What a long strange trip it's been: Background and impulses for the development of the ULTRA program from the US Forest Service

Background/Question/Methods

The idea for the ULTRA program draws upon two principal sources: the long term ecological research (LTER) program, funded by the National Science Foundation, and the Experimental Forests and Ranges program funded by the USDA Forest Service.  Both programs provide motivations, culture, and practices that inform the ULTRA program.

Results/Conclusions

This presentation has three parts. First, I describe how these two programs contribute to the ULTRA concept. Second, I provide a history for how the ULTRA concept developed. Finally, I consider how the ULTRA program can precipitate social-ecological research in the U.S. and internationally. Results from current urban LTERs and ULTRA-Exs are discussed.