Home for All

Home for All

Join us in caring for God’s creation, great and small.
Across the mountains,
seas and skies there is a home for all.

Since 1983, A Rocha has worked to provide refuge for people, creatures and their habitats. We are protecting 1.2 million hectares and 470 threatened species across land, water and skies.

Click the images below to see conservation project examples of how our organizations in over 20 countries around the world are making a home for all.

A Rocha works across six continents to protect habitats through our biodiversity conservation initiatives.

Friends Network

Sustainable farming

Protecting forests

Rediscovered species

Environmental Education

Church engagement

Elephant and human peacekeeping

Sustainable livelihoods

Habitat restoration

A Rocha’s conservation work extends to the 71% of the earth that is covered in water, such as oceans, lakes, rivers, wetlands, and mangroves.

Coral monitoring

Shark monitoring

Marine protected areas

Restoring wetlands

Fish Conservation

Mangrove projects

Tackling plastic pollution

From climate change to protecting winged and flying species, A Rocha’s conservation work soars above land and sea, to the skies.

Climate Research

Butterfly and moth studies

Bird Research

Bat Research

Beekeeping

Climate Stewards

Join us in caring for God’s creation, great and small. Every species, from the delicate Hermit butterfly Chazara briseis to the resilient Atewa Slippery Frog Conraua sagyimase and the gentle West Indian Manatee Trichechus manatus, matters to the Lord. We protect and restore vulnerable habitats, including wetlands, rivers, mangroves, reefs, forests, meadows, humans and other living creatures that call these places home.

Rooted in community-based conservation, we commit to people and places long term, collaborating with Indigenous communities, local farmers, women’s groups, scientists, and more – embracing cultural diversity in our holistic approach to biodiversity conservation and sustainable livelihoods.  

However you may be called to care for God’s creation, there is a home for you here at A Rocha. Will you join us in safeguarding the places, people and creatures that depend on this work? Your support helps ensure ‘the trees are well cared for, the birds make their nests’ (Psalm 104), and every creature has a home. 

A Rocha works across six continents to protect habitats through our biodiversity conservation initiatives. Examples of our land-based projects include human-elephant peacekeeping in India; preserving forests in Africa and Peru; collaboration with local communities, environmental education and sustainable livelihoods; habitat restoration; engaging churches in caring for creation; scientific research and discovering new species, and more. Join us in creating a home for all through A Rocha’s conservation efforts.

A Rocha’s conservation work extends to the 71% of the earth that is covered in water, such as oceans, lakes, rivers, wetlands, and mangroves. Our conservation initiatives involving water-based habitats include coral reef monitoring in Kenya; mangrove planting in USA, Philippines and Ghana; plastic cleanups along beaches and rivers around the world; wetland restoration projects in Australia, Portugal, Nigeria and the Netherlands; watershed protection and fish monitoring in Canada; and more. These efforts help restore habitats and engage people in understanding and caring for these precious and increasingly threatened ecosystems.

From climate change to protecting winged and flying species, A Rocha’s conservation work soars above land and sea, to the skies. Examples of this conservation work include climate change research in Portugal; nature-based solutions to reduce and offset carbon footprints with Climate Stewards; bird conservation across Portugal, France, Kenya, Canada, New Zealand, and Czech Republic; bat research in New Zealand and France; beekeeping in Ghana, Czech Republic, Kenya, Switzerland and the UK; and butterfly and moth studies in Switzerland and France. Help us continue to protect species great and small, across land, sea and sky.

Resources

For a printable version of the campaign, download our trifold leaflet here.

Give now

Our goal is to raise $100,000 for our Home for All campaign this year. We would love for you to consider contributing to this initiative to help us reach our campaign goal! If you have more questions about this campaign or other ways to give, please email [email protected].

Thank you for your support of A Rocha around the world! Whether you are an individual, a church, a family or a group of friends, our hope is that contributing to this campaign will bring you into deeper relationship with this beautiful world we all call home and the one who created it. 

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Friends Network

Join us in expanding the impact of A Rocha's global conservation efforts! Our Friends Network offers learning and networking opportunities for local Christian environmental organizations. The goal is to nurture these organizations and help them have a positive impact on their local environments, with the hope that some will evolve into official A Rocha organizations. Currently, our network boasts 21 Friends around the world, each contributing to incredible environmental work within their respective countries. Your support helps us grow this network, fostering collaboration and empowering more communities to engage actively in creation care.

