation sites that prove research- and policy-relevant, accessible data on ecosystems, and improve its operations and relevancy through effective collaboration and consultation with a wide range of stakeholders. With eLTER PLUS the society will have an improved and more efficient pool of sites and platforms, capable of addressing the future research questions on the functioning of our critical, life supporting systems and on the sustainability of human-ecosystem interactions.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

Opening access to sites and their data, and the TA, RA and VA calls are an elementary part of the services to be provided in future eLTER RI. So far 4 TA calls have been launched, 80 proposals received, 56 were accepted. Over 20 TA projects have already been finalised. The collection of the needs for parameters in eLTER PLUS science cases was identified and VA data calls for the site-specific and pan-European science cases were launched. eLTER Digital Asset Registry is being prepared for cataloguing and making these data available. eLTER Data Integration and Visualisation tool (DIV) integrates metadata provided by the wider LTER network with the DEIMS-SDR (Dynamic Ecological Information System Site and Dataset Registry). The Cyberinfrastructure needs and requirements are collected and will be used to develop eLTER information system tools for future work. The Central Data Node (CDN) has been tested and populated with site-specific datasets, and will form an integral part of the eLTER Service Portfolio.

eLTER is well embedded to the RI landscape both in Europe and globally, and the dialogue between eLTER RI and other environmental RIs is continuously ongoing for ensuring the integration and complementarity. Many joint Horizon EU projects are currently running to develop and co-design RI services together with other environmental RIs. Formal collaboration letters with ICOS ERIC, UNECE Working Group of Effects and LifeWatch ERIC have been signed and the discussions are ongoing e.g. with AnaEE ERIC. The global, long-lasting collaboration includes also promoting conceptualising the vision of a GERI (Global Ecosystem Research Infrastructure). eLTER is already profiled with its integrating Whole System approach, spanning from long-term in situ observations to experimentation and remote sensing at a continental scale, and bringing together inter- and transdisciplinary researchers in Europe. eLTER PLUS aims at further engaging the national LTER networks to contribute to the development of the RI. To this end, the Site and Platform Coordinators Forum (SPF), a bottom-up channel to facilitate the information flow between the eLTER ESFRI process and Site and Platform Coordinators (SPCs), has been active. A key step forward in the eLTER RI development is harmonisation and standardisation of observations done at the sites, which is a fundamental requirement for regional and continental scale analysis. The Standard Observations Discussion paper has been updated with wide consultation with national networks and external experts. With this, eLTER is benchmarking the Standard Observations concept for supporting holistic ecosystem science. In addition to the internal in situ data, also external, retrieval data, especially concerning socio-ecological research, is valuable to research at the eLTER Sites and LTSER Platforms. The workflows for retrieval and harmonisation of data from official statistics and of legacy data were explored for this purpose. The visibility is maintained through different channels and tools. The ‘eLTER InSites’ collection of high quality photos, videos and audios from over 20 Sites across Europe was produced as an outcome of the eLTER Grand Campaign.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

eLTER responds to the challenge of understanding the compounded impacts of Global Grand challenges and the complex interactions between people and nature over the long term. eLTER PLUS is developing tools for multiple scientific communities in reaching this goal. The progress in eLTER PLUS in the harmonisation and standardisation of observations, supporting the Site and Platform Coordinators in their work, and providing access to highly instrumented Site and Platform network and their contemporary and legacy data archives are elementary parts in implementing the eLTER Strategic goals.
The ambition is to advance the best expertise and infrastructure available for addressing the crucial need for integrated research on European ecosystems at multiple scales, and for optimising and advancing the collaborative use of these services by key user groups. Continent-wide, novel data services and products will result from combining harmonised standard observations at the sites with information from a wide range of other sources in a coordinated manner. In the end of the eLTER PLUS project lifetime the eLTER RI will be operational and providing piloted services to an engaged and wide user community. Catalysing scientific discovery and insights through developing the state-of-the-art research infrastructure, collaborative working culture, and transdisciplinary expertise will enable the development and application of evidence-based solutions for the wellbeing of current and future generations.

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