Water – nothing on Earth could survive without it. It’s not surprising then, that with growing human demand, freshwater ecosystems have become some of the most endangered on the planet. That’s why A Rocha International is supporting the conservation of many important wetlands.

Here are just three examples of how, together, we can help people and wildlife to thrive:

Lake Bosomtwe is a unique forest and wetland ecosystem and Ghana’s only natural lake. Fishing and farming are the main livelihoods for the twenty-four communities living around it, but fish stocks are depleted and the forest over-exploited. A Rocha is introducing new, sustainable income-earners as a major part of a UNESCO funded project. At meetings with village representatives, four activities were identified: Grasscutter (Cane Rat) rearing, beekeeping, and snail and mushroom farming. Training has started and demonstration sites are being established.

A Rocha Kenya’s centre, Mwamba, is close to Watamu Marine National Park, making it the perfect base for a Marine Conservation and Research Programme. Already, Dr Bob Sluka and his team of young marine biologists have identified ways in which tourists are damaging the coral and are working with boat operators to reduce the impacts. And as most of the local people, even the fishermen, know little about the reefs, they are also creating resources for schools and churches which will help Kenyans to discover the wonders of this hidden ecosystem and protect it for future generations.

The near pristine Groot Marico River runs north through the verdant bush veld of South Africa’s Northwest Province and is drinkable for the first third of its journey. It’s home to the ‘big five’: lion, leopard, buffalo, rhino and elephant, plus over 340 bird species. In South Africa, A Rocha is working for the declaration of the whole Groot Marico basin (nearly a million hectares in South Africa plus a portion in Botswana) as a UNESCO biosphere reserve.