News flash archive - 2006

January webflash

Volunteers wanted

Rachel, a volunteer from the USA, who last year joined the team in France.

Could you use your talents to help us with conservation, education, research or hospitality this year? There are opportunities for short and long-term volunteers with most of our teams.

Experienced birders are needed to help count migrants in Lebanon, 27 March – 7 April.

A Rocha Canada are looking for a couple to serve as centre managers, helping with site maintenance and hospitality for at least a year, and they also need a Science Officer to assist in species studies and habitat restoration projects.

For these and other needs, please see our Volunteering leaflet.

New A Rocha book!

Caring for Creation, edited by Sarah Tillett, is available now. It combines twelve biblical reflections from various authors with stories from A Rocha’s work around the world. Contributors include Miranda and Peter Harris, Leah Kostamo, Chris Magero, Eugene Peterson, Ghillean Prance and Vinoth Ramachandra. It’s a great book to pass on to anybody who wants to explore the biblical basis for A Rocha’s work. Read our review.

February webflash

Melissa Ong filming in Portugal

See A Rocha in action

Enjoy our new video clip on Google Video, which introduces A Rocha’s work.

Canada conference

The UK Office is based in multi-cultural Southall.

The A Rocha Canada and Regent College conference, “Keeping earth in common: a just faith for a whole world” takes place in Vancouver 24-25 February 2006. A Rocha speakers will be Stella Simiyu (Kenya), Alfredo Abreu (Portugal) and Peter Harris (A Rocha International); and Regent College speakers will be Dave Diewert and Iain Provan. Book your place.

UK job vacancies

A Rocha UK are expanding rapidly and are looking for new team members: a Chief Executive Officer, a Centre Manager, a Scientific Director and a part-time Accountant/ Senior Bookkeeper. If interested, email uk@arocha.org for more information.

A Rocha France welcomes the owls

Up to 20 Long-eared Owls Asio otus have been roosting in the garden of Les Tourades, the A Rocha France centre. One was ringed as part of the winter ringing programme which has benefited greatly from the habitat work of recent months. The centre will be fully open to visitors from April, so if you are planning to visit, book in soon by emailing france@arocha.org

March webflash

19 March - A Rocha on BBC TV

Some of the UK team will be on ‘Songs of Praise’ on Sunday 19 March in a programme with the theme of ‘Transformation’. The team have been filmed at the Minet Country Park, which has been transformed from a polluted wasteland and dumpsite, to a beautiful place of grassland, pools and scrub, rich in wildlife and a magnet for local people. Turn on BBC1 to see the A Rocha Education Officers, Jonathan and Claire, pond-dipping with local youngsters.

Outdoor education in South Africa

The A Rocha team in KwaZulu-Natal recently took fourteen youngsters from a children's home near Pietermaritzburg on the ‘Phila Endalweni-Creation Alive!’ Programme for five days of adventure learning and outdoor education in the Karkloof. The children enjoyed the forest, river and mistbelt grassland walks at the height of the summer season. Here a group of girls have to build their teamwork skills to win a race.

Children living near Mole National Park

Immature Bald Eagle Haliaeetus leucocephalus

This photo of the Eastern Marsh shows the fires and some of the heavy machinery which has ploughed up two-thirds of the marsh. (Photo: João Tiago)

Marcial Felgueiras, Director of A Rocha Portugal, with some of the Brazilians on the Una River when he visited earlier this year.

Norwegian gull in Kenya

Colin Jackson, Director of A Rocha Kenya, was catching and ringing gulls and terns at Sabaki River Mouth on 29 January this year as part of the A Rocha research programme assessing the wildlife importance of this unique coastal site. Amongst the birds caught was a Lesser Black-backed Gull, Larus fuscus, which already carried a ring. It had been banded as a chick, at Nordland, Norway, on 23 July 2005 and had flown 7,953 km. It was further south than any other Lesser Black-backed Gull from Norway and their first to be found in Kenya.

April webflash

Become carbon neutral

A new A Rocha venture has been launched. Climate Stewards is a website which enables individuals and businesses to buy voluntary carbon offsets for air and car travel. These offsets are used to plant trees and for other carbon dioxide reducing measures on A Rocha projects. This gives everyone an opportunity to go carbon neutral for their travel. Although presently aimed primarily at people in the UK, you can use it from anywhere in the world if you have a credit or debit card. We plan to introduce versions tailored to other countries in the coming year. See www.climatestewards.co.uk.

