This article may rely excessively on sources too closely associated with the subject , potentially preventing the article from being verifiable and neutral.(December 2024) |
Predecessor | A Rocha Trust [1] |
---|---|
Founded | 13 December 1983 |
Founder | Miranda and Peter Harris [2] |
Type | environmental NGO network |
Focus | community-based conservation projects [3] |
Headquarters | London, UK |
Origins | Constituted in the UK [4] |
Area served | Worldwide |
International chair | Soohwan Park |
Key people | Ed Walker (Executive Director, ARI) [5] • Andy Atkins (CEO, A Rocha UK) [6] [7] • Rev Dave Bookless (Head of Theology, ARI) [8] [9] |
Revenue | GBP £750,000 (2022) [10] |
Employees | 144 in 2017(FTE) [11] : 20 |
Volunteers | 841 in 2017 [11] : 20 |
Website | arocha |
A Rocha is an international network of environmental organizations with Christian ethos. A Rocha means "the rock" in Portuguese.
A Rocha International was founded in Portugal in 1983. [12] The A Rocha Worldwide Covenant defines the rights and responsibilities of each A Rocha entity to the others.
As of 2024, A Rocha is working in over 20 countries: Australia, Canada, Czech Republic, France, Ghana, India, Kenya, Lebanon, Netherlands, New Zealand/Aotearoa, Nigeria, Peru, Portugal, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, Uganda, United Kingdom, and United States. [13] There are ongoing conversations with other potential groups around the world, particularly in East and Southeast Asia. [11] : 8–9
A Rocha has five core commitments: Christian, Conservation, Community, Collaboration, and Cultural diversity. [3]
A Rocha aims to protect the environment through local, community-based conservation, scientific research, and environmental education, [14] and they have “a track record of successes”. [15]
A Rocha operates field study centres in Canada (two centres), France (two centres), India, Kenya, Portugal [16] and also in the Czech Republic. [17] These serve primarily as a base for A Rocha's and other organisations’ field studies and for environmental education, and most also offer accommodation for visitors.
Areas of A Rocha's work include:
A Rocha also serves as an Erasmus+ / European Voluntary Service agency in France, [51] the Netherlands [52] and Portugal. [53]