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There are growing needs to broaden and deepen our multi‐faceted understanding of the ecosystems, and the networks of Long‐Term Ecological Research (LTER) can play significant roles in fostering and applying ecosystem studies at regional and global scales. The International LTER Network (ILTER) is organized as a global network of field research sites and scientists to address current ecological issues such as biodiversity loss and ecosystem degradation within a globally changing environment. The ILTER East Asia–Pacific Regional Network (ILTER‐EAP) is one of the four constituent ILTER regional networks. Since 1995, ILTER‐EAP has been developed to promote data sharing, research collaborations and capability building in the science and to bridge gaps between societal needs and scientific imperatives on concerns in the Asia–Pacific Region. Currently, ILTER‐EAP comprises nine formal ILTER members and two associate networks. Their activities involve long‐term and multiple‐site observations of structural, functional and developmental aspects of ecosystems, data sharing, and bridging society and ecological science. This paper presents a review of the activities of ILTER‐EAP, focusing on its: (1) vision and the development following its inception, (2) scientific activities and major outputs related to selected thematic areas, (3) contributions from ILTER‐EAP to the international initiatives, and (4) future challenges and opportunities relating to its development and role in facilitating regional and global research collaborations. Accordingly, regional research questions were identified that could be most effectively addressed by opening up a common research platform, integrated data management system and the network science, which is open to all interested parties.

In order to review the development, the potentials, and the challenges of the International Long‐Term Ecological Research (ILTER) Network, the necessity for the development of the ILTER Network, the development of ILTER activities in the world, and the body structures of ILTER Network are described. As an example for showing the potentials of ILTER activities, exemplary results of tree growth studies carried out by the author utilizing long‐term daily weather data at the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest, New Hampshire, USA are presented and future potentials are discussed. At this time, as the ILTER Network is situated at a critical point, challenges for the ILTER Network are discussed with regard to its further development. In this review, the author tries to maintain that as the long‐term ecological research, whose results can secure comparability in the dimension of time and space, can provide us with a fundamental basis for sound understanding and management of ecosystems, we can publicize the activities and findings from the ILTER Network to the public, on from local to international levels, to continue further efforts around the world for our sustainable future.

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