A Rocha
International environmental organization
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A Rocha is an international network of environmental organizations with Christian ethos. A Rocha means "the rock" in Portuguese.
| Predecessor | A Rocha Trust[1] |
|---|---|
| Founded | 13 December 1983 |
| Founder | Miranda and Peter Harris[2] |
| Type | environmental NGO network |
| Focus | community-based conservation projects[3] |
| Headquarters | London, UK |
| Origins | Constituted in the UK[4] |
Area served | Worldwide |
International chair | Soohwan Park |
Key people | Ed Walker (Executive Director, ARI)[5] • Andy Atkins (CEO, A Rocha UK)[6][7] • Rev Dave Bookless (Head of Theology, ARI)[8][9] |
| Revenue | GBP £750,000 (2022)[10] |
| Employees | 144 in 2017(FTE)[11]: 20 |
| Volunteers | 841 in 2017[11]: 20 |
| Website | arocha |
History
A Rocha International was founded in Portugal in 1983.[12] The A Rocha Worldwide Covenant defines the rights and responsibilities of each A Rocha entity to the others.
As of 2024, A Rocha is working in over 20 countries: Australia, Canada, Czech Republic, France, Ghana, India, Kenya, Lebanon, Netherlands, New Zealand/Aotearoa, Nigeria, Peru, Portugal, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, Uganda, United Kingdom, and United States.[13] There are ongoing conversations with other potential groups around the world, particularly in East and Southeast Asia.[11]: 8–9
A Rocha has five core commitments: Christian, Conservation, Community, Collaboration, and Cultural diversity.[3]
Work
A Rocha aims to protect the environment through local, community-based conservation, scientific research, and environmental education,[14] and they have “a track record of successes”.[15]
A Rocha operates field study centres in Canada (two centres), France (two centres), India, Kenya, Portugal[16] and in the Czech Republic.[17] These serve primarily as a base for A Rocha's and other organisations’ field studies and for environmental education, and most also offer accommodation for visitors.
Areas of A Rocha's work include:
- Species and landscape surveying and monitoring, such as raptor counts in Pembina Valley, Canada,[18] camera trapping of mammals in India,[19] the Kenya Bird Map,[20] dry grassland biodiversity surveys in Switzerland[21] and mapping tropical forests using unmanned aerial vehicles[22][23]
- Habitat and species restoration projects, such as mangrove restoration projects in Ghana,[24] and improving breeding chances for Grey-faced petrels by eradicating invasive mammals, restoring habitats and deploying artificial nests in Raglan, New Zealand,[25] control of invasive Indian House crow in Kenya[26]
- Reducing human–wildlife conflict in India, notably with elephants[27][28] and leopards[29]
- Setting up private or public parks and reserves such as the Kirosa Scott Reserve in Kenya,[30] and Foxearth Reserve[31] and Minet Country Park in the UK
- Enlarging and campaigning for the safeguarding of existing natural and protected areas, such as the Atewa Forest in Ghana,[32] and the Alvor Estuary in Portugal[33][34]
- Bridging biodiversity conservation and sustainable livelihoods, such as via sustainable agriculture and community garden projects across Canada;[35] the Arabuko-Sokoke Schools and Eco-tourism Scheme in Kenya;[27][36] the establishment of CREMAs (community resource management areas) around Mole National Park[27] and Lake Bosumtwi,[37] Ghana; and training community members in Uganda to construct bio-sand water filters[38]
- Environmental education activities and resources, such as the Wild Lebanon website in Lebanon[39] and "creation care camps" in the USA[40]
- Carbon footprint reduction and mitigation projects, such as producing charcoal briquettes from waste in Uganda,[41] the "Eco Church" church greening programme in the UK,[42][43] and running "Climate Stewards", a global programme which encourages people to reduce their carbon footprint, and accepts donations to offset emissions via community forestry and cookstove projects in Ghana, Kenya and Mexico[44]
- Cooperating worldwide for nature conservation, such as being a member of IUCN[45] and IUCN's European Habitats Forum[46]
- Engaging Christian communities with the relevance of nature conservation to the Christian faith, through conferences,[47] speaking engagements,[48] books[49] and papers,[8] and partnerships such as the Lausanne/WEA Creation Care Network[50]
A Rocha also serves as an Erasmus+ / European Voluntary Service agency in France,[51] the Netherlands[52] and Portugal.[53]