New Study Highlights the Role of Long-Term Ecosystem Research in Understanding Human–Environment Interactions

Since 2004, LTER-Europe has been laying the groundwork for a new generation of environmental research — one that captures not only the state of ecosystems but also the pulse of human life within them.

A recent study from the Austrian Long-Term Socio-Ecological Research (LTSER) platform Eisenwurzen has taken a major step toward that goal by collecting and evaluating 117 socio-ecological datasets spanning more than five decades (1970–2023). The research forms part of the broader effort to develop the Integrated European Long-Term Ecosystem, Critical Zone and Socio-Ecological Research Infrastructure (eLTER RI).

The Eisenwurzen region, located across Upper Austria, Lower Austria and Styria, serves as a model for this integrated approach. Covering nearly 6,000 square kilometres and including 91 municipalities, the area is home to diverse ecosystems — from forests and grasslands to arable land and rivers — and a rich cultural history shaped by centuries of iron ore mining and manufacturing. Today, the local economy relies mainly on agriculture, forestry and tourism, while facing challenges such as population decline, land abandonment, and climate change impacts.

By cross-referencing regional datasets with the eLTER socio-ecological Standard Observations, the researchers identified clear trends. Quantitative data have grown steadily in both volume and resolution over time, offering valuable insights into land use, resource management, and environmental change. However, gaps remain — especially in long-term series and in areas like consumption, livestock and regional economics, where publicly accessible data are limited.

Notably, qualitative data — essential for understanding the human and cultural dimensions of environmental change — were largely absent from existing repositories. To address this, the research team proposed a new data integration scheme to make qualitative insights compatible with the eLTER information management framework.

The findings underscore the importance of linking quantitative indicators with qualitative perspectives in order to fully capture the complex feedbacks between society and nature. As Europe advances toward a formalized eLTER Research Infrastructure, studies like this one highlight the crucial role of regional socio-ecological observatories in building a more complete picture of how people and ecosystems co-evolve in a changing world.

For eLTER, this publication reaffirms its central mission: to provide a robust, long-term research infrastructure that connects ecological and social sciences, supports co-creation of knowledge with stakeholders, and strengthens Europe’s capacity to adapt to environmental change.

📖 Link to the publication: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11135-025-02193-9

Egger, C., Fichtinger, P., Bertsch-Hörmann, B. et al. A comprehensive guide to socio-ecological data for the LTSER platform Eisenwurzen. Qual Quant (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11135-025-02193-9