This workshop was funded by the U.S. Forest Service (International Institute for Tropical Forestry) and the University of Puerto Rico.
Bob Waide, P.I. for the Luquillo LTER site, was principal organizer and invited the participants. The LTER Network Office developed the agenda for the workshop and carried out the activities. J. Gosz led the workshop and John Vande Castle and Rudolf Nottrott assisted and performed a connectivity demonstration.
Representatives were present from Argentina (1), Brazil (11), Colombia (2), Costa Rica (3), Jamaica (1), Panama (1), United States (4) and Venezuela (2). Puerto Rico had 8 represenatives.
Each country made a presentation on long term research efforts and the potential for the development of a network of LTER sites. Countries differed in the development of this approach with some (e.g., Brazil, Columbia) having already identified sites and an organized effort to network the research efforts and scientists. The following is a summary of the country presentations:
Argentina: Has no official LTER program but there are unofficial long term research efforts that are the result of individual research efforts. Three potential sites were identified; Sierra de la Ventana (mountain grassland), Tierra del Fuego (Nothofagus forest), and Eucalyptus grandis plantations.
Brazil: Following the visit of J. Gosz to Brazil, a network of sites has been organized. Eleven sites have been identified and 5 or 6 will have funding initiated this year. The sites will represent Amazon Forest, Atlantic Forest, Cerrado, Caatinga, Pantanal and coastal habitats.
Columbia: The Columbian Congress has dictated that a long term research network program will be developed in Columbia to promote, coorinate and carry out research with respect to biodiversity in Columbia. The effort will integrate organismal to ecosystem research efforts, study structure and function of habitats and the role of the human dimension for biodiversity. Criteria for sites are; biological significance, previous studies, infrastructure/equipment, accessibility and security. Thirteen sites have been identified and 9 will be the initial focus areas for development. At this meeting 3 were presented as examples; Tinigua National Parks (Colombian Amazon Forest), Araracuara Region (lowland wet tropical forest), and Mountain Forest sites in the Andean mountain region.
Costa Rica: There is not a LTER program and there is not a clear priority for a definite number of sites that could form the basis for a network. They identified that the time is right to develop this approach for the 19 life zones (Holdridge System) in Costa Rica.
Jamaica: Has no official LTER program but has one area (Blue Mountain National Park that has been studied extensively. Several more potential National Parks may be established which will help prioritize research to be done that may form the basis of an LTER network program.
Panama: no official LTER program but with excellent potential research efforts through the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute. Barro Colorado has long term research efforts and a broad array of topics under investigation.
Venezuela: no offical LTER program but very excited about this "new idea" and approach. Three sites were identified as potential research areas; Cerrado of the Venezuelan Llanos, San Carlos Rain Forest of the upper Rio Negro and the alpine Andean tropics. At this time there are no permanent field stations nor permanent funds for these sites. A fourth areas was presented, the evergreen seasonal forest on the floodplan of the Caparo Forest Reserve. There a university has a 7000 ha forest station with facilities for 100 people that was established in 1978.
Meeting Final Day Discussion:
ILTER efforts in Latin America could be focused on specific issues - such as Biodiversity and Global Change. It was pointed out that some Latin America LTER efforts decided to use the 5 core areas that the U.S. LTER effort uses as a focus for research, but also added biodiversity as a core area. An effort could be made to link the research to commitments that already exist such as those of the Rio Convention. Use of existing support from UNEP, UNESCO and the UN should be integrated with this work. Linking information together is an important first step. Also important would be linking existing Latin America WWW pages, assistance in their creation, or hosting them on remote servers such as ILTERnet.edu in the U.S. LTER Network Office. A technology assessment, not only connectivity, should be considered. Access to, or existence of "Standard Baseline Data" is important. At the same time, each LTER program, network or site needs to focus on the research it already does, and integrate other work.