Helping poor communities in Ghana

A Rocha Ghana is working with several communities near Mole National Park in the north of the country. The project aims to enable villagers to improve their diet and income and also to conserve the local wildlife. Gari and Shea-nut butter processing machines were recently delivered to two villages, enabling many women there to enjoy greater productivity for less labour. Eighty beehives have now been completed and will not only provide an income for those who tend them, but will also reduce the unsustainable practice of harvesting wild honey by using fire, which kills both the bees, and the trees in which they have built their combs.

Raptor Monitoring in Pembina Valley

A Rocha Canada continues its second, annual raptor monitoring programme in the Pembina Valley of Manitoba this month. The valley, which lies within one of the most significant raptor migration routes in central North America, is the perfect place to conduct such a survey while hawks, eagles, falcons and vultures funnel through on their way north. Last year, 8,430 raptors were counted during the survey. The data will go into a report which will then be distributed to government and private conservation agencies with a view to improving awareness and wildlife conservation.

May webflash

Alvor Estuary threatened

A Rocha Portugal’s field study centre is on the Quinta da Rocha, beside the Alvor Estuary: one of the best studied and most important nature conservation sites in the country. In March the headland was purchased by a developer and despite its status as a Natura 2000 site, heavy machinery was used to cause considerable damage to the wetlands. A Rocha is working closely with the media, local government and other environmental NGO’s to save the site. The damage has stopped for now, but the threat continues.

A Rocha – now in Brazil

A group of conservationists, based in São Paulo State, are introducing A Rocha’s work to Brazil. They already have a full-time co-ordinator and a network of about 700 contacts throughout the country. They hope to begin by helping to protect the Atlantic rain forest. The group will be promoting the 1st National Meeting about Integral Mission: Ecology and Society from 24 - 26 November 2006. Amongst those taking part will be Prof Sir Ghillean Prance, Peter Harris (International Director of A Rocha) and the Brazilian Minister of Environment, Marina Silva. If you live in Brazil and would like to know more, please contact brasil@arocha.org

June webflash

The Tannourine Cedar Forest is one of the new IBAs, important as a bottleneck for migrant soaring birds and for breeding Syrian Serins which are found only in the Middle East.

New protection for Lebanon’s birds

Lebanon is a hotspot for birds. It’s a super-highway for birds of prey, storks and cranes migrating between Africa and Europe/Siberia, and some of its breeding songbirds have a very restricted global range. Because of very high levels of hunting, the need for legal protection for the most important sites is really urgent. Last year A Rocha Lebanon and the Society for the Protection of Nature in Lebanon surveyed 12 sites. We have just heard the good news that 5 of them have been granted Important Bird Area status by BirdLife International. The local communities are getting involved in building teams to protect and manage the new conservation areas.

Research opportunities in Lebanon

This year a further 12 sites are being surveyed as possible Important Bird Areas. If you would like to help this autumn, either with the IBA bird counts (23 Sept -7 October) or with the autumn ringing project (10 -20 September) for which volunteers must have a UK 'C' permit or equivalent, please contact lebanon@arocha.org

A Rocha Lebanon is also looking for a Scientific Officer. If you are interested, see the Job vacancies.

Could you help the Lebanon team this autumn?

Quinta da Rocha – latest news

Last month we highlighted the damaging developments on the Quinta da Rocha and the Ria Alvor. A Rocha Portugal continues to keep up the pressure for the Natura 2000 legislation to be respected and they are working closely with the local authorities. The summer is likely to be a critical time.

July webflash

SPECIAL REPORT: A ROCHA LEBANON TEAM

Thursday, 20 July

The A Rocha Lebanon team

Wednesday, 19 July

At around noon today (Lebanon time) the Naylor family, Colin, Rich, Veronique and Isabel were going through evacuation procedures, expecting to set sail for Cyprus this afternoon.

Tuesday, 18 July

Mary, the Lebanese member of the team is now safely out of the country; the British and French members of the team are waiting to be evacuated to Cyprus and we’ll report here as soon as we know that they have arrived safely. The Naylor family are likely to be on British TV Tuesday evening (18th July) on the ITN early evening news. We hope that the team will soon be able to return and continue their research and conservation programme in the country’s many important, but vulnerable, wildlife-rich areas, and in the meantime, our prayers are with the many Lebanese colleagues and friends who remain behind.

