About us We want to be the future Mediterranean hub of science and innovation in ecology in Europe We bring cutting-edge scientific knowledge to the greatest and most complex environmental challenges facing 21st century society CREAF is a public research center dedicated to terrestrial ecology and territorial analysis, producing knowledge and methodologies for conservation, management, and adaptation of the environment to global change. The center’s objective is to work as a bridge between academia, administrations, and society, promoting awareness and exchanging knowledge within its scope of activities, at the local, regional, and global levels. Located at the campus of the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, the center was founded in 1987 as a consortium between various public administrations, research entities, and academic training entities. Download Presentation in PDF Download Brochure Our research has a global impact We have a broad and multidisciplinary research porfolio, integrating fundamental research advances with important contributions in environmental issues of great socioeconomic impact. Biodiversity Ecosystem functioning Global Change Earth Observation Forests Mediterranean Basin Ecosystem services Sustainability Citizen science Big data and data quality There is no science without diversityBeing biodiversity a critical element for ecosystems well-being, which is a notion science keeps reiterating, how come there is so little diversity in the research environment? With this underlying idea, 17 people that currently work at CREAF reflect on the role of diversity in the planet, in science and in the institution itself. Straightforwardly honest, they reveal the lights and shadows of an ecosystem –the science ecosystem, that is– whose entrails they know so well. Moreover, they are bold enough to make a statement for the science they envision for the near future. Mission, Objectives and VisionCREAF is a public research center dedicated to terrestrial ecology, territorial analysis and global change, pursuing excellence in the production and dissemination of knowledge, in addition to the innovation, development, and transfer of methodologies. MissionThe center strives to contribute to knowledge on conservation and management of the environment and the territory, in addition to adaptation to environmental change at local, regional, and global scales, functioning as a bridge between academia, administrations, and society, and promoting awareness within its scope of activities ObjectivesCarry out excellent, innovative, and leading basic research so as to be considered as a reference at the national and international levels.Promote applied research, especially in the area of forestry, contributing to the sustainable management and conservation of resources and ecosystems.Develop conceptual and methodological tools to facilitate decision-making and improve management of the environment.Disseminate scientific and technological knowledge by way of training, consulting, or educative activities. VisionCarry out excellent research and development which contribute to knowledge about natural systems and which is applicable to improving conservation and management of the environment and territory. Achieve CREAF’s leadership at the national level and growing recognition at the international level.Position the CREAF as a center of reference for terrestrial ecology, territorial analysis, and global change in the Mediterranean basin. Expand synergies between scientific research and technological development to address the necessities of environmental management and land use planning within public administrations and the private sector.Lessen dependence on political dispositions, employing efficient management and an elevated capacity for obtaining resources and maintaining financial stability. Be constituted of personnel whom share the mission of the center and are active in achieving its vision, and having flexible organization favoring collaboration and the permeability of its research groups. Be more visible within the scientific community, administrations, and society in general in order to have more weight in debate and decision-making related to environmental issues. Exercise workplace values based on ethics, cooperation, equal opportunity, and environmental responsibility. Annual reportsAll of CREAF’s activities (financial position, institutional relations, research projects, scientific publications and dissemination, staff list, etc.) are compiled into the annual reports. 2022 annual reportDownload PDF memoria2022.png 2021 annual report Download PDF2020 annual report Download PDF memoria_creaf2021_portada.png memoria_creaf2020_portada.png 2019 annual report Download PDF 2018 annual report Download PDF 2017 annual report Download PDF memoria_creaf2019_portada.png memoria_creaf2018_portada.png memoria2017_portada.png 2016 annual report Download PDF | View online 2015 annual report Download PDF | View online 2014 annual report Download PDF | View online memoria2016portada.jpg annual-report-2015.png annual-report-2014.png History of CREAF CREAF was created in 1987 by the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, the Institut d'Estudis Catalans and the Generalitat de Catalunya, which subsequently also joined the University of Barcelona and, lastly, the Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas. It is a center attached to the UAB as a university institute dedicated to research in the field of terrestrial ecology.On the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the CREAF, a series of short videoclips that summarized the history of the center and its most important milestones were produced.In order to see all this material and to know the history of CREAF, we invite you to visit our "timeline".