CREA was founded in 2005 by Dr. Michael Roy, a conservation biologist
with over 15 years of academic experience. Dr. Roy, having witnessed
the rapid destruction of the Earth´s natural resources first
hand, decided to found CREA in order to promote common sense conservation
that is good for the planet and good for human societies.
Globally,
protected areas cover nearly 10 percent of the Earth’s land
surface. According to projections based on accepted ecological
principles, if only the currently protected land areas remain
as wildlife habitat, between 30 and 50 percent of species will
still be lost, because the reserves do not contain populations
large enough to maintain all species. CREA is unique among environmental
organizations in that it attempts to bring private lands into
the conservation equation. By recognizing the multiple goals i.e.
food production, environmental service (e.g. clean water, air)
and biodiversity conservation, of our landscapes, CREA designs
and implements sustainable solutions that are beneficial to all.
CREA
is a registered US 501(c)3 non profit in the US and a UK charitable
organization. CREA also holds an office
in Panama. Most of our work is carried out in Panama,
a recognized biodiversity hotspot by Conservational International
and World Wildlife Fund. Panama is a small country of 75,000km2
but a strategically important place to save. It is the narrowest
part of the Central American land mass and is therefore the most
fragile link in the forest corridor extending from the Amazon
to Mexico.
Since
its inception CREA has attracted academics, members of the business
community and of the general public to its ranks (see
board members). In addition to its efforts in promoting the
protection of rainforests on private lands, it is highly active
in the field of research and education.