Although the U.S. LTER program started primarily as a bottom up effort from the scientific community, there may be a need for some top down effort as well in the ILTER program in the countries in Latin America.
Good examples are the needs of biodiversity and global change research from international conventions. At the same time, the bottom up effort provides the competitive aspect to prove the interest and dedication of the site program. Within this context is a need for "minimum site characteristics" - i.e. what minimum infrastructure and research that is required to be an LTER site. Funding for LTER sites will be quite variable, and the infrastructural support of the ILTER effort can be used in a beneficial way, or even as leverage for funding.
The site-based research efforts are an important and beneficial focus of the LTER programs. LTER sites, even a single site, in a country are important components of the ILTER Network.
Arial Lugo proposed a resolution for the Latin America LTER effort.
With the inclusion of "loss of biodiversity", the proposal was put to the floor as a motion, and seconded by the Jamaican representative, and agreed to unanimously. With discussion, the resolution was amended by changing the final sentence. It was also suggested the resolution be translated into Spanish (to be done in Puerto Rico).
The resolution is attached as appendix A.
Brazil was very interested in developing a regional effort and offered to serve as the host and organizer for future regional Latin American efforts. That is the reason for the various letters identified in the country reports below. Each country identified the next steps in its efforts to develop long term research and/or a network of sites.
Argentina:
Will identify sites for LTER by discussion with scientists in the country, identify infrastructure needs, identify a small number of sites to build this program, identify some specific studies to participate in with other countries, and develop funding support in the country as well as extramural funding. It also will send a letter of support for a Latin American ILTER effort to the U.S. Network Office and a letter of support to Brazil for a Latin American Workshop to be held in Brazil.
Brazil:
Will host a LTER workshop, design a Home Page at CNpQ, identify the first set of sites to start, develop the schedule for addtional sites to be added, develop a program of scientist exchange with the US, and develop training on information management. It will write a letter to the US Network Office supporting the ILTER effort and send letters to countries inviting collaboration. Brazil also will supply information to other countries on the IAI effort.
Columbia:
Will complete criteria and development for sites, develop a long
term plan to add 1 - 2 sites per year, do specific research programs
based on national priorities, write a letter of support to the
US Network Office for ILTER and the exchange of scientists between
the US and Columbia, write a letter to Brazil supporting an exchange
of scientists, write a letter to Brazil in support of the Latin
American workshop, and develop a specific proposal for common
research efforts with other Latin American countries.
Costa Rica:
Will identify institutions to be involved, develop a workshop to develop objectives and goals for an LTER criteria for sites, define baseline information to be collected, develop training on data management with the US, host a local workshop with selected sites to develop standards, methods, partnerships, write a letter to the US supporting the ILTER effort, and a letter to Brazil in support of the Latin American workshop.
Jamaica:
Has 1 site now, will inform scientists about LTER, develop resources for electronic communication, participate in the US-led Costa Rica Workshop, develop information management training/needs, and write letters to the US Network Office for ILTER and Brazil for the Latin American Workshop.
Panama (STRI):
Will develop a meeting in Manaus with Brazil on site development in the Amazon, will develop a meeting with Equador on site development in Yasuni, will develop a meeting with Columbia on site development in La Planada, develop a meeting with Peru in Manu, write letters of support to the US Network Office and Brazil for ILTER and the Latin American Workshop, perform synthesis on the 50 ha plot data with the Luquillo LTER site and identify Panama scientists for the next Latin American workshop.
Venezuela:
Will report to the NRC about the LTER research approach, develop a proposal for the development of a LTER network, develop a paper on the philosophy of the LTER approach to promote it in Venezuela, develop an official proposal in the meeting of the Ecological Society of Venezuela, explore international agreements for support, and write letters to the US for ILTER support, to Brazil for support of the Latin American Workshop, and to Puerto Rico for a cooperative effort.
Puerto Rico:
Will develop a Home Page on the Latin American effort and will develop specific projects that can involve scientist to scientist and site to site efforts.
