The eLTER initiative, an ambitious integrative platform merging ecological and socio-economic data, responds directly to the intricate and dynamic challenges posed by the interactions between human societies and natural ecosystems over extended periods. By synthesizing data streams across various disciplines and geographic scales, eLTER aims to advance our scientific understanding of how environmental changes impact biodiversity, ecosystem services, and human well-being. This holistic approach is critical for developing robust, evidence-based policies capable of addressing global environmental challenges with unprecedented precision.

Technically, the eLTER infrastructure is designed to facilitate comprehensive longitudinal studies by providing standardized methodologies, data harmonization protocols, and cutting-edge monitoring technologies dispersed across a network of strategically selected observatories. This network will enable researchers not only to detect gradual ecosystem shifts but also to explore their underlying mechanisms, causal pathways, and their feedback loops with human social systems. By successfully achieving ERIC status, eLTER will secure a stable and legally recognized framework that guarantees sustainability, standardized governance, and equitable access for all contributing nations.

Currently, the European Commission is undertaking a thorough review of eLTER’s Step-1 Application, which includes detailed assessments of scientific merit, operational feasibility, financial models, and governance structures. This evaluative phase could instigate requests for further clarifications or modifications, typical of pioneering infrastructure projects of such magnitude. Responding promptly and accurately to any such feedback will be crucial to progressing to the Step-2 Application stage, whereby the final establishment request, endorsed by all prospective member states and observers, is formally lodged.

The anticipated timeline sets the submission of the Step-2 Application in early 2026, pending satisfactory revisions and consensus among stakeholders. The European Commission’s ultimate decision regarding the eLTER ERIC’s establishment will be formally published in the Official Journal of the European Union, thereby instating an official status that enables eLTER to operate as a pan-European infrastructural body dedicated to ecological and social system research.

The realization of eLTER as an ERIC represents more than administrative success; it signifies a scientific leap derived from years of interdisciplinary collaboration, advanced technological innovation, and shared commitment to addressing complex environmental challenges within Europe and beyond. With this infrastructure, researchers will gain unprecedented capabilities for cross-sectoral analysis, data integration, and stakeholder engagement, facilitating actionable insights into ecosystem resilience, climate adaptation, and sustainable resource management.

Acknowledgment is due to the German BMFTR for its pivotal role in facilitating the submission process, whose support and strategic oversight have been invaluable in navigating the multifaceted bureaucratic landscape. Likewise, the Interim Council members of eLTER have provided engaged and thoughtful leadership, ensuring that the application process rigorously meets scientific, technical, and operational requirements. Their collective efforts are mirrored by a wide network of supporters spanning current and prospective member countries, which collectively uphold the vision of a unified research infrastructure.

As anticipation builds, the eLTER community eagerly awaits the Commission’s feedback which will not only shape the final submission but also influence the trajectory of environmental and social sciences infrastructure for years to come. This step signals a renewed promise toward fostering open science, enhanced data interoperability, and collaborative governance models that transcend national borders and discipline-specific silos.

The significance of eLTER’s progress extends beyond the scientific domain as well; it serves as a blueprint of international collaboration and strategic investment in knowledge infrastructures that are crucial for addressing planetary-scale environmental crises. eLTER’s integrative framework is positioned to bridge gaps between ecological data and societal decision-making processes, thus empowering policymakers with reliable projections and adaptive strategies grounded in robust empirical evidence.

In summary, the successful submission of the Step-1 Application underscores eLTER’s readiness and commitment to establish itself as Europe’s backbone for integrated long-term ecosystem research. The anticipated formal recognition as an ERIC will enable eLTER to provide sustained support for monitoring, analyzing, and forecasting environmental changes while fostering capacity building in scientific communities. As this transformative endeavor progresses, it promises to contribute significantly to the science-policy interface, ensuring that human-nature relationships are understood and managed with the foresight necessary for sustainability in an era of rapid global change.

Subject of Research: Long-term ecological and socio-environmental research infrastructure development

Article Title: eLTER Advances Toward European Research Infrastructure Consortium Status with Key Milestone Submission

News Publication Date: July 24, 2025

Web References:

• Official Journal of the European Union: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/oj/direct-access.html

Image Credits: eLTER

Keywords: Science policy, scientific community

The genesis of SELINA’s Communities of Practice lies in a comprehensive, nearly two-year-long collaborative journey involving extensive partner engagement. Over 23 months, SELINA partners held more than 19 consortium meetings, coordinating cross-national knowledge exchange and aligning methodologies for ecosystem assessment, accounting, and valuation. This collective effort has culminated in the creation of multiple national and regional CoPs, each serving as a dedicated knowledge hub that contextualizes ecosystem data and services specific to their geographical and socio-economic realities. As a result, a substantial repository of 29 rigorously reviewed factsheets has been published, offering granular insights into biodiversity metrics, ecosystem conditions, the flow of ecosystem services, and their incorporation into economic accounts.

The SELINA CoPs are designed not merely as transient project-based gatherings but as enduring pillars of knowledge exchange and collaboration. In the short term, they function as national platforms facilitating continuous learning and networking among stakeholders during the project’s life span. These forums promote dialogues that demystify ecosystem science, making it accessible for decision-makers and industry leaders who often grapple with translating scientific findings into practical policies and innovations. By fostering shared understanding, they bridge traditional gaps between ecological research and policy implementation, enabling more informed and sustainable choices.

