Integrated European Long-Term Ecosystem, critical zone and socio-ecological Research
Long-Term Ecosystem Research: Contributions, Challenges and Future Perspectives
20 years LTER-Bulgaria as part of eLTER
Whole-ecosystem studies are central to advancing the understanding of complex ecological systems, as they enable the analysis of long-term biotic and abiotic interactions and the identification of emergent ecosystem properties that cannot be captured through short-term approaches. Long-term ecosystem research provides the empirical foundation necessary to address pressing environmental challenges, including global change, biodiversity loss, and sustainability transitions. Such a holistic approach allows for strategic planning and development of crucial evidence-based ecosystem conservation and management.
In 2026, the Bulgarian Long-Term Ecosystem Research Network (LTER-Bulgaria) celebrates 20 years of coordinated long-term ecosystem observation and research. Over two decades, the network has generated a unique and extensive body of long-term datasets that have contributed to ecological theory, ecosystem process understanding, and the development of integrative, multi-scale, and transdisciplinary research at national and international levels.