Understanding how ecosystems change takes years of observation and people committed to keeping that work going. Both will be in focus as the eLTER community gathers in Varna, Bulgaria, on 14-17 October 2026 for an international scientific conference marking 20 years of LTER Bulgaria as part of eLTER. More than 130 participants have registered for the event.

Held at Hotel Cherno More under the title “Long-Term Ecosystem Research: Contributions, Challenges and Future Perspectives”, the conference will bring together researchers, environmental experts, practitioners, policymakers and teams from LTER sites and platforms. Scientific presentations will sit alongside discussions about how research networks can share knowledge, support their members and make their findings more useful to society.

Connecting observations across borders

The scientific programme draws on eLTER’s Whole System Approach for In-situ research on Life-sustaining Systems (WAILS), which connects ecosystem processes with human-environment interactions. Contributions will examine what long-term observations reveal about ecosystem dynamics, biodiversity and resilience in the face of environmental change.

For Svetla Doncheva, Head of LTER-Bulgaria and Chair of the Scientific Committee for the conference, the value of the national network lies partly in its connection to a wider European and global effort. When researchers use comparable methods, observations from individual sites can contribute to a broader understanding of environmental change. Bulgaria’s network brings a diverse range of settings to this work, including forests, rivers, wetlands, the Black Sea coast and a research site on Livingston Island in Antarctica.

Doncheva also points to a persistent difficulty: scientific recommendations do not always lead to action. Alongside field observations, analysis and modelling, the network works with institutions and other stakeholders to explain research findings and consider possible responses together. The conference will provide space for these conversations, with representatives of Bulgarian ministries and environmental and forestry agencies expected to attend.

The special collection Long-Term Ecosystem Research: Contributions, Challenges and Future Perspectives on ARPHA Conference Abstracts will feature extended abstracts for all research, presented at the conference.

Research and cooperation across Europe

The programme features a plenary contribution from eLTER Coordinators Michael Mirtl and Jaana Bäck. Keynote speakers Steffen Zacharias and Marco Ferretti will address harmonised observations and insights from long-term forest monitoring. Nikolaos Nikolaidis will discuss approaches to desertification, while Katalin Török and Miglena Zhiyanski will explore the contribution of experiments and monitoring to ecosystem restoration. Daniel Orenstein will bring expertise in socio-ecological systems and cultural ecosystem services, connecting the study of how people perceive, value and shape ecosystems with environmental planning and policy. Tomáš Rebok will examine emerging technologies for data management and open science.

Three special sessions will address the relationships that sustain this research. National coordinators from across the European network will discuss how to make observations more comparable through shared methods, indicators and measurement practices. A session on cooperation among environmental research infrastructures will explore connections with networks such as DiSSCo, LifeWatch, AnaEE, DANUBIUS and Euro-Argo, seeking practical ways to coordinate work and connect complementary expertise.

Giving the next generation a voice

The Early Career & Friends (EC&F) session, “Rethinking Generational Change in Long-Term Ecological Research - From Mentorship to Partnership”, will focus on the people who will carry the network forward. It will consider how younger scientists can take a more active role in shaping and leading eLTER, with the aim of turning the discussion into concrete steps.

“Long-term ecological research depends on long-term observations, infrastructure and funding - but also on something just as important: continuity of people, knowledge and responsibility,” says session chair Elena Todorova of the Forest Research Institute, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences.

The panel will bring together Daniel Orenstein, Svetla Bratanova-Doncheva, Katalin Török, Kinga Krauze, Borislava Gyosheva and Rositsa Yaneva, with participants invited to share their experiences and expectations. Practical presentations will follow: Hristina Prodanova will discuss the journey from a research idea to a published paper; Vassia Atanassova will explore ways to improve the visibility and accessibility of scientific work; and Iglika Angelova will address science communication and career opportunities, including green professions. The session will also be streamed for the eLTER EC&F group.

Exploring research sites and Varna

On 17 October, guided visits will take participants to a choice of LTER-Bulgaria sites. The Black Sea coastal visit will introduce dune systems, lagoons and marine habitats, while the visit to Srebarna Nature Reserve will offer a closer look at a Danube wetland recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and Ramsar site, and home to the Dalmatian pelican. These excursions will connect the conference discussions with the places where long-term research happens.

Varna offers further opportunities to explore between sessions. The Archaeological Museum, Boris Georgiev City Art Gallery and Sea Garden are within walking distance of the conference hotel, giving visitors a chance to discover the city’s history and art, or spend time along the Black Sea shore.

The conference is organised by LTER-BG, the Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research, the Institute of Oceanology and the Forest Research Institute at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, together with the University of Forestry, with support from eLTER RI and Pensoft Publishers.

Conference programme and event details

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