United States (Network Office):
Will develop letters to NSF requesting support for interaction
between US scientists and scientists in Latin American countries
and obtain literature on LTER and supply to countries in Latin
America.
One final action was to recommend to the ILTER Network Committee
that an addition be made to the goals/objectives of the ILTER
Network to:
Develop interactions with other international activities and
programs. Examples are Diversitas, GTOS, IGBP, GCTE).
Respectfully submitted,
James Gosz and John Vande Castle
Appendix A: Resolution of the Workshop
The changing conditions in Latin America require a new focus and
new approach to ecological research. Some of the changes that
affect the ecological systems of the region include:
1. global atmospheric change
2. land use change
3. increasing human population with increasing expectations for resource
use and services
4. globalization of the local economies 5. fragmentation of natural ecosystems
6. loss of biodiversity
These trends underscore the importance of ecological systems in
the sustenance of human activity and life quality. Latin America
contains the largest remaining areas of undisturbed natural ecosystems
of the world including over half of the world's biodiversity and
most of the world's untapped freshwater supplies. Increasingly,
regions are considering large scale development projects that
affect this vast natural resource base. Yet, the region has a
low information base including a low density of scientific infrastructure,
a low population of natural resource scientists, and some of the
least studied and least understood ecosystems in the world.
Reliable information is needed to guide the use of the natural resources of Latin America. Ecological research can provide the necessary knowledge to balance the needs of people with those of the ecological systems of the region. Such research must consider both the global and local context under which ecosystems function, including both natural and anthropogenic factors. There is an emerging concensus among the scientific community that long-term ecological research focused on a variety of temporal and spatial scales is the most effective way of understanding ecosystems.
Comparative studies along spatial and temporal gradients are particularly
effective.
Participants of the workshop recommend the establishment of an
international network of LTER sites from Tierra del Fuego to the
Caribbean. Such a network of sites will accelerate understanding
of the ecological systems of Latin America through synergy, effective
research focus, comparisons, gradient analysis, integration, and
cooperative ventures. (Also added was a sentence to the effect
of developing a Latin American regional effort to participate
in the International LTER Network of Networks. The specific wording
will be supplied later.)
Appendix B: Workshop Participants
Argentina:
Jorge Frangi
LISEA Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias Forestales
Universidad Nacional de La Plata
Diagonal 113 no.469 2do. Piso
La Plata (1900) Argentina
LTERnet address: JFrangi@LTERnet.edu
