ILTER places emphasis on solid and professional internal structures which provide the institutional framework for its long-term operations in line with its
strategic goals. Through its governance structures, ILTER is accountable towards its
members, responsibilities can clearly be defined and distributed among the network's officers, transparency is given regarding ILTER's actions, its collaborations with other networks and organizations, and regarding how its funds are spent.
Fairness is ensured by defining clear mechanisms for all the members to get involved in decision making. Such good management practices are essential for networks and research infrastructures with a long-term perspective. Specific activities and progress often rely on temporary funding sources, such as international research projects, but beyond these, well-functioning operational structures and related governance ensure continuity.
Member Networks and Regions
ILTER is a
network of networks. Most of its members are national LTER networks, consisting of scientists collectively engaged to conduct scientific research according to the
ILTER mission, vision and goals. Each of these networks has its own long-term program and has become part of the ILTER legal entity. Some of the ILTER member networks are structured into ILTER Regional Groups:
LTER Europe and
ILTER East Asia Pacific (EAP).
Coordinating Committee (ILTER CC)
The ILTER CC is the main body of designated delegations of the
Member Networks, and it is ILTER's primary decision-making body, whereby each ILTER member network has one vote. The ILTER CC
convenes annually, hosted by one of its member networks.
Chair and Co-Chair
The ILTER Chair convenes and presides at the
Coordinating Committee meetings and Executive Committee meetings, and ensures that the business of ILTER is carried out effectively and in accordance with its committee's decisions. The Co-Chair supports the Chair and takes over the Chair’s role in case the Chair is absent.
International Management Office (IMO)
The IMO provides day-to-day support for the ILTER chair's work and administers the ILTER action items. It provides support regarding
ILTER meetings, including minute taking, set up of virtual meeting tools etc., and it handles central communication, such as mailing lists and
circulars and ILTER correspondence.
Secretariat and Financing Office (SFO)
The ILTER Secretariat handles the financial administration of the association and of its
initiatives. It hosts the
document store and the central contacts database. It performs contractual work and
legal obligations, is responsible for
data security and maintains this website. Both offices closely collaborate.
Executive Committee (ILTER EC)
The ILTER EC is responsible for day-to-day organizational aspects of ILTER in between the
ILTER CC meetings. Thereby it puts decisions taken by the ILTER CC into action. The ILTER EC interacts virtually, holding a monthly teleconference. The ILTER EC encompasses the Chair and the Co-Chair, the IMO-Officer (International Management Office) and the Secretary, the chairs of the standing Committees for
Science and
Information Management, and representatives of
US LTER,
SAEON (South African Environmental Observation Network), and the regional groups
ILTER EAP, and
LTER Europe.
Committees
ILTER has established two standing committees, namely for
Science and for
Information management. For specific purposes, also ad hoc committees have been set up, for example to work out guidelines for
internal balance.
Our Team
Tiffany Troxler
Chair of ILTER
Florida International University, USA
Hideaki Shibata
Co-Chair of ILTER
Hokkaido University, Japan
Michael Mirtl
Chair of International Relations Committee
Chair of
LTER Europe
Environment Agency Austria
Elli Groner
Chair of the
Science Committee
Dead Sea & Arava Science, Israel
Guru Siddeswara
Chair of the
IMC
University of Queensland, Australia
Tommy Bornman
South African Environment Observation Network
Helga van der Merve
South African Environment Observation Network
Nancy Grimm
Representative of
US LTER
Arizona State University, USA
David Mac Iwaniec
Representative of
US LTER
Georgia State University, USA
Alyssa Hernandez
IMO Officer
Florida International University
Herbert Haubold
Secretary
Environment Agency Austria