Existing LTER

In finding out about any ongoing LTER in my country, I asked people who are involved in protected areas and natural resources work. When I asked if there was any LTER, they all quickly responded with a flat "no".

• In Protected Areas

In most areas there are no monitoring programs. Those existing are not yet 5 years old, and their continued funding and staffing is in question. They might not be in place for long.

• Elsewhere

Again, there are no projects that have been going on for more than 10 years, except for weather records kept by the INSIVUMEH (National Institute for Vulcanology, Meteorology, and Hydrology). Another possibility is a study of the quality of water for drinking and irrigation by the University of San Carlos. However, neither of these have an ecological research approach.

There might be other research, but projects are isolated and therefore hard to access: you must brainstorm as to who might be doing something, and approach each organization.

LTER needs

These are areas of research in which knowledge would contribute to regional studies, not only to Guatemala.

• Resource Quality

Pollution of air, water (includes sedimentation of water bodies), soil (chemicals from agriculture or mining).

• Animal Populations

Numbers, migration patterns, population dynamics.

• Natural history of Species

Behavior (feeding habits, etc.), study of individuals (dimensions, health)

• Vegetation Cover

Area of extension, composition, changes in them.

• Environmental Dynamics
• Human Impacts
  

Obstacles to LTER

• Lack of Funds
• Lack of Skills

Personnel in research stations are not trained scientists. Some might not read or write.

• "Cultural" barriers
  • It is not "traditional" for projects to include monitoring and evaluation components.
  • People are not willing to risk evaluations.
    

Real Life Examples

• Rio Dulce Environmental Impact Assessment

There was no baseline data to measure impacts against. The researchers obtained information from a previous EIA, which was several years old.

If this situation continues, each EIA would have no base data to determine magnitude of impacts. Using old research would provide some guidelines, but does not allow to see behavior of data over time.

One aspect contemplated was impacts to manatees along the Rio Dulce river. Information available on manatee numbers, areas of inhabitation, etc., was based on hearsay accounts. People in charge of the manatee reserve have a ridiculous budget and lacked boats.

• Vegetation Cover Maps

There exist maps showing the reduction of forested areas in Central America every 100 years, since prehistoric times. The most recent years' maps might be based on cartography, and historical accounts. But is the rest speculative?

Long-term periodic mapping would show real and accurate changes in vegetation cover and composition over the years.

Summing Up

• The country lacks information that only LTER can provide. This information is key to some research subjects, proper analyses of some phenomena, and/or decision-making.
• Obstacles to LTER are lack of skills, funding, and "cultural".
  

The Solution

• Projects need to incorporate monitoring and evaluation components.
• There is no precedent; take a first step!
• Proper funding and training must be provided.
• Research must be readily available (a network would be ideal) for others' reference, to increase serendipity, and avoid redundancy of effort / misuse of resources.
  
  

This information is to the best of my knowledge, but IS NOT TO BE REGARDED AS AUTHORITATIVE - Luis E. Furlan