Looking across A Rocha in Europe and beyond

Up and coming projects

More recently, after Portugal and France, A Rocha has established itself in the Czech Republic and Finland. In both of these countries A Rocha has been working to protect and manage proposed Natura 2000 sites.

Czech Republic

Little Owl

Orlické Záhorí is a 904 ha marshland and grassland site in eastern Bohemia. The area holds important populations of Corncrake and Red-backed Shrike, both of which are priority species under the Birds Directive. Past damage from a drainage scheme, and future pressures from overgrazing and tourism threaten the area. A Rocha Czech is working in partnership with the Czech Ornithological Society, carrying out long-term monitoring of the birds of Orlické Záhorí, and working to ensure that restoration measures produce the desired effects.

Finland

Lennart Saari, of A Rocha Finland, has been monitoring the birds on the island of Aasla for the last 30 years. Part of this site is to be included in the Natura 2000 network, and future aims are to develop a grazing scheme for the benefit of wildlife, which can then be used as a model to show how farming and conservation can work in harmony.

Lennart with Common Gull

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A Rocha International – the vision

A Rocha is an international Christian organisation committed to environmental action through community-based conservation projects.

The A Rocha projects which have direct links with Natura 2000 sites are part of a much larger A Rocha network. Currently, national projects are registered in 17 countries with several others under development. Within Europe, A Rocha is working in Portugal, France, Czech Republic, Finland, UK, the Netherlands, and Bulgaria, and has an emerging project in Romania.

The potential for A Rocha to become a significant partner in the Natura 2000 network is a real and exciting prospect.

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Further information and contact details:

Members of the A Rocha Bulgaria national committee

Text on both Nature Directives and more information about Natura 2000 is available on the Europa website.

More information about all of A Rocha’s activities can be found elsewhere on this website by looking at the individual countries where we work. For further information about our work within Europe contact our International Office or the project within the relevant country.

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