Report of the Meeting of Experts on Ecological Networks


Global Terrestrial Observing System

(Guernica, Spain, June 17-20, 1997)

September 1997

GCOS - 38

GTOS - 10

WMO/TD No. 846

Table of Contents


Table of Contents


1. OPENING OF THE SESSION

1.1 Welcome
1.2 Purpose of the Meeting
1.3 Approval of the Agenda
1.4 Introductory Comments

International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme (IGBP)
Global Terrestrial Observing System (GTOS)
Global Climate Observing System (GCOS)

1.5 Background to the Meeting

2. REPORTS FROM THE NETWORKS

2.1 UK Environmental Change Network (ECN)
2.2 The World Network of Biosphere Reserves
2.3 U.S. Long-Term Ecological Research Network (U.S. LTER)
2.4 Chinese Ecosystem Research Network (CERN)
2.5 International Cooperative Programme on Integrated Monitoring of Air Pollution Effects on Ecosystems (ICP IM)
2.6 The Arab Centre for the Studies of Arid Zones and Dry Lands (ACSAD)
2.7 Réseau d'Observatoires de Surveillance Ecologique à Long Terme (ROSELT)
2.8 Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR)
2.9 Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme (AMAP)
2.10 Euro Fluxnet
2.11 International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme (IGBP)

3. GLOBAL HIERARCHICAL OBSERVING STRATEGY (GHOST)

4. DEFINITION OF REQUIREMENTS

5. USE OF DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS

5.1 Soil Carbon
5.2 Global Forest Cover Database
5.3 Coordinating Land Use and Cover Data and Analyses in Europe
5.4 Terrestrial Ecosystem Productivity

6. STRATEGY FOR FORMING A GLOBAL NETWORK

6.1 Rationale
6.2 Scope
6.3 Data and Methods
6.4 Definition of Core Variables
6.5 Internet Access
6.6 Organizational Structure

7. SUMMARY RECOMMENDATIONS

8. CLOSURE OF THE MEETING

ANNEX I: LIST OF PARTICIPANTS

ANNEX II: AGENDA

ANNEX III: DESCRIPTION OF PARTICIPATING NETWORKS

ANNEX IV: DEMONSTRATION PROJECT - TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSTEM PRODUCTIVITY