E-Mail: lisea@isis.unlp.edu.ar
Phone: 54-21-33467 (Ofc.)
: 54-21-527396 (Part.
FAX: 5421-252346
Brazil:
Roghrio Parentoni Martins
Coord of Post-Grad progs in ecol, cons
Laboratorio de Ecologia e Comportamento de Insetos
Dep. Biologia Geral, ICB-UFMG
Cx. Postal - 486, CEP: 30.161-970
Belo Horizonte, MG Brazil
LTERnet address: RMartins@LTERnet.edu
E-Mail: wasp@oraculo.lcc.ufmg.br
Phone: (031) 448-1233
: (031) 441-5481
FAX: (031) 441-5481
Fosca Pedini Pereira Leite
Coordenador Pos-Graduado em Ecologia
Dep. de Zoologia - IB - UNICAMP
Cx. Postal 6109, CEP: 18083-970
Campinas, SP Brazil
LTERnet address: FLeite@LTERnet.edu
E-Mail: fosca@obelix.unicamp.br
Phone: (0192) 39-7601
FAX: (0192) 39-3124
Francisco de Assis Esteves
Coordenador Prog. de Pos-Graduado em Ecologia-UFRJ
Dep. de Ecologia - Univ. Federal do Rio de Janeiro
CEP: 21.940-540
Rio De Janeiro - RJ Brazil
LTERnet address: FEsteves@LTERnet.edu
E-Mail: limno@ufrj.bitnet
Phone: (021) 270-4950 (Ofc)
: (021) 511-0513 (Part
FAX: (021) 270-4950
Gilberto Cezar Pavanelli
Coord. do Curso de Pos-Grad. em Ecologia de
Ambientes Aquaticos Continentais
Univ. de Estadual de Maringa, Av. Colombo 5790
CEP: 87.030-900 Maringa, PR Brazil
Phone: (044) 222-9955
Francisco Antonio Rodrigues Barbosa
Chair, Brazilian Working Group on LTER
Dept. Biologia Geral - ICB - UFMG
Cx. Postal: 486
CEP: 30.161-970
Belo Horizonte, MG Brazil
LTERnet address: FBarbosa@LTERnet.edu
E-Mail: barbosa@mono.icb.ufmg.br
Phone: (031) 448-1358
FAX: (031) 441-5481
Gustavo Alberto Bouchardet da Fonseca
Dep. de Zoologia - ICB - UFMG
Cx. Postal 486
CEP: 30161-970
Belo Horizonte, MG Brazil
LTERnet address: GdaFonseca@LTERnet.edu
E-Mail: g.fonseca@conservation.org.br
Phone: (031) 441-1795
FAX: (031) 441-5481
Organization(s): ILTER
Thomas Michael Lewinsohn
Dep;. de Zoologia - Instituto de Biologia
UNICAMP
CEP: 13.083-970
Campinas, SP Brazil
LTERnet address: TLewinsohn@LTERnet.edu
E-Mail: liapzoo@turing.unicamp.br
Phone: 019-2397022
FAX: (019) 2393124
Claude Gascon
Smithsonian Plots: Director de Campo Projeto
Dinamica Biologica de Fragmentos Florestais
INPA - PDBFF, C.P. 478, CEP 69.011
Manaus-Am Brazil
LTERnet address: CGascon@LTERnet.edu
E-Mail: pdbff@cr-am.rnp.br
FAX: 092 672-2050
Braulio Ferreira de Souza Dias
Coord. Geral de Diversidade Biologica
Ministerio do Meio Ambiente dos Recursos
Hidricos e da Amazonia Legal
Esplanada dos Ministerios- Bl B, 8 andar sala 819
Brazil
LTERnet address: BDias@LTERnet.edu
E-Mail: bfsdias@nutecnet.com.br
: bfsdias@mma.gov.br
Phone: (061) 317-1260
FAX: (061) 317-1209
Carlos Roberto de Faria e Souza
Head of Int. Cooperation Office
Conelho Nacional de Desenvolvimiento Cientific
e Tecnologico, SEPN
Av. W3 Norte, Q.507, Bloco B
70740-901 Brasilia Brazil
LTERnet address: CdeFariaeSouza@LTERnet.edu
E-Mail: carlos_faria@sirius.cnpq.br
Organization(s): ILTER
Luiz Gonzaga Reboucas Ferreira
Coord. de Assuntos Internacionais
Univ. Federal do Ceara, Av. da Universidade, 2853
Fortaleza - Ceara 60.020.181
LTERnet address: LFerreira@LTERnet.edu
E-Mail: ufcgrai@lia.ufc.br
Phone: 085-281-5383
FAX: 085-281-5383
Colombia:
Jaime Cavelier
