Revista Chilena de Historia Natural 83 (1): 1-11, 2010
Introduction Building a Chilean Network for Long-Term Socio-Ecological Research: Advances,
perspectives and relevance
Since their formal inception in 1980, long-term ecological research (LTER) programs
have served as a successful organizing framework to create research agendas and funding mechanisms that allow scientists to
address meaningful ecological phenomena at the scales they occur. In its 30 years of existence, LTER has expanded its geographic
range (currently the International LTER network has more than 40 country members with sites on every continent) and disciplinary foci
(principally encompassing the natural and social sciences and leading some to call for a name change to long-term socio-ecological
research - LTSER). Nonetheless, the temperate and subantarctic biomes of southern South America have lacked formalized long-term
research sites and networks. Yet, at the same time, numerous uncoordinated long-term research efforts exist in both Chile and
Argentina, and in 2008, the Institute of Ecology and Biodiversity launched Chile’s first concerted effort to link three existing sites (Fray
Jorge Forest National Park - 33° S, Senda Darwin Biological Station - 43° S, and Omora Ethnobotanical Park - 55° S). Here, we
present a special feature of the Revista Chilena de Historia Natural, dedicated to LTSER, with the aim of 1) providing a synthesis of
some of the most emblematic cases of long-term socio-ecological research in Chile; 2) demonstrating the value of these efforts for the
integration of research, education and social outcomes, such as decision making; and 3) offering the perspective of a broad array of
participants involved in these initiatives, including graduate students and associated programs from Ibero-America and North America.
It is our hope that these compiled works will contribute to the consolidation of the LTSER approach in southern South America both
within the academic community and also to better link academia and society.
Key words:
LTER, LTSER, South
America, subantarctic, temperate
