The site is located between two bio -geographical zones arid and hyper-arid, the research is carried out by both sides. The arid side is characterized by remains of terraces from the Nabatean agriculture runoff. The main research topics that being studied in the site are: biodiversity, climate change, runoff hydrology. The arid zone is a geo hydrological ecological system which is depended on a combination of rainfall and runoff that creates water enriched parches that support relatively high biodiversity. The hyper arid zone is runoff depended system the source of runoff are stipe, slope consist on bare bedrock, biological activities are constructed in the dry riverbeds that functions as sinks for the runoff generated from the slopes.

The introduction of non-indigenous species (NIS), also known as alien species, is a pressing issue throughout the world nowadays, mostly linked to globalization. Transitional environments are particularly exposed to this threat due to the importation of seafood for either aquaculture or sale. According to the most recent observations, the Mar Piccolo of Taranto hosts 36 NIS positively identified, divided in 13 invertebrates, 15 macroalgae, and 8 planktonic species. This basin ranks third among the Mediterranean hot spots for seaweed introduction, after the Thau Lagoon (southern France) and the Venice Lagoon. Continuous monitoring activities are carried out to early identify new introductions and follow the fate of those already introduced.

Coastal dune site with complete gradient from beach to coastal woodland, partly grazed - >20 year follow up of vegetation succession

The site consists of “orographic islands” with high elevation vegetation in central Mediterranean basin, along the Apennines mountain range. Majella: 26 plots are in Majella National Park, 15 plots belonging to the world network GLORIA, placed along an elevation gradient between dwarf shrublands and tundra vegetation (2400-2700 m a.s.l.), 6 plots refer to the study of population biology of endangered taxa and other 5 plots, ranging from 2400 to 2600 m a.s.l., refer to soil monitoring. Matese: 10 plots in Matese mountains (1800-2000 m a.s.l.), included into the world network GLORIA, and characterised by high elevation grasslands.

Managed realignment in the brackish part of the Scheldt Estuary. Realised since April 2004. A formal sand stock was removed to allow tidal influence.

Central Europe maintains a considerable diversity of dry-mesic oak forests as the main representatives of zonal forest vegetation types in Hungary, covering the major part of foothills of the middle-range mountain, Inner Western Carpathians. The 669 m high, Triassic limestone hill called ‘Vár-hegy’ belongs to the Bükk Mountains. The annual mean temperature is about 8◦C and the annual precipitation is about 650 mm. The core area of the reserve (94 ha) is covered mainly by close-to-nature. long untouched oak dominated forests stands: Pannonic woods with Quercus petraea and Carpinus betulus; Pannonian-Balkanic Turkey oak-sessile oak forests; Pannonian woods with Quercus pubescens. It has been set aside for preservation in 1991, though several previous conservation acts had already secured almost spontaneous natural development of the stands. Most of the area was cut around 1880, however, several over-mature trees were retained. The intensive use in the previous centuries and during the world wars left a sessile oak dominated, 120-130-year-old, mostly coppice forest. The abandonment and the precedent severe oak decline contributed to generate a more diverse forest composition and structure developing towards a mixed forest with pronounced ‘old-growth’ characteristics.

Tidalflats, Rocky shore, Wetlands (containing saltmarshes) in Nagaura Island, Kami-Amakusa, Kumamoto, Japan. It locates in Unzen-Amakusa National Park at west-Kyushu.

UK Upland Waters Monitoring Network (UK UWMN) site. The Bencrom River lies in the Mourne Mountains of County Down, south-eastern Northern Ireland. The catchment area is 216 ha and rises from 140 m where the river meets the Silent Valley Reservoir to a maximum of 700 m at Slieve Meelbeg. The underlying geology is fine-grained granite with localised superficial boulder clay drift. Soils are dominated by blanket peats which are eroding in the upper part of the catchment. Moorland species characterised by Calluna, Molinia, and Sphagnum mosses, comprise the catchment vegetation, with Pteridium in the lower reaches indicating land-use disturbance in the past. Contemporary land-use and management is confined to low-intensity sheep grazing and infrequent heather burning. The annual rainfall is c. 1800 mm. Note: The area is the size of the catchment.

UK Upland Waters Monitoring Network (UK UWMN) site. The Afon Hafren lies in the Cambrian Mountains of mid-Wales and from its confluence with the Afon Hore forms the headwaters of the River Severn. The catchment area is 358 ha and rises from 355 m at the sampling station to 690 m at Blaenhafren. Stagnoodsols cover approximately 40% of the catchment and organic peaty soils comprise the remaining area. The underlying geology consists of Ordovician grits and Silurian mudstones and shales. Fifty percent of the catchment is planted with conifers, primarily Sitka and Norway spruce, and forms part of the larger Hafren Forest; planting took place primarily between 1948-1950 and 1963-1964. At the start of monitoring about 5% of the catchment consisted of recently felled forest. Since that time there has been steady harvesting and replanting of large areas continuing right up to the present day though this appears to have had little impact on stream water chemistry. Moorland grasses and Calluna occupy the remainder of the catchment and are utilised for rough grazing. Prior to afforestation the catchment was exploited as upland sheepwalk. Rainfall is c. 2500 mm annually. Some data are managed by UK ECN Data Centre. Note: The area is the size of the catchment. Note that Afon Hafren is within the Plynlimon Experimental Catchments (see http://data.lter-europe.net/deims/site/EXPEER-UK-02).

UK Upland Waters Monitoring Network (UK UWMN) site. The Afon Gwy lies to the east of Plynlimon in central Wales and forms part of the headwater system of the River Wye. The catchment area is 389 ha and rises from 380 m at the sampling station to a maximum altitude of 730 m. Catchment soils are dominated by peats and stagnopodsols. The underlying geology is Lower Palaeozoic mudstones, shales and grits of the Gwestyn and Van formations, overlain in places by locally-derived glacial drift. The catchment consists of moorland grasses, notably Molinia and Nardus, with Eriophorum and the moss Racomitrium on areas of wetter land and Pteridium on the lower slopes. The majority of this grassland supports rough grazing for sheep and in summer, on the lower land, cattle. The local area is crossed with tracks used for rally testing, one of which passes through the southern edge of the catchment. Some data are managed by UK ECN Data Centre. Note: The area is the size of the catchment. Note that Afon Gwy is within the Plynlimon Experimental Catchments (see http://data.lter-europe.net/deims/site/EXPEER-UK-02).