The HBLFA Raumberg-Gumpenstein is a founding member of the Austrian Society for Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER-Austria) and, with its long-term experiments dating back to the 1940s, makes a significant contribution to the study of grassland ecosystems . At the LTER-Austria conference, held from October 15th to 16th at the Research Institute for Limnology on Lake Mondsee, the latest developments in the national and international eLTER process were presented. The focus was on integrating the eLTER research infrastructure across sites and platforms to standardize and make the collection of long-term research data comparable throughout Europe. The upcoming establishment in 2026 of eLTER ERIC , a separate legal entity currently supported by 21 European countries via 165 institutions, represents a significant milestone in this process.

During workshops, LTER-Austria data management discussed, and strategies for networking with other European research infrastructures were developed. Furthermore, the current status of eLTER standard observations in the five different spheres (atmosphere, biosphere, geosphere, hydrosphere, and anthroposphere) was presented. Data from all eLTER sites are to be collected in the future based on measurement protocols for these spheres.

Another item on the conference agenda included presentations of LTER sites and platforms, as well as news and highlights about their current activities within the network. For the HBLFA Raumberg-Gumpenstein, Christoph Gahbauer presented the site, including all long-term research areas at the various locations, which have been integrated into the DEIMS-SDR with current photos.

Furthermore, the current status of the feasibility study for establishing the eLTER research infrastructure presented, and challenges were discussed. The aim of the feasibility study is the implementation of the eLTER Standard Observations as a process for site accreditation.

The national steering committee welcomed the implementation of the feasibility study by HBLFA Raumberg-Gumpenstein and our initiative to integrate long-term research sites into the National Action Plan for the European Research Framework 2026-2028 (ERA NAP/European Research Area National Action Plan, led by the Federal Ministry of Science, Research and Economy) and into the DaFNE research program importance of long-term research at a strategic level, not only for university sites but also for the departments of the BMLUK, and to secure the necessary resources for practical implementation. This is crucial for long-term networking within the international research area and participation in research programs.

The conference ended with the annual general meeting and the discussion for the future LTER-Austria White Paper 2027.