Climate research

A Rocha Portugal has been diligently collecting weather data since 2002, providing valuable insights into climate patterns. Monitoring variables such as temperature, precipitation, humidity and wind speed, this comprehensive dataset is proving essential for scientists studying climate change. Despite its relatively short span of just over 20 years, the data reveals a concerning trend of increasing temperatures and decreasing rainfall. Climate research like this serves as a critical indicator, highlighting the urgency of climate action and underscoring the importance of sustainable rainfall patterns for soil health, preventing erosion and safeguarding ecosystems.

Rediscovered species

A Rocha’s dedication to safeguarding vulnerable species through conservation research has led to exciting rediscoveries and research of many species! A Rocha Lebanon is searching for the elusive and critically endangered Hula Painted Frog Latonia nigriventer. Previously suspected to be extinct, its rediscovery in 2011 has given new hope to learning more about and protecting this species, and the possibility that it might also be found in Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley. . YAPPENDA, a Friend of A Rocha in Indonesia, rediscovered the Attenborough’s Long-beaked Echidna Zaglossus attenboroughi, thought lost for 60 years. The Endangered White-naped Mangabey Cercocebus lunulatus was discovered by A Rocha scientists in Ghana’s Atewa Forest using camera traps. These findings emphasize the urgency of preserving diverse ecosystems and the significance of A Rocha’s global conservation work.

Marine Protected Areas

A Rocha’s Marine Programme works in Marine Protected Areas in Kenya and USA, with the potential for expanding into new regions. In Kenya’s Watamu Marine National Park, groundbreaking studies, including the first detailed habitat map, emphasize the importance of non-coral marine habitats. Marine governance projects aim to preserve biodiversity, restore livelihoods and engage communities in sustainable management. In the Canaveral National Seashore, USA, near Kennedy Space Centre, A Rocha’s marine team conducts research, educates the community and leads initiatives like beach cleanups and microplastics research, contributing to marine conservation and community engagement.

Fish conservation

A Rocha Canada is working to protect biodiversity and improve watershed health in the Tatalu (Little Campbell River) watershed, home to five species of Pacific salmon and trout, as well as over 30 other species at risk. They’ve also established a long-term monitoring project focused on the red-listed Salish Sucker Catostomus sp., which was rediscovered at Brooksdale in 2011 after it was thought to be locally extinct.

Mangrove projects

Mangroves play an important role in healthy coastal ecosystems, offering resilience against climate change through shoreline stabilization, storm impact reduction and habitat provision for marine and bird species. In addition, mangroves serve as significant carbon sinks, storing an estimated 12 billion metric tons worldwide. A Rocha’s hands-on mangrove planting projects in Ghana, the USA and the Philippines involve communities and churches, restoring degraded areas and promoting biodiversity. With your help, A Rocha plans to expand mangrove restoration projects to India in 2024, further advancing our marine conservation efforts. 

Coral monitoring

Coral bleaching is one of the urgent threats facing reefs today, including those in Watamu Marine National Park, near A Rocha Kenya’s field study centre. Coral reefs are some of the most diverse ecosystems on earth, supporting more species per unit area than any other marine environment, including about 4,000 species of fish, 800 species of hard corals and hundreds of other species. Since 2013, A Rocha Kenya’s marine team has diligently monitored corals, identifying colonies that are resistant to bleaching. They are now actively working to restore the reef through coral gardening (rewilding). Your support helps us better understand coral resilience to climate change and produce appropriate management recommendations to protect the future of these underwater wonders.

Shark monitoring

Watamu Marine National Park is an important place for a number of Critically Endangered and Near Threatened species. A Rocha Kenya is actively studying the area using scuba surveys and special underwater cameras to keep an eye on the habitats and populations of sharks. They’re also working closely with local communities, educating them about the importance of saving sharks and encouraging fishing practices that are good for the environment. Sharks are an important element of biodiversity because they help keep food webs in balance. A Rocha Kenya also speaks up for policies that protect sharks and their homes. With your support, we can keep researching, involving communities and advocating for policies to ensure the wellbeing of sharks and the marine environment in Watamu.