Beyond the immediate project timeframe, the initiative envisions intermediate and long-term objectives that embed resilience into these communities. Intermediate goals focus on institutionalizing CoPs as formal networks capable of sustaining ongoing cooperation beyond initial funding periods. This involves establishing governance structures, fostering trust among participants, and encouraging resource sharing to facilitate knowledge continuity. Ultimately, the aspiration is to cultivate a robust and self-sufficient pan-European network of CoPs, interconnected yet autonomous, continuing to disseminate expertise and best practices well into the future.

A notable feature of the SELINA CoP framework is its emphasis on cross-national collaboration. Recognizing that ecological challenges often transcend borders, the initiative encourages CoPs from different countries to engage in joint dialogues, exchange best practices, and collaboratively tackle shared issues. These interactions, facilitated through SELINA-organized events or self-initiated community activities, enable the pooling of diverse experiences and innovative approaches. This collective intelligence fosters scalable solutions and spurs the harmonization of ecosystem accounting methodologies across Europe, strengthening the foundations for a unified environmental governance landscape.

Underpinning the CoPs is an advanced science-policy interface that integrates cutting-edge research with practical policymaking tools. The factsheets produced by the CoPs synthesize complex datasets on ecosystem condition and services into comprehensible formats, often employing standardized indicators and accounting frameworks aligned with international standards such as the System of Environmental-Economic Accounting (SEEA). These resources assist stakeholders in quantifying ecosystem contributions to economic and social well-being, enabling the incorporation of natural capital considerations into national statistics, corporate reporting, and public policy evaluations.

Moreover, through these CoPs, SELINA is addressing a perennial obstacle in environmental governance: the fragmentation of knowledge domains. Many ecosystem-related decisions have historically suffered from siloed information streams, lacking integration between ecological science, economic valuation, and social dimensions. The CoPs act as integrative platforms where multidisciplinary expertise converges, facilitating holistic analyses of ecosystem functionality, service flows, and their socio-economic impacts. This systemic perspective is crucial for crafting adaptive management strategies that are resilient to environmental changes and socio-economic uncertainties.

Communication and outreach also constitute vital components of the Communities of Practice model. SELINA has developed a dedicated digital hub where CoP activities, updated factsheets, and event information are continuously published. This ensures transparency, promotes wider stakeholder engagement, and maintains the relevance of the platform amidst evolving environmental challenges. By leveraging digital tools alongside traditional meetings, SELINA enhances the accessibility of ecosystem knowledge, thus broadening its impact beyond immediate participants to reach policymakers, researchers, and the public alike.

Importantly, the CoPs provide a valuable testing ground for methodological innovations in ecosystem accounting and valuation. Through iterative learning processes and mutual feedback loops within communities, best practices are refined and adapted to diverse contexts. This empirical approach enhances the robustness of ecosystem service assessments and their policy applicability, providing evidence-based inputs for ecosystem restoration, conservation funding, and sustainable resource management initiatives at multiple governance levels.

The SELINA project’s integration of CoPs exemplifies a forward-looking paradigm in environmental governance — one that prioritizes stakeholder inclusivity, knowledge co-production, and multi-level cooperation. By fostering enduring, dynamic networks that transcend disciplinary and national boundaries, SELINA contributes significantly to the evolving landscape of ecosystem management in Europe. Its emphasis on embedding natural capital considerations systematically into economic and policy frameworks aligns with global sustainability goals and underpins Europe’s commitment to the EU Green Deal and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

For professionals, policymakers, and researchers intrigued by this novel approach, SELINA’s new Communities of Practice webpage offers a gateway to explore ongoing initiatives, factsheets, and future events. As the CoPs continue to mature and generate tangible outcomes, they represent a compelling model for scaling ecosystem knowledge integration worldwide. Those interested in contributing to or learning from these vibrant communities are encouraged to connect with national contact points or SELINA project leads, fostering a growing network dedicated to ecosystem sustainability.

In summary, the SELINA Communities of Practice initiative is not just a scientific endeavor but a socio-political innovation in environmental stewardship. Its multi-tiered strategy, uniting scientific rigor with stakeholder engagement and practical tools, paves the way for more informed, transparent, and collaborative ecosystem governance models. As challenges associated with biodiversity loss, ecosystem degradation, and climate change intensify, such integrative platforms are indispensable for harnessing collective expertise towards resilient and sustainable futures.

Subject of Research: Integration of ecosystem knowledge into decision-making processes through Communities of Practice in the SELINA project.

Article Title: SELINA’s Communities of Practice: Catalyzing Sustainable Ecosystem Governance Across Europe

Web References:
https://project-selina.eu/communities-of-practice
http://www.project-selina.eu
https://www.linkedin.com/company/project-selina
https://bsky.app/profile/selinaproject.bsky.social
https://www.youtube.com/@SELINA_HorizonEU

Image Credits: Pensoft Publishers

Keywords: Scientific organizations, Scientific publishing, Ecosystem accounting, Natural capital, Sustainability, Environmental governance, Biodiversity integration