Program Areas Long-Term Ecological Study FER contributes to several long-term studies, both in the field and in controlled, greenhouse conditions. Reporting on the Environment FER has supported efforts to provide sound information about the condition and use of ecosystems. FER provided essential funding to a public-private partnership run by the Heinz Center that culminated with the release of the second edition of the State of the Nation’s Ecosystems report in June, 2008. Dialog FER recognizes that major environmental challenges, like that posed by climate change, will require a high level of dialog. Such dialog is needed between citizens within and across national borders, and cultural and language barriers. FER supports the path-breaking work on cross-cultural dialog pioneered by Meedan.