Israel-LTER is the local rendition of the novel world trends for studying and managing the environment, which is based on coordinated networks engaging in ecologic research and monitoring on the national level.
The special characteristics of the Israeli program include:
The development of a research and monitoring network spread along the length of the country that gathers data over time on elements and processes in the environment and the internal connections between them over a broad spatial scale. This data is required for the preservation, restoration and management of open spaces.
Use by all Israeli sites of the same basic working protocol for gathering information and handling data, which will enable identification of laws and ecologic models essential for preservation, renewal, and management of open spaces;
Development of a unified conceptual framework that brings together multifactor, system-wise, interdisciplinary probing that will enable multi-organizational dialog (academia, management bodies, and decision makers). Under this umbrella, a multidimensional bond will be formed, starting with data gathering in the field, through to knowledge transfer and synthesis, and ending with recommendations for management and environmental policy. Israel-LTER will bridge the present gap between the elements dealing with environmental issues by establishing horizontal cooperation between various bodies — scientific and applicative.
Fostering tight integration between science and application in order to improve the professional aspects of managing open spaces and preserving biological diversity;
Seeking the application of synthesis to identify new ecologic principles that operate over broad scales of space and time, which will underlie policy decisions, planning, and practice in ecosystem management.
Israel has become a leading member of the world
ILTER (International Long-Term Ecological Research) , network, particularly through its work in the
LTER-Europe subdivision. , The Israel-LTER participates within the research and monitoring activities of LTER-Europe, writing collaborative research proposals, and participating in an analysis group dealing with data on a continental level. The Israel-LTER also develops programs appropriate for Israel that relate to local conditions. In addition to collaborative research there is also an exchange of information between member countries of the ILTER international, which enables learning from one another. The Israel network can benefit from studying the organization of world ILTER with respect to long-term monitoring and their ability to obligate research sites and governmental authorities to long-term commitments. Israel-LTER is also the foremost member that has adopted a uniform research paradigm in all its sites using the top-down approach. The uniform protocol operating in most of the Israel-LTER stations and the identical operational underpinnings of the project is an approach that other countries are trying to apply on their national, continental and world levels.
Long-term ecological research sites (with annual rainfall) along a rainfall gradient in Israel. Pictures show typical vegetation patterns of the sites. Sattelite image courtesy of National Aeronautics and Space Administartion. Pothographs: Moshe Shachak and bertrand Boeken. Abbreviations: km, kilometer; mm, miliiimetre; yr, year.
