Global Change and Terrestrial Ecosystem (GCTE) is a Core Project of the International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme (IGBP), an international scientific research programme established in 1986 by the International Council of Scientific Unions (ICSU).

Scientific objectives

• To predict the effects of changes in climate, atmospheric composition, and land use on terrestrial ecosystems, including (i) agriculture, forestry, soils; and (ii) biodiversity.
• To determine how these effects lead to feedbacks to the atmosphere and the physical climate system.

Structure

The research project is organised around four themes or Foci, with an increasing emphasis in cross-cutting activities within GCTE and IGBP:

• GCTE and IGBP: GCTE-wide activities
• Focus 1: Ecosystem Physiology
• Focus 2: Changes in Ecosystem Structure
• Focus 3: Agroecology and Production Systems
• Focus 4: Global Change and Biodiversity

Research Strategy

GCTE's research strategy is based on an Implementation Plan, (first published in 1992 and updated in 1998), which provides the detailed framework for a coordinated international research effort. The development and implementation of this plan is done under the supervision of the Scientific Steering Committee with the support of the International Project Office and Focus Offices.

The bulk of GCTE's Core Research Projects is built on existing research projects contributed by a large number of scientists and institutions, and supported by many agencies around the world. Where critical gaps exist, GCTE, in partnership with national and regional agencies, attempts to initiate new research projects. One or two scientists lead each of the specific tasks with the GCTE Core Research Project (meet the activity and task leaders) which has involved over 1,000 research scientists and research projects worth USD 47,5 Million. Activity and Task leaders organise the contributing individual projects into a coherent programme through formation of networks and use mechanisms such as common experimental protocols, standardised methodologies and databases, model comparisons, and synthesis workshops.

Integration and Synthesis

An important objective of GCTE is to produce synthesis on critical topics that are fundamental for the development of science relevant to global change in the terrestrial biosphere. The syntheses are usually initiated with the organisation of a workshop or a series of workshops which result in specific and synthesis papers. The products are published as special editions of journals and books and review papers in international peer-reviewed journals to ensure a wide and fast dissemination of results.

For instance, GCTE has organised and co-organised 52 workshops and two major conferences over the 1997-1999 period. The various GCTE offices have coordinated grant applications for those workshops and conferences attracting a total estimated amount of funding of 2,322,026 USD.

GCTE is also committed to foster and produce integrative science which is the result from different disciplines, techniques, and measurements. The largest integrative effort was undertaken during 1996-1997 to synthesise and integrate the results of the first six years of implementation. The results of the synthesis have been published in Walker BH, Steffen WL, Canadell J, Ingram JSI, Editors (1999). The Terrestrial Biosphere and Global Change. Implications for Natural and Managed Ecosystems. Cambridge University Press, London

Communication Strategy

GCTE maintains this homepage and three other homepages at the Foci level, with an emphasis on showing new results and progress of the various activities (see "News"). Information is also selected for its policy and educational relevance. GCTE publishes two to three Newsletters issues per year and a variety of reports and working documents. Synthesis papers and special journal issues and books are the primary way GCTE publishes new research findings and synthesis efforts.

Every two years GCTE publishes the GCTE Concise Guide which provides a basic overview of the project. In late 1997 The Executive Summary Booklet of the GCTE Synthesis (IGBP Science No. 1) was published. A revised and expanded version will be published early 2001. A meetings list is maintained to keep scientists informed of upcoming GCTE meetings.