Young people from an A Rocha Ghana School Club (Jafo Primary School) watching wildlife in Mole National Park.

Chris & Susanna Naylor, our team leaders, on ITV news on 18 July, when the whole family were interviewed in their flat, awaiting evacuation.

A Rocha in New Zealand?

A group of conservationists, based on North Island, are exploring the possibility of an A Rocha project. If you live in New Zealand and would like to be kept in touch with developments, or can offer support, please e-mail: international@arocha.org

Read our 2005 Review!

A Rocha’s International Review for 2005 is now online. From January to December, from India to Canada, and from counting Corn Crakes to reducing poverty, the 2005 Review highlights the diversity of projects undertaken around the world last year. See 2005 Review.

Encouraging a sense of wonder

A Rocha teams in Canada, the UK and the Czech Republic will be running summer camps in July and August, helping children to discover and enjoy the natural world, and to think of ways in which they can care for it. In Ghana, the A Rocha team are involved in environmental education with children from 11 communities around Mole National Park, and some of the school clubs have recently been involved in clearing litter from their villages.

August webflash

Lebanon news

Our work in Lebanon is temporarily suspended because of the current crisis. The A Rocha Lebanon team are all safely out of the country: the French and British members were evacuated on 19 July. We continue to be very concerned for the safety and well-being of our national committee as well as our many colleagues and friends throughout the country.

Alvor estuary threat

The Alvor estuary and marshes – one of the few undeveloped coastal areas in the Algarve.

A Rocha Portugal’s field study centre in the Algarve is on the Quinta da Rocha, beside the Alvor Estuary. The estuary, a Natura 2000 site, is threatened by excessive and inappropriate developments, so in recent months the team have been concentrating their efforts on presenting alternative plans, based on over 20 years’ research into the local wildlife and habitats, and they are working with the media, other NGOs and the local authorities. August and the following few months will be critical for the future of the estuary.

A Rocha at the British Birdwatching Fair

If you’ll be at the fair (18-20 August) at Rutland Water, then we hope you’ll call by the A Rocha stand in Marquee 2. Or you could arrive in time to join us at the Sunday morning service from 9.30-10.15am in the Events Marquee (gates open at 9am). The service will be led this year by Dave Bookless, the Director of A Rocha UK, assisted by various A Rocha team members and friends. See www.birdfair.org.uk.

Have you been on holiday?

The beach at Lagos, Portugal.

If your holiday involved flights or long drives, why not visit our Climate Stewards website and use our travel calculator to see how much CO2 you produced? Or simply visit on a regular basis to read the latest climate change stories.

Chief Executive wanted

Over the past decade A Rocha has grown from a single project in Portugal to a steadily increasing number of community-based conservation projects established by national Christians on four continents. Expecting this pattern of growth to continue, the trustees seek a qualified CEO to lead the strategic and organisational development of A Rocha globally. For more, see the Jobs page.

September webflash

Middle East – the effect of war on the wildlife

The recent loss of human life and devastation of infrastructure has been appalling, but what of the damage to the environment?

Forest fires raged in Lebanon and Israel during the conflict.

Forest fires have raged on both sides of the border. In Israel alone, more than half a million trees have been burnt in over 500 fires. In Lebanon the situation is far worse as fires burned unchecked during the war – a devastated infrastructure and the military operations meant that no efforts could be made to extinguish them.

Ebel Is Saqi in South Lebanon, one of the new IBAs.

The Aammiq Wetland and the newly declared Important Bird Areas (IBAs) where A Rocha Lebanon has done much of its work have not been directly affected, but many are worried that those who have lost everything will be driven to take natural resources, such as wood and stone, with little thought for the future, as they face the winter just trying to survive.

Canada conference 29-30 September

October webflash

Want to work with A Rocha?

Photo: A Rocha Portugal’s new Scientific Officer will help with a varied research and monitoring programme and the ideal candidate would have good field identification skills in birds and/or research experience in estuarine ecosystems.

Partnership with Conservation International

A church in New York.

