The LTER All Scientists Meeting 2006 was held during September 20-23 at the YMCA of the Rockies in Estes Park, Colorado. Some XTBG scientists from the Xishuangbanna and Ailaoshan Monitoring Stations participated in the meeting.

  With the theme of “The next 25 years of LTER: Contributions to understanding ecological change”, the meeting was attended by about 600 scientists who conduct long-term ecological research. 50 lectures were made and 440 posters were displayed during the sessions. Long-term ecological research achievements in different ecosystems were displayed. The participants also discussed the challenges faced with the ecological studies. A strategic plan for future long-term ecological research was studied out.

   After the meeting, XTBG scientists were invited to visit the Niwot Ridge Mountain Research Station of Colorado University. Dr. Bill Bowmen, director of the Station, met with XTBG delegation and made academic exchanges. Both sides hope to communicate and exchange with each other in research and management. Collaborative efforts will be made in order to turn the cooperation willingness into realization as soon as possible.

  The Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) Network supports fundamental ecological research that requires long time periods and large geographical scales. Created in 1980 by the US National Science Foundation (NSF), the Network is a coordinated network of 26 field sites joined together through the collaborative effort of more than 1,800 scientists and students.