Czech volunteer week

Volunteering week with A Rocha Czech Republic

Where: Keith Morris Eco-centre – Krupárna, Dobré č. p. 85, Dobruška

Mapy.cz: 50.2629261N, 16.2520033E

Programme:

  • Above all, lots of fun and joy together, but we’ll also work hard and get our hands dirty!
  • You’ll practice your English and German (and Czech!).
  • Morning work in groups in the garden and in the eco-centre building (cleaning ponds, weeding beds, preparing wood for the winter, building a forest latrine).
  • Afternoon active rest, e.g. mini-course in ornithology, mycology and herbalism, observation of bumblebees, wetland exploration, trips to the Eagle Mountains and other interesting places.
  • Mornings and evenings with songs, talks, concert and Bible readings on environmental topics.
  • Evenings together sharing participants’ experiences in the field of nature conservation.

We will be happy for you to bring photos or short films.

Accommodation: preferably in your own tent or forest shelter; some beds are available with local friends. There is also space to put a mattress on the floor in the building.

Food: we will enjoy community meals together, prepared by a professional chef and with the help of participants.

Cost (food and energy allowance): 1 500 CZK for the whole stay. Students 1 200 CZK.

Capacity is limited to 30 people.

Can’t make it for the whole week? You are welcome to come just for a few days.

Pavel Světlík and the A Rocha team are looking forward to seeing you!

Please complete the application and send it [email protected] by 15 June.

APPLY HERE
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Double your impact for a flourishing ocean

We’re excited to let you know we have been selected to participate again in the Big Give Green Match Fund! 

With so many cuts to overseas development, this is a great opportunity to raise £62,000 to protect threatened species and restore critical and degraded habitats, from the coral reefs of Kenya to the vast coasts of India.  

Our target is ambitious, but the scale of challenges facing the oceans is also immense. Marine life is under pressure from multiple interrelated major threats including overharvesting, bleaching events, climate shocks, sedimentation and pollution, invasive species, plastic pollution, marine litter and illegal fishing. There is also a lack of awareness across schools, community, faith and fisher-groups, about the vast amount of damage being done both directly and indirectly to marine ecosystems. Those who are aware may not have the tools, knowledge or theology to take effective action. Finally, poverty can trap communities so they see no option but to exploit coastal ecosystems! Your support can address these needs. 

We are already doing incredible marine work on six continents. Your donation will help our scientists start two new marine conservation projects and monitor the health and threats to marine habitats through scientific research in at least five countries, and mobilize thousands of people in coastal cleanups, microplastic research and education. Church communities around the globe will step up as active participants in marine conservation through our publications on Blue Theology. 

The Green Match kicks off at noon GMT on #EarthDay, 22 April and continues until noon on 29 April. During that time, every contribution made through our campaign page on the Big Give Green Match website* will be DOUBLED. 

One donation, twice the impact. 

* Please note that only donations made through our campaign page on the Big Give website between 22-29 April are eligible to be doubled (while match funds last). The donate button will appear on the campaign page when the Green Match launches. 

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Where green starts: A Rocha Perú’s thriving seed nursery

 In the sun-scorched landscapes of northern Peru in La Libertad, where dry forests face increasing threats from climate change and deforestation, a quiet but powerful movement is taking root, one seedling at a time. At the heart of this effort is A Rocha Perú’s seed nursery, a small but mighty space that has become the foundation for ecological restoration and sustainable living in the region.

Between January and March 2025, the nursery has played a crucial role in cultivating native tree species like algarrobo, along with edible plants such as chili peppers (ají escabeche), papayas, ice-cream bean plants (pacay), and spinach. Each plant is grown with care and purpose – some destined to restore fragile ecosystems, others to nourish families. This season alone, over 100 algarrobo seedlings raised in the nursery were successfully planted across Pacasmayo and Pacanguilla. At the same time, dozens of edible plants were donated to local families, helping them build healthier and more sustainable homes. Every 15 days, new seeds are sown to maintain a steady rhythm of growth, and each week, fresh sprouts emerge.

What makes this nursery truly special is the deep care behind the process. The team at A Rocha Perú not only oversee planting and distribution; they’re also perfecting compost formulas tailored to each species, ensuring every plant has the nutrients it needs to thrive. It’s this kind of detailed, intentional work that transforms a simple nursery into a hub of resilience and renewal. More than just a place where plants grow, A Rocha Perú’s nursery is a space where hope takes root, and where tomorrow’s forests and today’s harvests are grown side by side.

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A butterfly’s lifeline

The Southern Festoon Zerynthia polyxena and its host plant form an emblematic pair. Found in the Mediterranean wetlands, the Southern Festoon is a striking butterfly with pale yellow wings marked with black stripes and red and blue dots. A protected species in France, medium-sized (4 to 5 cm wingspan), adults are on the wing from mid-March to the end of May. It’s highly vulnerable because the caterpillars eat only one plant: Aristolochia.  

Aristolochia is a perennial plant 20 to 60 cm high that thrives on the banks of watercourses and grassy ditches. The female Southern Festoon lays her eggs exclusively under the leaves of this plant, on which the caterpillars subsequently feed. Aristolochia contains a highly toxic compound that protects it from herbivores but the Southern Festoon caterpillars and adult butterflies are resistant to it. The toxin accumulates in the caterpillars, turning them into unpalatable prey, even when adult butterflies. A helpful outcome – for the Southern Festoon! 

The population distribution is very localized and clearly linked to that of Aristolochia, making protection all the more targeted. Aristolochia habitat can be threatened by urbanization, wetland drainage, expansion of agricultural land or intensive scrub clearance. A Rocha France is delighted that two sites they manage in the Vallée des Baux marshes (south of France) host two Southern Festoon populations.  

Since 2012, the team has undertaken annual population monitoring of the Southern Festoon, looking to understand the population dynamics and the effect of management measures put in place. The team uses a census protocol based on the Capture, Marking and Recapture (CMR) of individuals, according to the specific rules of working with a protected butterfly species. Each butterfly is given a unique mark so it can be identified by binoculars or re-captured. Management measures are also in place, such as late mowing, to encourage the development of Aristolochia while limiting the risks of destroying caterpillars. 

This year, the first Southern Festoon adult butterflies were observed on 12 March, slightly earlier than other years. Data analysis will reveal the effect of management and climatic events on population dynamics – such as the 2024 flooding that occurred at one of the sites, resulting in much lower populations. The team will be looking at the accumulated years of data to consider trends and impact – stay tuned for findings!