# Center for Ecological Research and Forestry Applications

> research institute in Catalonia

**Wikidata**: [Q11913495](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q11913495)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/center-for-ecological-research-and-forestry-applications

## Summary
The Center for Ecological Research and Forestry Applications (CREAF) is a public research institute founded in 1987 and located in Cerdanyola del Vallès, Catalonia, Spain. Dedicated exclusively to generating knowledge in biodiversity, ecology, ecosystems, and territory, it operates as a collaborative center participated in by the Autonomous University of Barcelona, the University of Barcelona, the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), and the Generalitat of Catalonia.

## Key Facts
- **Full Name:** Center for Ecological Research and Forestry Applications (CREAF)
- **Alternative Names:** Centre de Recerca Ecològica i Aplicaciones Forestals
- **Type:** Research Institute
- **Founded:** 1987
- **Location:** Cerdanyola del Vallès, Catalonia, Spain
- **Address:** Campus de Bellaterra, Edifici C, 08193
- **Coordinates:** 41.500275° N, 2.1093805555555556° E
- **Director:** Joan Pino (since 2019)
- **Website:** http://www.creaf.cat (Available in Catalan and English)
- **Phone:** +34-935-81-13-12
- **Fax:** +34-935-81-41-51
- **Email:** contacte@creaf.uab.cat
- **Fields of Work:** Biodiversity, Ecology, Ecosystem, Territory
- **Participants:** Autonomous University of Barcelona, University of Barcelona, Spanish National Research Council, Generalitat of Catalonia

## FAQs
**Q: What is the administrative structure of CREAF?**
CREAF is part of the CERCA Institute (CERCA) and a member of the Catalan Association of Research Centres (ACER). It is also a member of international organizations such as the Coalition for Advancing Research Assessment (CoARA) and the European Open Science Cloud Association (EOSC).

**Q: What awards has CREAF received?**
CREAF received the Narcís Monturiol Prize in 1998, a distinction awarded by the Government of Catalonia for scientific and technological merit.

**Q: How can I follow CREAF's activities and research?**
You can follow CREAF through its website (www.creaf.cat), its RSS feed, or its official social media accounts on Twitter (@CREAF_Ecologia), Instagram (creaf_ecologia), TikTok (creaf_ecologia), YouTube (CREAFecologia), Flickr (creaf), Bluesky (creaf.cat), and LinkedIn (creaf).

**Q: What identifiers does CREAF have in academic and administrative databases?**
CREAF is listed with numerous identifiers including ISNI (000000010722403X), ROR ID (03abrgd14), GRID ID (grid.452388.0), VIAF ID (133473068), Ringgold ID (83020), Dir3 ID (EA0020966), EU VAT Number (ESQ5850011G), and EU Participant Identification Code (998880005).

## Why It Matters
CREAF is a pivotal institution for environmental science in Catalonia and the Mediterranean region. By focusing purely on research in biodiversity, ecology, and forestry, it produces critical data and insights needed to address pressing global challenges like climate change, ecosystem degradation, and land-use management. Its collaborative model, linking university and government resources, ensures that its fundamental research directly informs both academic advancement and regional policy. This concentrated approach enables the long-term, high-risk studies necessary for deep ecological understanding, distinguishing it from institutions with divided missions.

## Notable For
- Exclusive dedication to ecological and forestry research since its inception in 1987.
- Collaborative governance involving major Spanish universities and government bodies.
- Recognition with the prestigious Narcís Monturiol Prize for scientific contribution in 1998.
- Strategic location on the Bellaterra Campus, a nexus of research and higher education.
- Membership in high-level European scientific infrastructure and policy initiatives like the European Open Science Cloud Association.
- Substantial public engagement, evidenced by a large social media following and over 1.3 million YouTube views.

## Body

### History and Mission
Founded in 1987, the Center for Ecological Research and Forestry Applications (CREAF) was established as a dedicated research institute to generate new knowledge through systematic investigation. Its primary fields of work include biodiversity, ecology, ecosystems, and territory. The institute is directed by Joan Pino, who assumed the role in 2019.

### Organizational Structure and Governance
CREAF operates as a consortium participated in by four key institutions: the Autonomous University of Barcelona, the University of Barcelona, the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), and the Generalitat of Catalonia. It is a constituent center of the CERCA Institute and a member of the Catalan Association of Research Centres (ACER).

### Location and Facilities
The institute is headquartered at Campus de Bellaterra, Edifici C, in Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain (Postal Code: 08193). Its precise coordinates are latitude 41.500275 and longitude 2.1093805555555556. Contact can be made via phone at +34-935-81-13-12, fax at +34-935-81-41-51, or email at contacte@creaf.uab.cat.

### Memberships and Affiliations
CREAF is actively involved in the broader research community. It is a member of the Coalition for Advancing Research Assessment (CoARA) and the European Open Science Cloud Association (EOSC). These memberships position the institute at the forefront of discussions regarding research evaluation and open science infrastructure in Europe.

### Awards and Recognition
In 1998, CREAF was honored with the Narcís Monturiol Prize, highlighting its significant contributions to scientific and technological progress in Catalonia.

### Digital Presence and Public Engagement
CREAF maintains a robust online presence. Its official website, http://www.creaf.cat, is accessible in both Catalan and English, and it offers an RSS feed for content syndication. The institute engages a wide audience through social media, including:
- **Twitter:** @CREAF_Ecologia (Over 23,000 followers as of 2023)
- **YouTube:** CREAFecologia (Channel ID: UCFWelvYMCdeazcCWkzipYMg, with over 1.3 million views and nearly 10,000 subscribers)
- **Instagram:** creaf_ecologia
- **TikTok:** creaf_ecologia
- **Flickr:** creaf
- **Bluesky:** creaf.cat
- **LinkedIn:** creaf

### Authority Control and Identifiers
CREAF is cataloged in numerous national and international databases, reflecting its established status in the global research community:
- **ISNI:** 000000010722403X
- **ROR ID:** 03abrgd14
- **GRID ID:** grid.452388.0
- **VIAF ID:** 133473068
- **Ringgold ID:** 83020
- **Dir3 ID (Spain):** EA0020966
- **EU VAT Number:** ESQ5850011G
- **EU Participant Identification Code:** 998880005
- **CANTIC ID:** 981058511677606706
- **Bibliothèque nationale de France ID:** 12238362q
- **Gran Enciclopèdia Catalana ID:** centre-de-recerca-ecologica-i-aplicacions-forestals
- **University of Barcelona Authority ID:** 981058511677606706

## References

1. [Source](http://universitatsirecerca.gencat.cat/ca/01_secretaria_duniversitats_i_recerca/premis_i_reconeixements/guardons_narcis_monturiol/plaques_narcis_monturiol/)
2. BnF authorities
3. [Source](https://cerca.cat/c/creaf/)
4. [Source](https://www.acer-catalunya.org/entidades.php?lang=ca)
5. [Source](https://web.archive.org/web/20231109092552/https://coara.eu/coalition/membership/)
6. [Source](https://eosc.eu/members/)
7. Open ISNI for Organizations
8. [Source](https://cerca.cat/c/cimne/)
9. [Source](https://www.creaf.cat/en/about-us/our-people/joan-pino-vilalta)
10. [Source](http://www.creaf.cat/)
11. GRID Release 2017-04-04
12. YouTube API
13. [Source](https://administracionelectronica.gob.es/ctt/resources/Soluciones/238/Descargas/Listado%20Unidades%20AGE.xlsx?idIniciativa=238&idElemento=2741)