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2010 International Year of Biodiversity 1 March 2010
To raise awareness of the variety of life that exists on our planet, IUCN is featuring a different Red List species every day on their website, as well as information on the threats it faces.... (read more)

Inspiring people to care for creation 1 March 2010
At A Rocha, we believe that everyone can make a difference, as individuals and as part of a group. Eco-congregation, a project of A Rocha UK, provides one way to help churches address environment... (read more)

Preparing Ugandan leaders for climate change 1 March 2010
A Rocha and Tearfund led a training workshop last month in Kampala, using the ‘Climate Change and Environmental Degradation Risk and Adaptation’ field tool (CEDRA ). The workshop was attended by... (read more)

Replanting Peru’s Huarango forests 1 February 2010
The Huarango (Prosopis pallida) forests on the south coast of Peru are amongst the most threatened ecosystems in the world. For centuries they have been destroyed for fuel and large-scale agric... (read more)

Christianity, Climate Change and Sustainable Living 1 February 2010
A few years ago, Ginny Vroblesky visited Croatia. A shopkeeper in Dubrovnik asked her what he should do about climate change. Realizing she had no good answer, she promised to investigate. In 200... (read more)

We can help you reduce your footprint 1 January 2010
If you would like to assess your carbon footprint for 2009, please use our calculator. You might like to keep note of the total number of kg used in travel, heat and power, and see if you can do ... (read more)

Copenhagen? Hopenhagen? 1 January 2010
Last month the world’s leaders met in Copenhagen to tackle climate change. A Rocha sent two observers. Dr Martin Kaonga, Interim Director of Science & Conservation, attended science presentations t... (read more)

New Conservation Science Review 2 December 2009
How have chilli and tobacco helped reduce the number of human-elephant conflicts in Bannerghatta National Park? How has one bird flying over 7,750 km provided important contributions to bird con... (read more)

Your climate change actions 1 December 2009
Tolling church bells in South Africa and tree planting in Canada; low-carbon meals in the US and bike-powered discos in the UK. These were just some of the activities organised by A Rocha teams a... (read more)

Drawing the future in Brazil 1 December 2009
Last year A Rocha Brazil distributed 35,000 booklets, designed to inspire Christians to care for creation. During 2009 the Environmental Education team has focused on churches in North and Northea... (read more)

Climate change news 1 November 2009
Climate change is the theme of the October International Newsletter. What have mice and elephants got to do with how we live our lives? How can you take easy steps to join A Rocha in tackling cli... (read more)

Wildlebanon website launched! 1 November 2009
If you plan to visit Lebanon, or you are a Lebanese teacher, this site has been designed for you! Written in both Arabic and English, it is packed with information about the majestic cedar trees, d... (read more)

European birds on the move 1 November 2009
During September the A Rocha France team ringed 1,200 Barn Swallows Hirundo rustica and Sand Martins Riparia riparia as they poured through the Vallée des Baux. The flock that roosted in reed beds... (read more)

Mangrove planting in Kenya 1 October 2009
Eight species of mangroves grow along the Kenyan coast, and they are such a valuable resource that in Swahili there are 6 different words used to describe the timber, based on their size. Fito, t... (read more)

Swallows and martins 1 October 2009
Huge flocks of hirundines stop off to re-fuel in Provence before heading south across the Sahara, and each September the A Rocha team there focuses their efforts on studying them. Between 7th and ... (read more)

Joining forces to fight climate change 2 September 2009
A Rocha is pleased to lend its support to the work of the 350 campaign – an international effort to unite the world around solutions to the climate crisis. The name, 350.org, comes from the l... (read more)

Hot off the press: the 2008/09 A Rocha International Review 1 September 2009
Want to see what A Rocha is doing around the world? We’ve put together a four page summary, plus a poster map with highlights from each country. The review looks at the transformation, restoration... (read more)

Minet Country Park wins a Green Flag 1 September 2009
The Minet Country Park, 90 acres (35 hectares) of reclaimed wasteland between Southall and Hayes, England, has won a Green Flag Award in recognition of the work A Rocha, local landowners, Hillingd... (read more)

What do faith, medicine and climate change have to do with each other? 30 July 2009
Many Christian health care leaders are now fully aware that environmental conservation is an integral part of their faith commitment. Over 500 people were involved in two weeks of A Rocha meeti... (read more)

Will you be at the fair? 30 July 2009
If you’ll be at the British Birdwatching Fair (21-23 August) at Rutland Water, then we hope you’ll call by the A Rocha stand in Marquee 2. We’d love to meet you and answer any questions you may ha... (read more)

A Rocha Switzerland’s first kids’ camp! 30 July 2009
Wildlife, solar-heated showers, forest walks, nest box building, exploring – these were just some of the many activities enjoyed by 44 kids, aged 9-12, at the ‘Eco-Adventures’ camp this July. The... (read more)

