Ben Lowe 2020-cropped

Meet A Rocha International’s new Deputy Executive Director

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A Rocha International is happy to announce the appointment of Rev Dr Ben Lowe as Deputy Executive Director. Ben moved from Singapore to the USA as a teenager and is currently based in Florida. He has been part of the A Rocha family for many years, most recently working as a Senior Advisor to the Executive Director. We asked him a few things we thought you’d like to know.

1. Deputy Executive Director – what does one of those do?
Ha, how much space do you have for this answer?! Basically, I’ll be working closely with our Executive Director Simon Stuart, our trustees, and the rest of the management team to help lead ARI and support the good work that our teams are doing. This includes managing, fundraising, strategic planning, lots of praying, and much more! I’m also eager to continue immersing myself in A Rocha projects around the world and getting to know folks I haven’t had the opportunity to meet and work with yet.

2. Tell us some of the life experiences that have equipped you for this role?
Growing up and working in various cultural, geographic, and community contexts makes me incredibly excited about learning from and championing the great diversity of people and work across the A Rocha worldwide family. I’ve also long been personally and vocationally focused on bridging faith with conservation and science, whether as an ordained minister in the Christian and Missionary Alliance, or in my doctoral research on the human and religious dimensions of environmental change and conservation.

3. What is your favourite thing to do when you aren’t working?
Spending time with friends, whether out on the water, around a campfire, or over good food! I also love all things fish; my feelings about fish are similar to how Simon Stuart feels about amphibians and many across A Rocha feel about birds.

Please join us in praying for Ben and welcoming him to his significant leadership position which he will take up in early February. 

Dakatcha

African Forest Programme Coordinator

Opportunities

Tropical forests across Africa are under relentless pressure – a problem we witness all too frequently in our daily conservation work. Yet we know conservation is about hope: deforestation can be halted and aspirations for sustainable development can be attained. A Rocha Ghana, for example, is leading an impressive international campaign to save the Atewa forest, while A Rocha Kenya is working with communities to preserve the important coastal forests of Kenya.

To date, A Rocha’s forest conservation projects have mainly been locally-focused, working with our partners to conserve a particular forest in a particular landscape. But while grounding ourselves in a landscape and doing locally-relevant conservation will always be core to how we work, we believe we can do more and add greater value if we bring our work, expertise and networks together. In response, we have developed a forest programme which combines the efforts of four projects with five A Rocha organizations to deliver the following framework.

It is to support this delivery that we are seeking an experienced forest programme coordinator (PC), able to live and work in one of the four programme countries: Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, or Uganda.

Download the complete Terms of Reference including more on how to apply.

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The latest issue of Field Notes, now online!

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With Christmas now just around the corner, food will be on the minds of many of us. It seems fitting therefore that ‘Creation-friendly farming’ is the theme of our latest Field Notes newsletter too. We hope you enjoy reading stories of A Rocha’s work as and with farmers. This edition includes an interview with a farmer whose Christian faith led him to go organic and an overview of what the Bible has to say about food production. The issues and challenges can seem overwhelming but together, and with God’s help, we can bring about change.

Brooksdale property (AR Canada)

Votes on land use around the Tatalu (Little Campbell River)

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A Rocha Canada’s Brooksdale Environmental Centre is set on an 18-acre property – a living lab of forests, a threatened river system, organic gardens and heritage houses. This unique combination of sensitive wildlife habitat and agricultural land makes this British Columbia centre a place where critical environmental issues are researched, addressed and solved.

A big decision was made by Metro Vancouver recently concerning the 600 acres surrounding the centre. Unfortunately, the vote went as anticipated: the board voted 82 to 52 in favour of moving Surrey’s plan forward to amend the regional growth strategy, allowing servicing to come down into South Campbell Heights to accommodate ‘employment use’ of these lands. One member said it was the most intensely debated, longest, and toughest decision made by the Metro Vancouver Board in the last 10 years!

‘An incredible group of people, some old friends and some new to us, spoke in opposition with insight, clear evidence, professionalism, personal experience, creativity and conviction,’ says David Anderson, the Brooksdale Centre Co-Director. ‘It was an outpouring of love for creation from a diverse group. Several Metro board members fought hard for conservation with eloquence and with a significant degree of courage, as it was a political risk for some.’

So what’s next? ‘Well first, we take a bit of rest,’ continues David, ‘allow ourselves to feel grief and some righteous anger, and name and celebrate hard work well done. And then we re-group with our partners, connect with some of the seasoned board members who were allies, and make a plan for how to engage the process going forward that will span years.

Thank you for your prayers, networking, letter writing, social media sharing and encouragement.’

Currently the best way to support the Tatalu is to subscribe to the A Rocha Canada e-news and sign the petition to stay informed.