The other aim is to work with Christian communities, and other faith groups, in some of the biodiversity hotspots where the need for habitat conservation is most urgent. In doing so, CI is acknowledging that the major religions can become key partners in the efforts to care for creation, but that it must be done through their existing institutions and expressed in the values that they hold. A Rocha's experience within the Christian community and alongside many faith groups in various countries will provide a critical advantage.

Waiheke Beach, New Zealand

Switzerland and New Zealand

A Rocha Initiative Groups have now formed in Switzerland and New Zealand so if you would like to be involved in helping A Rocha get started there – or just want to get news of progress, contact international@arocha.org

The A Rocha team carrying out a survey in Cedar of Lebanon forest in 2003.

A Rocha Lebanon update

There has recently been a very large fire on the mountain above the Aammiq Wetland within the estate and cedar reserve where we work. Unexploded bombs (particularly cluster bombs) littering the area made fighting the blaze impossible from the ground. Eventually helicopters from Cyprus extinguished the blaze. The tragic loss of yet more woodland underlined the enormity of the task to get the A Rocha project back off the ground in post-war Lebanon. Two of the team will visit Lebanon this month to assess the situation, modify plans for the Important Bird Area programme and prepare for a fuller return in November.

November webflash

Stonechat (Saxicola torquata) is one of the many species to be surveyed in SW Portugal this winter.

Want to work with A Rocha?

A Rocha Portugal is seeking a Field Ornithologist to work from November 2006 – February 2007 undertaking a repeat survey of wintering birds in SW Portugal, and they also need a Science Officer. A Rocha International is looking for a Senior Executive Officer and A Rocha UK needs a Scientific Director. See the Jobs page.

Simply getting around is one of the major challenges for everyone in Lebanon, as this bridge was formerly used regularly by the team.

Latest from Lebanon

Chris and Colin returned to Lebanon in October for a first assessment visit and to restart the A Rocha Lebanon work programmes. They were pleased to find that the Aammiq Wetland and the cedar reserve behind the marshes were relatively unaffected by the war. However many of the Important Bird Area study sites, particularly in Southern and Eastern Lebanon, are littered with unexploded cluster bombs and other munitions. They are currently working with partners to find ways of carrying on this crucial research and community conservation initiative.

Some of the people in the new Initiative Group.

A Rocha launched in Uganda

The first step to launching A Rocha in Uganda was taken in October, when a large group was challenged by the Rt Rev Dr Zac Niringiye to repent of misusing the environment, “We’ve worked it but not taken good care of it!” he declared. Ugandan scientists highlighted the challenges: receding water levels in Lake Victoria, dramatic loss of forests, the need for a proper waste disposal system and disease due to environmental degradation. See the Uganda Initiative Group page. If you want to be involved, contact international@arocha.org

December webflash

Are you travelling this Christmas?

Christmas trees give pleasure for a few weeks – and then we throw them away. If you are travelling for Christmas, why not offset your carbon emissions by planting trees that will last a lifetime? Visit climatestewards.org.uk to easily calculate your emissions, find suggestions on how to reduce them and to make a donation. A Rocha plants native trees and takes expert advice in choosing species, so that the planting, in Ghana and Kenya, will provide maximum benefits for native wildlife, local people and of course, carbon mitigation.

Photo: The Wawa Triplochiton scleroxylon is a very tall tree indigenous to West and Central Africa.

Want to volunteer with A Rocha next year?

Have you any special skills such as gardening, cooking, taxidermy, carpentry, accounting, GIS, ringing birds, identifying dragonflies, fixing old cars, speaking Arabic, cleaning up hard-drives or teaching children? Are you willing to join in with whatever jobs need doing? If so, there may be a team eager to welcome you for a few weeks or a few months next year. Have a look at our recently updated leaflet Opportunities with A Rocha and if you want to apply abroad, use our new on-line application form, accessible from the Volunteering page.

Photo: A Dutch volunteer helping to renovate the new A Rocha Czech centre.

Ploughing has continued in botanically rich areas on the Quinta da Rocha.

Happening now…

The A Rocha Lebanon Team Leaders have recently returned to Beirut and are planning how best to continue the Important Bird Area research and other conservation programmes. More...

The A Rocha Portugal team are continuing the campaign to protect the Alvor Estuary and the Quinta da Rocha from threatened developments. More...

The A Rocha Czech team are fundraising to complete the purchase of their new field study centre in East Bohemia. More...