Regional Mountain Conference

Long-Term Socio-Ecological Research (LTSER) within the European Long-Term Ecosystem, Critical Zone and Socio-Ecological Research Infrastructure (eLTER RI) provides the longitudinal, integrative evidence base required for robust decision-making in the context of accelerating environmental and societal change. By combining harmonised biophysical and socio-ecological monitoring, social enquiry and participatory co-design, eLTER links processes across scales — from plots to regions and from seasons to decades — translating biodiversity observations into actionable knowledge for policy, planning and management. This abstract highlights how the Austrian alpine LTSER platforms Eisenwurzen and Austrian Central Alps exemplify this approach and demonstrate its value for current and future decision-making. In Eisenwurzen, an area characterised by mountains, forests, and rivers, LTSER integrates hydrology, geomorphology, forest ecology, and community perspectives, as well as rural development. In the Austrian Central Alps, LTSER couples high-elevation climate, cryosphere, water resources and biodiversity with stakeholder knowledge to address climate adaptation and land use trade-offs. Snow cover dynamics, phenology, and species distribution observations are integrated with socio-economic scenarios to inform decisions regarding protection against natural hazards, water allocation, ski area diversification, and conservation connectivity. Across both platforms, co-produced indicators will assist municipalities and regional authorities in assessing the costs, benefits and co-benefits of interventions in changing conditions. The platforms act as living laboratories where interventions are tested, monitored and iteratively refined. By embedding science in place-based partnerships and aligning with European policy frameworks, eLTER converts sustained observation into timely, credible and actionable evidence. This supports resilient decision-making today while anticipating the risks, opportunities and societal priorities of tomorrow. In this presentation, we will provide an overview of how the LTSER concept is implemented within the eLTER research infrastructure. Drawing on research highlights, we will emphasise how LTSER platforms can promote evidence-based decision-making in alpine regions.