Magnus Kopman and Peter Harris Falsterbo

Migration and momentum in Sweden

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Photo: Peter Harris with Magnus Köpman at Falsterbo

The autumn bird migration over Falsterbo in Sweden is spectacular – millions pass overhead in a matter of days. It was during a migration watch here in the early 1980s that A Rocha was first dreamed up, and this year, founder Peter Harris returned with a group of birding friends, many linked to A Rocha in the Netherlands.  

Arne Mörnerud leads the A Rocha work in Sweden and set up a series of meetings and events for Peter and some of the group. They spent time with their partner organization at Hyllie Park, which comprises two schools and a care home for the elderly. After good discussions with the CEO, it is hoped that A Rocha’s influence will not be limited to the ongoing ecological transformation of the grounds but could be mainstreamed into what is now a sizeable organization, and not least have an impact on their investment policies. They were also glad to welcome several A Rocha members from other parts of the country including Magnus Köpman who first visited Cruzinha in the early 1990s. 

They also travelled to Knislinge to see Anton and Mirjam Flood who moved onto a farm there a year ago, when Anton began working at the nearby adult education college as chaplain. Peter writes, ‘Anton and Mirjam are advancing plans for a creation care track for students similar to other pathways through the syllabus and they have a clear vision for establishing an A Rocha community based locally. Things are moving fast and all of us spent a great evening together with friends from the area to talk about A Rocha’s commitments and the possibilities for future work together.’  

In this short clip, Anton talks about his hopes for a closer relationship with A Rocha. For more information about A Rocha in Sweden please visit https://arochasvanner.se 

Courmettes-1

France – Les Courmettes

Opportunities

France – Les Courmette

Courmettes 1Le Domaine des Courmettes is A Rocha France’s second site, an hour’s drive up into the hills northwest of Nice. It offers 600 ha of preserved wildlife in a variety of natural habitats and a breathtaking view of the French Riviera. The Domain is open to the public, with several hiking trails.

This is a pioneering experience, with a small on-site team and volunteering needs in many areas: building, painting, roofing, insulating, administrating, welcoming visitors and hikers, nature surveying, path-making, marketing, hosting commercial events, and so on. Les Courmettes holds huge potential for touching hearts and lives and helping visitors connect with the losses generated by climate change and the joys of living healthily. Come and be a part of it as an individual or even better, as a group!

A Rocha also hopes to develop various environmental education tools in the near future, as well as eco-tourism in the years to come.

Volunteers at Les Courmettes are welcomed for stays of at least two weeks. Living conditions are a little rougher than at Les Tourades, especially during the winter months, and city dwellers might feel somewhat isolated over longer stays. Count on about 130 euros for a week’s full board (subject to change).

Those who participate in outdoors work need to be physically fit and able to hike around the Domain. Ability in French, while not essential, is an asset. Because the community at Les Courmettes is an international one, we do not offer a French-language immersion experience

Long-term volunteer positions at Les Courmettes include:

  • logistics assistant for events management and welcoming visitors (with organisational and people skills)
  • building maintenance coordinator (with a variety of construction and home improvement skills)
  • land management assistant (with skills in environmental management)
  • renewable energy project manager (for implementation on site and to offer feasibility studies for churches and parachurch structures)
  • environmental education assistant (with skills in education, small group leadership, graphic design and drawing)
  • gardening and house help (with agriculture and organisational skills).

These team members may live on or off-site; they would join the team for six to 12 months or more. They must be financially self-supporting, and A Rocha France is available to help volunteers raise support from their local communities.

To apply, please fill out our volunteer application form.

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France – European Solidarity Corps Volunteer

Opportunities

Reconciling biodiversity preservation and welcoming the public at Les Courmettes.

  • Location: Domaine des Courmettes – 06140 Tourrettes sur Loup – France
  • Date: from Monday the 3rd of January 2022, for a period of 12 months
  • Organization: 35h/week, mission including work on weekends and public holidays (2 weekends per month) and some school holidays (spring and autumn)
  • Positions to be filled: two, open to young European citizens from outside France
 

Activity description:

The project offers young people the opportunity to acquire experience in a project that includes both nature conservation and welcoming the public, a new issue that many natural sites worldwide are currently facing. By being involved in the management of the site of Les Courmettes, a beautiful and naturally rich site near Nice, volunteers will develop competences in environmental education, scientific studies and natural site management.

Volunteers will take part in raising awareness with the public through different media (panels, discussion, educational tools etc.), species and habitat studies (fieldwork, data analysis etc.), maintenance and management actions (trail marking, site defence etc.). Specific time (up to 10%) will be devoted to learning French and communicating about the ESC through different media (10% – video, stands, articles). 30% of the time will be spent on tasks related to the proper functioning of the Les Courmettes centre: welcoming visitors, maintenance of the estate and its park, various tasks related to community life etc.

Accommodation, food and transport arrangement:

Volunteers are housed at the Courmettes centre, which is also the logistical base for the projects, A Rocha France’s head office and the hub for running the life of the team. Rooms are shared (1 to 2 people of the same sex per room). Lunch and supper, prepared by a cook, are eaten together at fixed times during the week with the team and any other participants. When the cook is absent, team members take turns to prepare meals. Breakfasts are self-service. Vegetarian diets can be offered. Cars are available (with a fee) to get around. The modus vivendi ‘rules of life’ may be adapted due to the COVID situation.

