A Rocha 2007-2009 Conservation Science Review

This web page only shows the Foreword and Contents of the review. You may download the full report in PDF format (application/pdf, 5.8 MB, info) — or order a printed copy form the International office.

Foreword

This third A Rocha Conservation Science Review gives an overview of the diverse range of projects undertaken by A Rocha’s national organisations in 18 countries, from 2007 to 2009. During this time, A Rocha has been going through a period of restructuring and capacity building, enabling it to more effectively respond to conservation challenges in these countries.

The expansion in A Rocha’s work was apparent during our presence at the IUCN (International Union for the Conservation of Nature) World Conservation Congress in Barcelona in 2008, where we showcased some of our conservation activities and met with partners. During the congress we displayed an exhibition stand, premiered a 20 minute film on our ASSETS project in Kenya (see page 31) and exhibited posters on A Rocha Ghana’s work in the Mole National Park and our work in the Mediterranean region. We also gave presentations in two of the conference workshops, one as a member of the European Habitats Forum in a workshop on the Natura 2000 protected areas’ network and a second in a workshop co-organised with Conservation International, the Alliance of Religions and Conservation and the World Bank, called ‘Faith in the Future’, on the benefits of involving faith-based groups in conservation initiatives. During this workshop the significant benefits that religious communities can bring to conservation were discussed, including their role in owning and managing land, motivating people and acting as focal points for community life in many places.

As the year 2010 approaches, attention is being turned towards the progress made towards achieving the CBD (Convention on Biological Diversity) target to significantly reduce the rate of biodiversity loss by 2010. It is clear that this target will not be met as biodiversity continues to be lost at an alarming rate worldwide and much more will need to be done to halt and reverse this loss. Although the media and public are increasingly aware of the dangers of climate change, the huge loss in species and ecosystems worldwide is still failing to attract sufficient attention. People are beginning to understand the impacts of climate change on the poor but have not yet realised the devastating impacts that biodiversity loss and ecosystem degradation can have on the world’s poorest people.

A Rocha is working to change this by raising awareness of environmental problems and their impacts on people, especially within Christian communities. There are many areas around the world where there is an overlap between biodiversity hotspot areas (areas important for threatened species) and Christian populations, and we are making it a priority to support initiatives in these areas (for example in Kenya, Peru, India, Ghana, South Africa and Brazil) where we want to resource communities so that they can transform and restore the created world, close to where they live. This includes tree planting in Ghana and Peru to restore biodiversity whilst also benefiting communities by providing food and generating income; finding solutions for agricultural communities in India whose crops are threatened by encroachment by Asian Elephants; and raising money to pay for school fees for children from ecotourism initiatives in Kenya. We have also launched a ‘Species Discovery’ project with Conservation International in Papua New Guinea managed by our Acting Director of Science and Conservation, Dr Martin Kaonga, where we are working with conservation organisations and Christian groups to identify new species and establish community-based conservation initiatives (see page 13).

Environmental problems are not restricted to these areas, however, and A Rocha is also active in North America, Europe, Lebanon and New Zealand to encourage communities to take action to decrease their environmental impact and to resource and support them in undertaking practical conservation activities. Some of these projects are also presented in this review, such as protecting the Ria de Alvor in Portugal that acts as a vital stop-over point for migrating birds; monitoring human impacts on a river ecosystem in Canada; and identifying and conserving Important Bird Areas in Lebanon.

We hope that this publication gives you a snapshot of some of the activities that A Rocha’s national organisations are undertaking towards achieving our vision of “communities world-wide mobilised to restore ecosystems and recognise the relevance of Christian belief for environmental action”. We also hope you enjoy this review and we would like to encourage you to get involved and join us in this important work.

Professor Sir Ghillean Prance FRS, VMH
Chair of Trustees, A Rocha International
October 2009

Priority Species

Roller studies in the Vallée des Baux, Provence
Oregon Forestsnail ecology in British Columbia
Spotted Ground Thrush in the Arabuko-Sokoke Forest
European Storm-petrels in the Algarve
Elephant conservation in western Ghana
Swallow ringing at a roost in the Vallée des Baux, Provence
Juniper restoration in the Chiltern Hills
Corn Crake monitoring in the Orlické Záhoří Special Protection Area

Species Survey and Monitoring

Species discovery and conservation programme
Identification and conservation of new Important Bird Areas
Jabal Moussa Important Bird Area
Monitoring wildlife at Minet Country Park
Ringing as a contribution to bird conservation and research
The butterflies of Mwamba

Ecosystems

Mapping of montane habitats in the Algarve
Community-based Huarango reforestation in Ica
Monitoring human impacts on the Little Campbell River
Wetland restoration in the Vallée des Baux, Provence
Conserving biodiversity in Dakatcha by ‘Farming God's Way’

Conservation Action

Mitigation of human-elephant conflict in Bannerghatta National Park
Habitat management at A Rocha Canada’s Field Study Centres
Campaign to protect the Tana River Delta
Vegetation management on the Msunduzi River
Legal action on the Ria de Alvor as a test case for Natura 200028
Climate Stewards project in Ghana
The Arabuko-Sokoke Schools and Eco-Tourism Scheme (ASSETS)

Reference Information

Publications and presentations
A Rocha teams and contacts