The operational goals of the Israel-LTER are an upgrading of the existing monitoring and research programs, establishment of new sites, and development of centers for monitoring biological diversity, data management and synthesis. In addition, the Israel-LTER will build an organizational structure capable of sustaining itself through the activities of its member institutes. In particular, the Israel-LTER will concentrate on:

  1. Upgrading and standardization of long-term research and monitoring of Israel’s environmental processes in the existing network of field sites (from Arava in the south to Mt. Meron in the north), which operate in open spaces (nature preserves, forests, agricultural and grazing lands);
  2. Establishing and operating a computerized Knowledge Center for the gathering, organizing, analysis, and dissemination of interdisciplinary ecological data to managers, educators, policy makers, and the public at large;
  3. Establishing and operating a Synthesis Center to integrate Israel-LTER data sets into novel concepts, models, and new approaches to advance basic and applied research (management) of the structure and function of open spaces in Israel.
  4. Establishing and operating a national monitoring program to record the dynamics of biologic diversity in Israel as a foundation for preserving, restoring, and administering environmental systems;
  5. Fostering the participation of the Israel-LTER association members in the management of the country's open spaces and the support of Israel’s LTER activities.
  6. Formulating environmental policy papers and publications on scientific, technical and popular levels, thereby translating the Israel-LTER findings and making them available to managers, policy designers, decision makers, professionals, and scientists dealing with open spaces, as well as to the public in general.

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