Kilpisjärvi Biological Station (Kilpisjärvi LTER) - Finland

Kilpisjärvi Biological Station is situated in the mountain birch forest zone near the 70th degree of northern latitude (69°03'N; 20°50'E) in the northwesterenmost part of Finland. The station belongs to University of Helsinki, the Faculty of Biological and Environmental sciences. The station is famous for its long-term ecological research projects (longest continuous ecological projects started already in 1946), and long-term follow-up studies form the core of the research activities. For instance, the projects were praised in the international "Research Assessment Exercise 2005" of the University of Helsinki. Data of these projects are constantly used as background information in many short-term projects, too (see Figure below). Because the station is situated in the Sámi indigenous people reindeer herding area, there are good opportunities for socioeconomic studies. Land use conflicts between different stakeholders (reindeer herding, tourism, scientific research, etc.) have already been studied.