Membership

Long-term networks may join ILTER. Criteria for joining are listed in the ILTER Policy Document (2004) and the procedure for joining is explained below.

Summary of the Procedures for Joining ILTER

Nomination: The petition for a member network to join the ILTER Network should come from a community of scientists endorsed by a government body, or private entity acting at the national level, and address the LTER program within that member's boundaries.  Mission statements of the LTER program should be consistent with the mission of the ILTER Network.  Other criteria include:

• existence of a national committee or other management structure;

• a set of proposed sites or criteria for selection of sites;

• a statement of collective purpose which might include defined research or monitoring themes;

• a policy commitment to compatibility and accessibility in data management;

• prospects for long-term stability of the program.

It is usual to provide a letter from the organisation that is supporting the proposal at national level (addressed to the Chair of ILTER - see Contacts).This is usually quite a simple statement of support in and there is no fixed format. However, good letters of support will clearly endorse the application and note its strengths. The letter of support does not usually contain a long-term commitment but it should recognise the general principle that LTER programs should be long-term.  To become a member network in ILTER, the candidate LTER network should be approved by vote of the ILTER Coordinating Committee.