One Earth, one Health, one Future
Laboratory for Sustainable Land
Use and Ecosystem Services
TERRA is an Associate Laboratory that addresses society’s challenges and provides answers and advice to the public and private sectors, either through the involvement of scientists, stakeholders and policy makers to co-create knowledge and build processes for sustainable development and management of natural resources.
MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAMS
Complementary Thematic Lines
TERRA develops its action along five complementary thematic lines, articulated through multidisciplinary teams with a mission-oriented approach, targeting specific societal challenges and providing quick tailored advice to public and private sectors.
Natural Capital and Sustainable Ecosystem Services
Sustainable Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
Products Processing and Circular Economy
Society and Environmental Health
Socioecological Systems, Planning and Policies
400 +
Researchers
17
Doctoral Programs
600 +
Scientific Papers/year
10,000 +
Citations/year
Paulo Branco
TERRA CEO
“Only with a multidisciplinary and integrative approach can we contribute to a more sustainable future.”
Teresa Ferreira
TERRA COORDINATOR
“The magnitude of the transformation of the planet’s ecosystems is only paralleled by the amount of human knowledge accumulated about it; we must place this knowledge at the foundation of human decisions and ensure a future for our children.”
Ana Ribeiro
CEF RESEARCHER
“TERRA is an interdisciplinary platform that brings together a vast number of scientists committed to planetary health, seeking to develop effective strategies to mitigate human and climate pressure on natural resources. This commitment is inspiring and essential to ensure a balanced future for the planet and generations to come.”
David Fangueiro
LEAF COORDINATOR
“From soil’s health to the health of citizens, TERRA brings together research teams from 5 units of excellence that seek to provide answers to current challenges associated, among others, with the management of natural resources.”
Patrícia Abrantes
CEG RESEARCHER
“I see TERRA as the prime ‘place’ for furthering the study of cities and their regions, bringing together various disciplines in geography and territorial planning, and contributing to the construction of more sustainable territories.”
Joana Cardoso da Costa
CFE RESEARCHER
“Through scientific excellence and an integrated approach, TERRA brings together experts from different fields to develop innovative solutions that contribute to planetary health and the sustainable management of natural resources.”
Sílvia Castro
CFE RESEARCHER
“TERRA brings together a multidisciplinary community and fosters a collaborative environment, contributing to the advancement of knowledge and the development of innovative solutions in the face of a changing world.”
Ruben Heleno
CFE RESEARCHER
“TERRA itself is like a very diverse ecosystem, which brings together more than 400 researchers committed to carrying out the science necessary to build a more sustainable future.”
José Maria Santos
CEF RESEARCHER
“TERRA has been essential in the search for solutions and best practices for a sustainable future for ecosystems.”
Isabel Sousa
LEAF RESEARCHER
“TERRA’s five centers have accumulated decades of science and are well placed to advise our policymakers in times of uncertainty.”
Duarte Miranda Neiva
CEF RESEARCHER
“Such a vast and diverse scientific network allows for interaction and knowledge sharing far beyond what I had at my disposal.”
Helena Freitas
CFE COORDINATOR
«Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.» – Margaret Mead
José Luís Zêzere
CEG DIRECTOR
“Using the best scientific knowledge to ensure balanced and intelligent management of the territory.”
HIGHLIGHTS
Latest News
The TERRA laboratory’s activities cover the entire value chain, from natural resources and ecosystem services to environmental health and human populations.
-
Researcher José Xavier (CFE/TERRA) elected Secretary of SCAR’s Standing Scientific Group for Life Sciences
Researcher José Xavier (CFE/TERRA) was elected secretary of the Standing Scientific Group (SSG) for Life Sciences of the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR), one of the most important international organizations dedicated to scientific research in Antarctica
-
From science to action: the new paradigm in public policy calls for moving beyond merely responding to crises and toward evidence-based governance
TERRA and CHANGE Associate Laboratories publish an Executive Summary with recommendations for Public Policy
-
TERRA releases the “Greener Cities” Policy Brief with recommendations for integrating green infrastructure into urban planning
The TERRA Associate Laboratory has just released its latest Policy Brief, which focuses on urban renaturalization as an essential tool for addressing the climate crisis and improving public health in Portugal — “Greener Cities: Scientific Evidence to Inform Public Policies on Urban Renaturalization.”