Rhone Basin Long Term Environmental Research Observatory (RBLTER)

An observatory on hydrosystems & social dynamics linked to water

The Rhone Basin Long Term Environment Research comprises Observatory and / or Experimental Sites. It is the support of research programmes that provide elements of knowledge to stakeholders and to public decision-makers, in the field of sustainable management of rivers and watersheds.

A researchers and partners network

a scientific label of the CNRS
23 universities, schools or research organisations
345 researchers

Objectives

It aims to provide to decision-makers with a methodology to evaluate the effects of watersheds rehabilitation or restoration on river hydrosystems, in terms of biodiversity, sustainability (lasting effects), ecological services and potential uses

4 research themes crossed on experimental sites …

Climatic change and resources
Flows, forms, habitats, biocoenocis
Pollution flows, ecotoxicology and ecosystem
Social observation of the river governorship

A forum of exchange

Co-ordination of scientifc and
technical workshops
To look for a correct adequacy between developed research programmes and social concerns expressed by professionnals

Themes and sites interconnection

	Ardiere watershed	Arc Isere watershed	Drome braided river	Sipibel	Cevenol rivers	OHM VR	OTHU	Alpine Lakes Observatory	Ain watershed
Climatic change and resources		x	x		x	x		x
Flows, forms, habitats, biocoenocis	x	x	x		x	x	x	x	x
Pollution flows, ecotoxicology and ecosystem	x	x		x		x	x	x
Social observation of the river governorship	x		x	x	x	x	x		x

OTHU = Field Observatory for Urban Water management
OHM VR = Human and natural systems Observatory
SIPIBEL = Bellecombe’s pilot site on hospital effluents and sewage treatment plants in Haute-Savoie

Our organization

The RBLTER :

is labelled « Zone Atelier » by the CNRS since October, 2001
has a Managing Board (executive committee),
its Partners Board includes all the representatives of the Research Organisms and the Partners of the project,
its scientific co-ordinating committee comprises the representatives of the different sites and themes,
its scientific Board includes international well-known experts