Training during the activity:

Training will be provided on arrival concerning the modus vivendi of the centre’s community life and how the week, project and activities will unfold. Field work training is provided for the volunteer throughout project such as: species identification skills, protocols, use of observation tools and other field equipment. Training in welcoming public and environmental education will be provided on arrival.

Participant profile:

We are looking for volunteers who have a real interest in raising awareness and protecting the environment. They will need to enjoy rural life, contact with people and flora and fauna, which means sometimes putting up with difficult weather conditions and being ready to welcome visitors at Les Courmettes and talk about the site’s regulations. Volunteers will have to show that they can take initiative in the tasks they undertake and follow them through to completion. They should not hesitate to ask for clarification or direction if necessary for their projects. A basic knowledge of French is an advantage for the volunteers, but not a necessity.

Contact:

Send resume and motivation (with two references) to:

Coline Raillon, Nature Projects Officer at Les Courmettes

coline.raillon@test.arocha.org

Czech-bird-monitoring

Czech Republic – Bird ringing

Opportunities

Krupárna, A Rocha Czech Republic’s environmental centre, is in the northeast of the Czech Republic. The centre and its ponds and bird hide enjoys many visitors – children, adults and wildlife. The team actively monitors and rings birds in nearby Special Protected Areas (SPAs) under the Natura 2000 / European Birds Directive.

The team would appreciate volunteers with at least a basic knowledge of ornithology or environmental conservation to help with the monitoring and ringing (in spring and summer) and research in general (at all times). The main monitoring work will be with Corncrake and Red-backed Shrike. Other activities that may be part of the work programme are building nest boxes, DIY, gardening, and general support of the field study centre. Volunteers are expected to be involved in work activities over usual work hours (6-7 hours per day). Speaking Czech is not necessary, but please be prepared that the team operates in Czech and has basic English.

Volunteers usually come for a period of two weeks minimum and are accommodated in single-sex dormitory rooms at Krupárna at the cost of 15 € per day for food and lodging. This opportunity could be a great fit for two friends who wish to volunteer together, as the residential community is small and may not be able to offer full-time support over weekends.

To apply, please fill out our volunteer application form.

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A Rocha at the COP

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The international climate change conference, COP26, takes place from 1-12 November 2021 in Glasgow, Scotland. It is the 26th Conference of the Parties, bringing together the signatory countries of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The key aims are to agree on ‘ambitious’ targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and to achieve ‘net zero’ by 2050, when the amount of greenhouse gases we are adding to the atmosphere is no longer more than we take out.

13 staff members will be representing A Rocha from the UK, Ghana, France, Canada, Climate Stewards and A Rocha International. A Rocha Ghana and A Rocha UK have exhibition stands and others will be networking, reporting out, and seeing how they might influence outcomes. Their key asks will be for countries to commit to emissions targets that will, if implemented, cut greenhouse gases by 40% in 10 years; for rich countries to fulfil promises to provide $100 billion a year in climate finance; and for all countries to include Nature-based Solutions in their national plans, with agreement on sound, common principles or standards.

The team will be posting regularly on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Read more and follow along as the conference unfolds. And if you are interested in beginning your own journey to Net Zero, why not take a look at Climate Stewards’ new website? There are free online tools and advice to help individuals, churches, NGOs and businesses measure, reduce and offset their carbon emissions.

Photo by Fredrika Carlsson on Unsplash

13. Conservation in action, Nurdle hunt with Env. club members, Monicah Njambi, A Rocha Kenya

The Big Give Christmas Challenge 2021 is open!

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Double my donation!

From noon (GMT) on #GivingTuesday 30 November until noon on 7 December any donation you make through the Big Give’s Christmas Challenge website will be doubled (while match funds last) by generous donors and the Big Give’s philanthropic partner, the Reed Foundation.

Our involvement last year enabled A Rocha International to raise over £31,000 towards our global environmental education activities. Your support has helped to equip and empower children and communities to live sustainably with the world around them, like these schoolchildren in Uganda …

This year, A Rocha International is taking part in the Christmas Challenge again, during which we’ll be aiming to raise £30,000 to continue this work supporting and coordinating A Rocha’s global environmental education programme. In 2022 we want to:

  • Resource the A Rocha organizations through a series of training webinars and a week-long environmental education conference, including up-to-date information on current environmental concerns and policies;
  • Enable A Rocha’s environmental education officers to share their knowledge, ideas and expertise, particularly around Plastic Free February, supported by contextual material and digital resources;
  • Create a Biodiversity Toolbox that brings together quality materials and highlights examples of good practice; and
  • Provide the training and support needed to ensure A Rocha’s global environmental education activities are operating effectively to meet local needs.

 

With every donation doubled, your gift will have twice the impact.