The International LTER Network (ILTER) has opened the first-stage call for its first globally coordinated research activity, which will bring together official ILTER sites in a shared ecological study. Teams from within or outside the ILTER network are invited to propose a scientifically meaningful topic and a simple, standardized protocol that can be implemented across diverse ecosystems using existing staff and infrastructure. The selected team will work with ILTER to refine the scientific approach, develop training materials and data standards, conduct pilot testing, coordinate participating sites, manage and validate incoming data, and communicate the results through ILTER platforms.
Proposed activities should support cross-site comparison, follow FAIR data principles, and be accessible to sites with limited resources. The call will proceed in two stages. Following the first-stage review, approximately three teams are expected to be shortlisted and invited to further develop their proposals with ILTER. One team will then be selected to implement the activity under a service contract. A total project budget of €55,000 is available for a minimum project duration of two years. Applicants should download the first-stage proposal template from the call webpage and submit the completed form as a PDF to the ILTER Secretariat. Deadline for first-stage proposals: September 7, 2026
