Environmental Change Network

ECN is the UK's long-term environmental monitoring programme. A wide range of integrated physical, chemical and biological variables which drive and respond to environmental change are collated, quality controlled and made freely available for scientific research. The data also form an important evidence base for UK environmental policy development.

ECN was launched in 1992. Monitoring started formally in 1993 at terrestrial sites and 1994 at freshwater sites. The data are stored in a central database and are available through a variety of data access methods.

ECN is a multi-agency programme sponsored by a consortium of fourteen government departments and agencies. These organisations contribute to the programme through funding either site monitoring and/or network co-ordination activities.