ARTERI

Arctic - Alpine terrestrial ecosystem research initiative

chair: W. Heal

Arctic and Alpine ecosystems are normally subject to extreme climatic conditions, but climatic trends indicate distinct warming and possible changes in precipitation. They are also subject to enhanced C0₂ and UV-B, plus increasing pollution. Some data indicate that Arctic tundra has already shifted from being a net Carbon sink to a source. The sen-sitive tundra and alpine ecosystems are also increasingly under pressure to sustain local human populations, act as recreation areas, maintain wildlife, and support industry.

It is against this changing environment that the EC has launched ARTERI as a 3-year Concerted Action programme of DGXII, started on 1 February 1996. It is a component of the Terrestrial Eco-system Research Initiative (TERI) which is designed to improve the ability to predict the consequences of the inter-active effects of changes in land-use, climate,composition on terrestrial eco-systems.

The Objectives of ARTERI are:

• To provide a forum for exchange of information and development of collaboration in European Arctic and Alpine terrestrial research.
• To develop a theoretical and practical framework for inte-gration of the research effort.
• To provide a focus for European collaboration with other regional and global research.
• To identify priorities and proposal for further research, integration and interpretation

W. Heal

contact :

Thomas Bjørneboe Berg,
ARTERI Secretariat,
Danish Polar Center,
Strandgade 100 H,
DK-1041 Copenhagen K,
Denmark.
Tel: (+45) 32 88 01 18
Fax: (+45) 32 88 01 01
tbb@dpc.dk

O. W Heal
Institute of Ecology and Resource Management,
School of Agriculture, University of Edinburgh,
West Mains Road,
Edinburgh EH9 3JG,
United Kingdom
Tel: (+44)1968674927
Fax: (+44)1968674927
o.w.heal@ed.ac.uk

web site :