New book on Real Scientists, Real Faith 1 July 2009
The science / faith debate rages on. And yet, many leading scientists have an active Christian faith. In this new book, published May 2009, 17 esteemed scientists tackle two questions: what differ... (read more)

A major milestone in Storm Petrels 1 July 2009
After 20 years of storm petrel research at A Rocha Portugal, the project has reached a new landmark: our 5,000th storm petrel! Well done, everyone! Here is the momentous bird, caught on the night ... (read more)

Veggies for everyone? 1 July 2009
Our mothers told us to eat our veggies, and we instinctively and empirically know they were right. But for some in our community, eating their veggies – particularly organic ones – is beyond their ... (read more)

Creation groans – do we dare listen? 1 June 2009
If you live in Singapore or Selangor, come and be encouraged to care for God’s creation at A Rocha events in July 2009. Hear Dr Graham McAll speak on Climate Change, Health and Faith. Hear Peter a... (read more)

A Rocha project escapes Santa Barbara wildfires 1 June 2009
During early May, wildfires raged in the foothills behind Santa Barbara, California, destroying 9,000 acres (3640 hectares). 30,000 people had to be evacuated, 77 homes were destroyed and firefigh... (read more)

Congratulations to John Busby 1 June 2009
The Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum, in Wisconsin, USA, has named John Busby as its 2009 Master Wildlife Artist. He will receive the award during the preview opening of Birds in Art on 11 Septembe... (read more)

Lebanon’s Important Bird Areas go from 4 to 15! 1 May 2009
2 April, at the Ministry of Environment in Beirut, saw the closing ceremony of the Identification and Conservation of New Important Bird Areas project. A Rocha Lebanon and SPNL staff presented the... (read more)

Practical prayer for the climate 1 May 2009
A Rocha is always practical. As one response to climate change, Climate Stewards resources people to pray. Prayer is practical because God is active in His creation, and when people pray they take... (read more)

There’s money in muck! 1 May 2009
All the A Rocha teams are looking for new ways to beat the recession and find funds: some are running, some are jumping and some are getting very dirty! The A Rocha Canada team has discovered tha... (read more)

New Tana River Delta movie 1 April 2009
Now you can meet some of the pastoralists, fishermen and scientists who are opposing the plan to turn Kenya’s Tana River Delta into a vast sugar plantation for bio-fuels. Short movie clips can be ... (read more)

Books for better living 1 April 2009
A Rocha is a very down-to-earth organisation, running community-conservation projects and encouraging supporters to express their care for creation in all kinds of practical ways. Here are 3 books ... (read more)

Come and see for yourself 1 April 2009
Do you have free time, a passion for the earth and enjoy new experiences? We need you! Fourteen of A Rocha’s projects around the world have specific volunteer needs as diverse as ringing storm pet... (read more)

Good news for the Ria de Alvor, Portugal 1 March 2009
A Rocha Portugal has again been successful in court. In 2007 A Rocha began legal proceedings to protect Quinta da Rocha (the headland on which Cruzinha, our field study centre, is located). Part o... (read more)

Studying Stormies in Portugal - would you like to help? 1 March 2009
A Rocha Portugal has been studying the European Storm-petrel Hydrobates pelagicus for 20 years. Each May and June they welcome volunteers of all ages, from around the world, to take part in this e... (read more)

A Rocha in Singapore 1 March 2009
Last month, A Rocha’s Director and Founder, Peter Harris, spoke to 750 Filipino and Asian Christian leaders at the 5th Asian Theological Forum in Manila, focusing on the care of creation. He also ... (read more)

2 February is World Wetlands Day 1 February 2009
This year the theme is ‘Upstream, Downstream’ reminding us of our dependence on river water and the ways in which activities upstream can affect those living downstream. A Rocha is working to p... (read more)

The sleeping giant is waking! 1 February 2009
Around the world, the Christian church is waking up to the biblical challenge to care for creation. In the new A Rocha International News you can read encouraging stories from the Middle East, Afr... (read more)

Clean water for Ugandan villagers 1 February 2009
Until December, women and children in Namungoona were collecting their water from a contaminated spring. The A Rocha Initiative Group, working with community leaders, an engineer and the local peo... (read more)

Congratulations to Prof Sir Ghillean Prance 1 January 2009
Prof Sir Ghillean (Iain) Prance, Chair of A Rocha International’s Trustees, was given the Gold Medal of the New York Botanical Garden in November. It is their highest award, which has only been be... (read more)

Teaching church leaders in SE Asia 1 January 2009
The Asian Theological Forum in Manila, 11-12 February 2009, will be focusing on the care of creation. Peter Harris, the Director and Founder of A Rocha, will be speaking to about 900 Filipino and ... (read more)

UK conference for conservation practitioners 1 January 2009
Dr Simon Stuart (Chair of the IUCN Species Survival Commission), Mark Adderley (former Chief Executive of the National Trust for Scotland) and Peter Harris of A Rocha will be the guest speakers at... (read more)