Dept. of Biological Sciences
Univ. de los Andes
AA 4976
Bogota Colombia
LTERnet address: JCavelier@LTERnet.edu
E-Mail: jcavelie@cdcnet.uniandes.edu.co
Phone: (57-1) 284-9911
FAX: (57-1) 284-1890
Cristian Samper
A.A. 100-286
Santa Fe de Bogota Colombia
LTERnet address: CSamper@LTERnet.edu
E-Mail: humboldt@uniandes.edu.co
Phone: 57-1-215-2681
Costa Rica:
Manuel Guariguata
CARIE
Apartado Postal 7170
Turrialba Costa Rica
LTERnet address: MGuariguata@LTERnet.edu
E-Mail: mguariug@catie.ac.cr
FAX: 506-556-1533
Luis Diego Gomez
Organization for Tropical Studies
Apartado 676
San Pedro de Montes de Oca Costa Rica
LTERnet address: LGomez@LTERnet.edu
E-Mail: lcruces@ns.ots.ac.cr
Phone: 506-240-6696
FAX: 506-240-6783
Oscar Rocha
Esc. de Biologia, Univ. de Costa Rica
Ciudad Universitaria "Rodrigo Facio"
San Pedro de Montes de Oca
San Jose Costa Rica
LTERnet address: ORocha@LTERnet.edu
E-Mail: ojrocha@cariari.ucr.ac.cr
Phone: 506-207-5392
: 506-207-4644
FAX: 506-207-4216
Jamaica:
Devi Prasad
Head of Botany Department
University of the West Indies
Mona
Kingston, 7 Jamaica
LTERnet address: DPrasad@LTERnet.edu
E-Mail: devipras@uwimona.edu.jm
FAX: 927-1640
Panama:
James V. LaFrankie
Center for Tropical Forest Studies
5021 - 45th St. NW
Washington, DC 20016
LTERnet address: JLaFrankie@LTERnet.edu
E-Mail: ctfs@nicvax.ac.se
Phone: (202) 966-9454
Puerto Rico:
Robert B. Waide Site: LUQ
P.I.
Terrestrial Ecology Division
PO Box 363682
San Juan, PR 00936
LTERnet address: RWaide@LTERnet.edu
E-Mail: r_Waide@upr1.upr.clu.edu
Phone: (809) 767-0371
: (809) 767-0338
FAX: (809) 758-0815
Specialty:
food webs, avian ecology, remote sensing, biodiversity
Organization(s): LTER ILTER LTSS
Habitat(s): FOR
Organism(s): BRD
Core Area(s): 2 5 7
Ariel E. Lugo Site: LUQ
P.I.
Institute of Tropical Forestry
USDA Forest Service
PO Box 25000
Rio Piedras, PR 00928-2500
LTERnet address: ALugo@LTERnet.edu
E-Mail: R08F16A (USFS)
Phone: (809) 766-5335 X26
: (809) 740-l032
FAX: (809) 766-6303
Specialty: ecosystem analysis, nutrient cycling
Organization(s): LTER ILTER
Habitat(s): FOR
Organism(s): TRE
Core Area(s): 1
United States:
Anne C. Petersen
Deputy Director
National Science Foundation
James R. Gosz Site: NET SEV SEV
Chair, LTER Network
University of New Mexico
Department of Biology
Albuquerque, NM 87131
LTERnet address: JGosz@LTERnet.edu
E-Mail: jgosz@sevilleta.unm.edu
Phone: (505) 277-2265
: (505) 277-9370
FAX: (505) 277-5355
John R. Vande Castle Site: NET
LTER Network Manager
University of Washington
LTER Network Office
College of Forest Resources, Box 352100
Seattle, WA 98195-2100
LTERnet address: JVandeCastle@LTERnet.edu
E-Mail: jvc@lternet.edu
Phone: (206) 543-6249
FAX: (206) 543-7295
Rudolf Nottrott Site: NET NET
Network Data Manager
University of Washington
LTER Network Office
College of Forest Resources, Box 352100
Seattle, WA 98195-2100
LTERnet address: RNottrott@LTERnet.edu
E-Mail: rnott@lternet.edu
Phone: (206) 543-8492
FAX: (206) 543-7295
Venezuela:
Ernesto Medina
Centro Ecologia
IVIC
Apartado 21827
Caracas 1020-A Venezuela
LTERnet address: EMedina@LTERnet.edu
E-Mail: emedina@oikos.ivic.ve
Phone: 582-5727446