由美国国家科学基金会支持的长期生态研究计划于1980年启动，至今在理论研究、开发技术和服务社会方面都取得了举世瞩目的成就。该计划的发展分为 3个阶段，每一阶段大约为10年。在其发展的第一个阶段，是以研究站所代表的生态系统为研究对象，主要开展了生态系统的过程与格局方面的研究并系统采集和存贮了有关数据；在1990 -2000年的第二个发展阶段中，其研究工作的重点是开展跨站的网络研究和人类活动对生态系统的影响，以揭示生态系统的过程与格局在较大空间尺度上的特征；按照规划，美国长期生态研究计划的发展进入到第三个阶段后，其工作的重点是开展综合研究、进行生态预测和更好地为社会发展服务，同时加强生物多样性的研究和信息学的发展。

Supported by the National Science Foundation（NSF）, the Long-Term Ecological Research Program was launched in 1980. Since then, it has achieved great success in creating theories, developing integrated technologies and providing services to society. Its process can be divided into three phases, each of which takes about 10 years. In the first phase, the first priorities were site-based studies of the five core areas dealing with process and pattern of ecosystems and data collection and archiving. The second phase started from 1990 and researche focused on the cross-site studies and the impacts of human activities on ecosystems in larger scale. During the third  phase starting from 21st century, research will be proposed to concentrate on synthesis, ecological prediction and better services to society. Meanwhile, biodiversity study and informatics development should be added to the core functions of the program.