Welcome to the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology

Dr Terry Parr

Current work

I am head of a Section at CEH Lancaster which works mainly across the CEH Water and Biodiversity Research programmes. I lead the CEH Topic on “Observations, Patterns and Predictions for Biodiversity” working on the delivery of long-term, large-scale monitoring and experiments for the collection, provision and modelling of biodiversity data. I also represent the CEH Biodiversity Programme on CEH’s Environmental Information Strategy Group.

I am currently Chair of the International Long-term Ecological Research Network (ILTER, which has 40 member networks around the globe) and ALTER-Net (A “Long-term Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research Network” with 22 European partners in 17 countries). I am on the Steering Committee of the ESFRI/European “LifeWatch” programme (an “e-Science and Technology Infrastructure for biodiversity data and observatories”). I am also connected to the global Diversitas programme as a member of its bioDISCOVERY Scientific Committee.  

Research interests

Over the last decade, I have been closely involved in the development of long-term ecological research networks in the UK, Europe and Globally and am increasingly interested in the application of these networks to address contemporary issues such as climate change impacts and adaptation, integrated ecosystem assessment and the effects of environmental change on the sustainability of ecosystem services. Through my connections with ILTER, ALTER-Net and Diversitas my interests are now on the development of large-scale earth-observation and informatics systems and their use in the management and sustainable use of biodiversity and ecosystems.

Brief CV

Please click here for a brief career outline.

Selected publications

See also the NERC Open Research Archive.

Parr, T.W., Sier, A., Battarbee, R.W., Mackay, A. and Burgess, J. (2003) Detecting environmental change: science and society - perspectives on long-term research and monitoring in the 21st century. Science of the Total Environment, 310(1-3), 1-8.

Parr, TW., Ferretti, M., Simpson, I., Forsius, M. and Kovacs-Lang, E. (2002) Towards a long-term integrated monitoring programme In Europe: Network design in theory and practice. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 78(3), 253-290.

Scott, W.A., Adamson, J.K., Rollinson, J. and Parr, T.W. (2002) Monitoring of aquatic macrophytes for detection of long-term change in river systems. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 73(2), 131-153.

Parr, T.W (2002) Climate change indicators for Cumbria. In: McKenzie, A & Charras, Y. Sustainability Indicators for Cumbria. Cumbria CC.

Ferretti, M., Cherubini, P., Dobbertin, M., Nimis, PL. and Parr, TW. (2001) The question of sampling in networks aimed at monitoring the effects of air pollution and climate change on natural resources in Europe - between old problems and new challenges. ISAFA Communicazioni Di Ricerca, 2001/2, 51-72.

Joyce, A., Adamson, J.K., Huntley, B., Parr, T. and Baxter, R. (2001) Standardisation of temperature observed by automatic weather stations. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 68, 127-136.

Parr, T.W. and Scott, W.A. (2001) Indicators for detecting the impacts of climate change on species and ecosystems. Detecting Environmental Change. Science and Society. 17-20 July 2001, p 31.

Parr, T..W, Simpson, I.C., Forsius, M., Kovacs-Lang, E., Maracci, G., Tschirley, J., Menne, B. & Feretti, M.  (2000) Networking of Long-term Integrated Monitoring in Terrestrial Systems: Final Report and Strategic Plan. EC/ENRICH Contract Report ENV4-CT97-0590.

Parr, T.W. & Hirst, D.J. (1999) The UK Environmental Change Network and the Internet: their role in detecting and interpreting environmental change. In: Advances in Sustainable Development. Environmental Indices: Systems Analysis Approach. EOLSS Publishers: 223-236.

Parr T. W. (1998) The UK Environmental Change Network. In: Waide R., French C., Sprott P., Williams L, The International Long term  Ecological research Network 1998. US LTER Network, Department of Biology, University of New Mexico: 65-73.

Parr, T.W. & Eatherall, A. (1994) Demonstrating climate change impacts in the UK: the DoE Core Model programme.  London: Department of the Environment.

Parr, T.W. & Way, J.M. (1988) Management of roadside vegetation: the long-term effects of cutting. Journal of Applied Ecology, 25, 1073-1087.