SCANNET - A Circum-Arctic Network of Terrestrial Field Bases

SCANNET is a network of field site leaders, research station managers and user groups in northern Scandinavia and Europe that have been collaborating since 2001 to improve comparative observations and access to information on environmental change in the North. What is SCANNET doing? SCANNET partners are providing stability for research and facilitating long-term observations in terrestrial and fresh water systems. The partners are also providing information on existing environmental data sets from key locations in the Arctic and easy access to important environmental information and research activities within the SCANNET region. Why is SCANNET important? Northern landscapes are some of Europe's last wilderness areas. They contain specialised and diverse plants and animals and large stores of soil carbon. However, these regions are experiencing rapid environmental and social changes and are particularly vulnerable to predicted climatic changes. SCANNET seeks to facilitate research into these changes and their implications for the North and for lower latitudes by providing the fundamental infrastructure bases, local experience and research expertise on environmental impacts issues relating to landscapes of the Arctic. SCANNET's Future: SCANNET partners have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to confirm their enthusiasm to continue to collaborate. SCANNET is regarded as a well-defined terrestrial component of larger networks and is collaborating with CEON.