LTER-Sweden is based on a number of established and running instrumented sites for ecological research and monitoring. The Swedish network is built on the bottom-up principle, where individual sites form the basis of the network, and a central secretariat coordinates national activities and contacts with the European and International mother LTER organisations.

LTER-Sweden is governed by the member organisations through an annual meeting with one voting member per LTER site. A management board with members from a selection of the sites deals with strategic planning, grant applications and other management issues. The central secretariat will run daily issues and be responsible for e.g. organising the annual meeting, maintaining the web site, updates and contacts with ILTER, LTER Europe, end users and stake holders.

Aims of the national network

  • The network should reinforce Swedish environmental research and assessment by building capacity for data sharing and research cooperation between long-term monitoring and research stations and their associates.
  • The network should provide scientists with opportunities for research and environmental assessment at greater spatial and temporal scales than possible with data from one individual monitoring station.
  • The network should encourage applications for grants for research and environmental assessment activities not possible to conduct without a functioning Swedish LTER network, and also through an international cooperation, especially with other LTER organisations.
  • The network will encourage new research areas and multidisciplinary research emerging from the network structure.

Swedish LTER sites

In Sweden only two marine areas included in the network so far; Örefjärden in the Bothnian Sea and Himmerfjärden – Askö – Landsortsdjupet in The Northern Baltic Proper.
Connected sites on land are Bergslagen, Erken, Grimsö research station, Southern Öland, Svartberget, Tarfala, Tönnersjöheden, Vänern, Abisko research station, Asa, Gårdsjön, Siljansfors, Tovetorp and Vindelfjällens research station. Read more...