Network Activities of International Long-Term Ecological Research (ILTER) and the Advancement of Biodiversity Research at Local, Regional and Global Levels

Eun-Shik KIMProfessor, Department of Forest ResourcesKookmin UniversitySeoul 136-702, Korea

Temperature Increase!Global Warming!!

Biodiversity at risk!!!

Climate Change: A New Driver?

Biodiversity at local, regional, and global levels is at risk due mainly to ecosystem destruction followed by diverse human activities and ecosystem degradation affected by environmental pollution around the world.

Recently, climate change possibly accelerated by global warming emerges as a new and powerful driver for change of biodiversity at ecosystem levels.

Sequoia sempervirens (Coast Redwood)

Integrity of genetic and species biodiversity within an ecosystem

CBD Definition of Biodiversity

Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD):The variability among living organisms and the ecological complexes of which they are part and which include diversity within species, between species and ecosystems.

Complexity Function

Interaction and interdependence

Structure

Temporal Change Connectability

Ecosystem

Ecosystem Attributes andNiche of Biodiversity

Ecosystem and its attributes

Ecosystem is considered as the true level of biological integration, which encompasses all the living species (i.e., flora, fauna, and microbiota) and the environment within which the organisms are living.

Ecosystem attributes: structure, function, complexity, interaction and interdependence, temporal changes, etc.

To conserve the diversity within species and between species, it is vital to conserve the diversity of ecosystems.

The Challenges

Biodiversity, Species Compositon, and Ecosystem FunctioningEcological Aspects of Biogeochemical CyclesEcological Implications of Climate ChangeEcology and Evolution of Infectious DiseasesInvasive SpeciesLand Use and Habitat AlterationHydroecology and Emerging Issues

ILTER and its Network

The International Long-Term Ecological Research (ILTER) Network has been developed since 1993

Currently, there are 40 member Networks at country (territory) level

The ILTER East Asia-Pacific (ILTER-EAP) Regional Network has been formed since 1995

Framework of International LTER Network

North American

Central / South American

African Middle East

East Asia / Pacific

Central / Eastern

European

West European

ILTERCoordinating

& Executive

Committees

International Long Term Ecological Research (ILTER)-1

‘A network of networks’ A global network of research sites located in a wide array of ecosystems worldwide that can help understand environmental change across the globe.

- ILTER's focus is on long-term, site-based research.

Benefits of Collaboration

Achieve works that an individual cannot do independentlyShare good ideasShare sophisticated equipmentsShare data Broaden spatial scaleShorten research timeAdvance knowledge

The key issues of ILTER at present

Climate change (Monitoring and Assessment of Adaptation & Mitigation)Sustainable developmentBiodiversity and its sustainable useSustainable use of resources and ecosystem management (land & water)Environmental hazards and disasters

Initial EAP Regional

ILTER Networks

Member Network in East Asia & Pacific Regional ILTER Network:

Japan

Vietnam

Indonesia

Philippines

Thailand

Australia

Taiwan

Korea

China

Mongolia

East Asia / Pacific

Regional Network

East Asia and Pacific Regional Networkof ILTER (EAP-ILTER)

Diverse Ecosystem StructuresEcosystem Patterns & Processes

Transect ecosystem gradient studiesCarbon flux network activities

BiodiversityEcosystem ServicesWater (Hydrology)Potential Initiation of Global Ecological Observatory Network (GEON) Activities

Including Thailand LTER sites

& Philippines LTER sites

ILTER issues relatedto advance biodiversity research

Construction of biodiversity monitoring and observation system

Development of monitoring systems for early detection and warning

Development and implementation of adaptation strategies.

Complexity Function

Interaction and interdependence

Structure

Temporal Change Connectability

Ecosystem

Ecosystem Attributes andNiche of Biodiversity

Genuineness Function

HealthDefense

Asian Biodiversity Conservation

Attributes of Ecosystem IntegrityBiodiversity Program Suggested

Ecosystem Integrity

ABCDEFGHI Program with Network Activities

Asian Biodiversity

Conservation and Defense through

EcosystemFunction,

Genuineness, Health, and

Integrity Program

A Potential and Suggested Research Program sponsored by the ASIA-HORCs

Network Activities of International Long-Term Ecological Research (ILTER) and the Advancement of Biodiversity Research at Local, Regional and Global Levels

Classification, inventory, conservation, sustainable useBiodiversity

EcosystemIntegrity

Networks

Major Research Equipment and Facilities Construction

How are ecological systems affected by changes in land use, climate, and biogeochemistry across a range of

spatiotemporal scales?

How do changes in the availability and distribution of the nation’s water affect ecological systems?

How do patterns and movements of genes and organisms across the continent affect biodiversity, ecosystem functioning, the

spread of infectious diseases and invasive species, and human systems?

NEON Fundamental Questions

Biodiversity PDAPortable, rugged, field-capable deviceElectronic field guide and data recorderIntegrated GPSWireless linkHigh resolution digital cameraMeasures temperature, light levels, relative humidity, barometric pressureBarcode reader / label generator

ILTER as a Ground Facility for the supply of

adaptation services and products to UNEP

ILTER A Network of Ecosystem Observations for

Biodiversity Conservation & Climate Change Adaptation: At Global, Regional and National Levels

Thank you for your kind attention!