CREAF and the Humboldt Institute of Colombia join forces to promote global biodiversity

CREAF has made an institutional visit to the Alexander von Humboldt Institute for Biological Resources Research, in Bogotá, on 20 and 21 May 2026, with the aim of consolidating a strategic alliance in biodiversity and strengthening collaboration at the interface between science and public policy. The institutional reception was led by Hernando García, director of the Humboldt Institute, together with Wilson Ariel Ramírez, manager of the Center for Nature-Based Solutions, and Sandra Perdomo Medina, manager of Public Policy and Cooperation, among other team members. On the part of CREAF, the delegation was formed by Joan Pino, director of CREAF, Alicia Pérez-Porro, head of Institutional Relations and Political Interaction and Anna Ramon, head of Communication.

The visit culminates a process of building a bilateral relationship between both institutions, which has been formalized with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). This agreement establishes a stable cooperation framework that includes the development of joint academic programs, scientific stays, research seminars and the shared promotion of the scientific agenda in ecology and biodiversity. 

It also envisages joint progress in the science-policy interface, especially in the biodiversity-climate change nexus, as well as the exchange of good practices in institutional management. In fact, during the meeting we were able to see first-hand a particularly prominent element of the Humboldt Institute model, the Relationship Directorate, a strategic and relatively recent structure that has the same weight as the scientific field and is designed to ensure that the knowledge generated effectively reaches society and decision-making spaces. This directorate articulates the impact on public policy, international cooperation and the generation of transfer and communication experiences, acting as an active bridge between scientists, administrations, companies and communities.

The visit also included the participation of the delegate of the Government of the Generalitat of Catalonia in the Andean Lands, Antoni Vicens Vicens, thus reinforcing the institutional dimension of the meeting. This collaboration is part of the new strategy of the Government of Catalonia for Latin America, which identifies Colombia as a key country to consolidate alliances in priority areas such as sustainability and biodiversity. In this context, CREAF works in coordination with the Department of Foreign Affairs to contribute to this strategy from the perspective of science oriented to environmental public policies, reinforcing the role of Catalan research on the international scene.

The visit included a two-day field trip to the Chingaza Natural Park, one of the most emblematic páramo ecosystems in Colombia. This high-mountain tropical environment, key for water regulation, has allowed the CREAF team to observe first-hand a unique biodiversity, with species such as orchids adapted to extreme conditions, specialized hummingbirds or large mammals such as the Andean bear.

Beyond its ecological value, the páramo has served as a space for reflection on shared challenges between seemingly very different contexts. Water management, in an ecosystem that acts as a true natural sponge, the effects of drought, the need to improve biodiversity monitoring or the management of exotic species are issues that connect directly with the challenges of Mediterranean ecosystems.

The visit also highlighted the importance of ecological connectivity and land governance, especially in areas where conservation coexists with social and economic pressures. In this sense, the Chingaza moor has become a living example of how scientific research, land management and public policies must work together to ensure the sustainability of ecosystems.

Overall, the visit strengthens the links between CREAF and the Humboldt Institute and opens new opportunities for international collaboration, highlighting the role of Catalan research in building global alliances to address the biodiversity crisis.

In the scientific field, the visit allowed us to learn about a model that integrates research, data and advocacy to guide decisions in contexts of great environmental and social complexity.

One of the central elements is the intensive use of data to understand the state of ecosystems. Colombia, with more than 50% of its territory covered by forests, concentrates enormous biological wealth, but also very strong pressures, especially in the Andean areas. In view of this, the Institute develops tools to analyze the degradation, integrity and connectivity of ecosystems, which allow prioritizing conservation and restoration actions and providing direct support for public decision-making.

This approach is complemented by the integration of large volumes of information from ecological monitoring, scientific collections and citizen science, which are translated into species distribution models and open platforms with millions of accessible records. In parallel, in the field of restoration, the Humboldt promotes a results-based approach, focused on evaluating the real impact of interventions on biodiversity, carbon and social well-being, beyond purely quantitative indicators such as the number of trees planted.

This model is based on a strong culture of collaboration with universities and local communities, and on the ability to address uncertainty to respond to public policy needs in real time. It also highlights the promotion of emerging lines such as urban biodiversity, through the concept of “biodiverciudades”, which integrates nature into urban planning to improve quality of life and resilience to climate change.