Church engagement

A Rocha partners globally with churches to explore God’s teachings on creation and collaborate for positive change. A Rocha UK’s Eco Church initiative, now adapted and used in other locations, encourages churches to care for the planet. In South Africa, A Rocha’s Creation Care Workshops delve into the biblical concept of creation care with Christian communities. Responding to increased interest, A Rocha nurtures diverse church partnerships and invites churches to join collaborative creation care efforts. With 31.5% of the world identifying as Christian, A Rocha’s 40-year legacy is a catalyst, engaging Christian communities in the global restoration of nature. Churches can learn more about engaging with A Rocha and creation care here.

Tackling plastic pollution

A Rocha tackles global plastic pollution by partnering with local civic groups and communities worldwide for beach cleanups and microplastic research, employing citizen science accessible to non-scientists. In Florida, USA, Portugal, and Kenya visitors, students, churches and families have actively contributed to our understanding of where nurdles come from and end up. Around the world, A Rocha organizations join coastal cleanup days and use our plastics toolbox to combat plastic pollution wherever they are. Our holistic approach, combining research, citizen engagement and science, instills hope for a healthier future for our oceans and the diverse life they support. Join us in creating positive change!

Bat research

Bats play a crucial role in insect control, acting as indicators of ecosystem health. A Rocha France is actively involved in bat conservation, monitoring bat populations in the Vallée des Baux through sound analysis to understand species distribution better and inform habitat management recommendations. Additionally, they offer public activities such as guided bat walks in the Domaine des Courmettes, using ultrasound detectors to listen to bat calls and educate the community. Aotearoa New Zealand focuses on predator control measures utilizing trapping networks and signage to educate the community about protecting the endangered Long-tailed Bat pekapeka or Chalinolobus tuberculatus, one of just two remaining land mammal species native to New Zealand.

Protecting forests

For three decades, A Rocha has championed African forest conservation amid relentless resource demands. Our African Forest Programme actively safeguards vital ecosystems in Kenya, Uganda, Ghana, South Africa and Nigeria, advocating for conservation policies and promoting sustainability. These efforts ensure the careful stewardship of 50,000 hectares of biodiverse African forests, supporting local communities in sustainable development initiatives. In Peru, A Rocha's dry forest projects protect biodiversity, combat deforestation and engage communities in sustainable land use. Your support empowers us to sustain and expand these impactful endeavours, fostering a harmonious balance between people and nature.

Sustainable livelihoods

A Rocha recognizes the pivotal role sustainable livelihoods play in fostering the wellbeing of both nature and communities. We actively promote sustainable livelihoods and poverty alleviation worldwide. In Peru, our fuel-efficient cookstoves mitigate deforestation and enhance air quality. In Uganda, we lead the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) programme and distribute biosand filters to promote community health. In India, we’re working to empower women economically and socially. Initiatives like these showcase A Rocha's holistic conservation approach, incorporating community and poverty alleviation. Your support empowers us to continue making lasting impacts on both people and planet.

Habitat restoration

A Rocha’s habitat restoration initiatives engage local communities in caring for creation. A Rocha UK’s Partners in Action programme helps protect 3,500 hectares through land restoration partnerships. A Rocha Netherlands has recently restored ten hectares of wetland in a project that is now a case study for others. KriNa, A Rocha’s Associated Project in Sweden, started an apple meadow project benefiting pollinators, and A Rocha South Africa engages volunteers through Action Teams, doing practical environmental projects like invasive vegetation clearing and tree planting and river and beach cleanups. Across the globe, your support amplifies A Rocha’s community-based restoration projects like these.

Climate Stewards

Climate Stewards, an A Rocha Thematic Organization, guides individuals and organizations to measure, reduce and offset their carbon footprint. Contributions support A Rocha’s community-based conservation projects like biosand water filters in Uganda, cookstoves in Peru and tree-growing in Ghana. The unique Seal of Approval (SoA) framework ensures rigorous assessment of project authenticity, permanence and local benefits. All Climate Stewards partner projects hold the SoA, ensuring maximum carbon offsetting income benefits local communities while maintaining high standards of design, implementation and accountability.

Environmental education

A Rocha has led environmental education initiatives for over 30 years, conducting 1,705 activities with 48,839 participants in 2022 alone. This is just a glimpse of our broader efforts, including global initiatives, workshops and staff training. In Ghana, innovative approaches enrich community programmes, while in Uganda our education efforts support sustainable livelihoods. South Africa and others champion Plastic Free February. A Rocha Czech engages in nature clubs and school programmes, while in the USA, the Wild Wonder curriculum inspires youth to engage in creation care. Your support ensures the expansion and success of transformative educational initiatives like these.