Watch A Rocha’s Story of Hope from the Kenyan coast 1 December 2008
A Rocha’s latest movie, ASSETS - A Story of Hope, was premiered at the 4th IUCN World Conservation Congress in Barcelona, in October. A Rocha filmmakers Mel Ong and Dan Tay tell the story of ASSET... (read more)

Prof Sir Ghillean Prance now leads A Rocha 1 December 2008
A Rocha’s International Trustees are delighted to announce that their new Chair is Iain Prance, a plant taxonomist and an expert on the flora of the Amazon rain forests. Formerly Director of the R... (read more)

Three new Important Bird Areas in Lebanon this year 1 December 2008
Earlier this year, A Rocha Lebanon (in partnership with the Society for the Protection of Nature in Lebanon) completed a three year project to find new areas that should be designated as Important... (read more)

Arabic makes ten! 1 November 2008
The A Rocha website can now be enjoyed in 10 languages. The recent addition is Arabic and the A Rocha Lebanon team is preparing new resources for the Arabic-speaking world.  Information about the f... (read more)

Kenyan-wintering Terek Sandpiper found breeding in Finland 1 November 2008
Mida Creek, on the Kenyan coast, is an important wintering site for many shorebirds from northern latitudes, and protecting it is an important part of A Rocha Kenya’s work. The team rings some of ... (read more)

A Rocha Trustee the new leader of species conservation 1 November 2008
Congratulations to Dr Simon Stuart, one of the Trustees of A Rocha International, on his election as Chair of the IUCN Species Survival Commission at the recent IUCN Congress. This is the world’s ... (read more)

New centre for A Rocha France near Nice 1 October 2008
In the hills behind Nice, A Rocha France has just taken over Les Courmettes, thanks to the kindness of another French association, Amiral de Coligny, who have given us the use of it for the next ... (read more)

See the October International Newsletter 1 October 2008
Download A Rocha International News, Issue 45 Find out how you can help prevent Kenya’s Tana River Delta from being destroyed; discover how English language lessons can save forest and creeks; le... (read more)

Barn Swallow migration 1 October 2008
This autumn has once again seen the return of Barn Swallows Hirundo rustica to the marshes of Provence, and with them a period of intense activity for A Rocha France. The first arrivals are in lat... (read more)

Reaching out to China 1 September 2008
Chinese became the eighth language on our website just as all eyes turned to China for the opening of the Olympics in Beijing! We have been planning for some time to become better able to resource... (read more)

It's easier for you to give! 1 September 2008
A Rocha relies on the gifts of supporters so we’ve now made it easier for you to make a donation − wherever you are! Please go to our donations page to find the way that suits you: either onlin... (read more)

IUCN Congress in Spain 1 September 2008
If you will be amongst the expected eight thousand delegates at the World Conservation Congress in Barcelona, in early October, please come and meet us. Dr Marie Connett Porceddu (our Chief Execu... (read more)

Working together 1 August 2008
The theme of the A Rocha International Review for 2007-2008 is our partnerships with other conservation organisations, universities and colleges, relief and development agencies, governments and pr... (read more)

Visit us at the British Birdwatching Fair 1 August 2008
If you’ll be at the fair (15-17 August) at Rutland Water, then we hope you’ll call by the A Rocha stand in Marquee 2. If you visit on Friday, you can hear Chris Naylor and Rich Prior giving the jo... (read more)

The website looks different! 1 August 2008
You may have noticed changes to this website – that’s because we’ve changed our content management system to a much more powerful and flexible base. It may take us a few more weeks to move all the ... (read more)

New team members wanted 1 August 2008
If you would like to work with A Rocha, please check out our vacancies in South Africa, Lebanon, Portugal and the UK. ... (read more)

Help us save the Tana River Delta, Kenya 1 July 2008
Two huge new sugar plantations are being planned for the northern Kenya coast, as well as new sugar factories and bio-fuel plants which will have massively damaging environmental and social impacts... (read more)

Another good Storm-petrel season 1 July 2008
A Rocha Portugal has been studying the European Storm-petrel Hydrobates pelagicus since 1990, catching the birds as they move northwards along the Algarve coast. This year, with the help of some w... (read more)

Fieldwork and fighting in Lebanon 1 June 2008
On 7 May a peaceful demonstration against low wages soon escalated into full scale street battles as armed militias loyal to the opposition clashed with pro-government supporters in the areas of ... (read more)

Two Wood Warblers caught in Portugal 1 June 2008
Wood Warblers Phylloscopus sibilatrix winter in equatorial Africa, mainly in humid evergreen forests and moist wooded savanna. We know that it makes much longer unbroken flights than the other Ph... (read more)

Better facilities for A Rocha Kenya 1 June 2008
In the last few months the team has been able to renovate some of the centre facilities, including the dining room, the managers’ house and the balcony. The next job will be to tackle the kitchen... (read more)