Ecological information management for global change monitoring networks and protected areas

The management procedures of the protected areas are often used as a reference in the process of designing and implementing new ways of land management. These new management protocols are based on adaptability to local and global change. The information management systems are a key tool to provide useful information and knowledge to implement these management procedures. Information management systems provide scientists and managers modeling tools in a computing framework. These tools ease somewhat the land resource management complexities. The information management systems allows managers to make decisions with less uncertainty and scientists advance understanding of ecological processes of natural systems. In this paper we describe the structure and functions of the information management systems used to facilitate management and research in protected areas. The implementation of a functional and useful information management system depends on the scientific and technological requirements, as well as a particular attention to the human resources and financial constraints. We describe the implementation of many information management systems deployed at every United States Long Term Ecological Research Network participating site.