UK Environmental Change Network

• ECN website
• ILTER regional network: Europe

The Environmental Change Network (ECN) is the UK's long-term environmental monitoring programme.  It is designed to collect, store, analyse and interpret long-term data based on a set of key physical, chemical and biological variables which drive and respond to environmental change at a range of terrestrial and freshwater sites across the UK.

ECN was launched in 1992.  Monitoring started formally in 1993 at terrestrial sites and 1994 at freshwater sites.  The data are stored in a central database and are available through a variety of data access methods.  

ECN is a multi-agency programme sponsored by a consortium of 14 UK government departments and agencies.  These organisations contribute to the programme through funding either site monitoring and/or network co-ordination activities.