Elephant and human peacekeeping

Since 2004, A Rocha India has been dedicated to addressing the critical issue of human-elephant conflict in and around Bannerghatta National Park, situated just outside Bangalore. This unique scrub forest is home to Asian Elephants Elephas maximus, living near neighbouring farmland and urban areas. Focusing on long-term sustainability for both wildlife and local communities, we employ innovative solutions like the development of the elephant traffic light and other measures aimed at mitigating conflicts. Your support contributes to fostering harmonious coexistence between elephants and the people who share this vital landscape.

Sustainable farming

A Rocha's sustainable farming initiatives span across diverse regions, with notable projects in Canada, Uganda, Kenya and Ghana. A Rocha Canada focuses on sustainable agriculture with a community-oriented approach, supporting refugees and the local community. A Rocha Uganda and A Rocha Kenya implement the Farming God’s Way model, emphasizing sustainable and regenerative agriculture. Additionally, A Rocha Ghana, in collaboration with Eden Creation Care, recognize the interconnectedness of environmental stewardship and community development in their sustainable farming initiatives.

Restoring wetlands

Wetland conservation is crucial for our planet. Wetlands are rich in wildlife and serve as vital ‘carbon sinks’—they trap carbon to prevent its release into the atmosphere. A Rocha Portugal has been instrumental in protecting the Alvor Estuary and its biodiverse wetland habitat from threats of development. In Nigeria, Eden Creation Care preserves wetlands at the Rennajj Fish Farm, emphasizing education and research. Collaborating with the City of Onkaparinga, A Rocha Australia actively conserves the Hart Road Wetlands, focusing on weed removal, indigenous revegetation and biodiversity monitoring. A Rocha Netherlands provides nesting rafts aiding in the recovery of the endangered Black Tern Chlidonia niger in the Schellerwade tributary, where they used to breed. Your support ensures the ongoing success of initiatives like these, safeguarding essential wetland ecosystems around the world.

Beekeeping
Supporting beekeeping not only aids vital pollination but also fosters biodiversity and sustainable livelihoods. In Ghana, beekeeping empowers communities economically and promotes pollination. In Kenya, it aligns with our conservation efforts in the Dakatcha Woodlands, providing income while preserving natural resources. In Switzerland, beekeeping contributes to dry meadow conservation, safeguarding biodiversity. A Rocha UK educates through pollinator-focused programmes at the Wolf Fields urban community reserve, while A Rocha Czech provides essential habitat with insect hotels. These diverse initiatives underscore A Rocha’s dedication to preserving biodiversity. Your support fuels these impactful projects for the benefit of both nature and community.
Butterfly and moth studies

A Rocha’s butterfly conservation projects, such as A Rocha Switzerland‘s dry and wet meadow management that protects the endangered Weaver’s Fritillary butterfly Boloria dia and A Rocha France‘s study on the Hermit butterfly Chazara briseis, exemplify A Rocha’s dedication to preserving all biodiversity, great and small. Focusing on small wonders like butterflies, A Rocha engages volunteers, conducts mark-recapture studies and collaborates with local communities. The initiatives address threats from agriculture and urbanization, showcasing the beauty of small creatures while promoting habitat restoration and fostering biodiversity. Donor support sustains these impactful projects, contributing to the understanding and conservation of these delicate species and many others.

Bird research

Since establishing a bird observatory in Portugal in 1983, A Rocha has reached a significant milestone of ringing (banding) 250,000 birds globally. A Rocha’s ongoing commitment to bird conservation is evident through initiatives like European Roller Coracias garrulus migration research in France, Greater Sandplover Charadrius leschenaultii and Lesser Sandplover Charadrius mongolus migration studies in Kenya, Barn swallow Hirundo rustica research in Canada, and protecting species like the vulnerable Ōi/Grey-faced Petrel Pterodroma gouldi in New Zealand or the Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis, the White-throated Dipper Cinclus cinclus and the Little Owl Athene noctua in the Czech Republic. A Rocha’s global efforts contribute significantly to avian biodiversity, behaviour understanding and conservation needs, ensuring the long-term survival of bird populations and their ecosystems.

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