Scientific research

A Rocha’s vision for the good stewardship of God’s world requires an adequate understanding of organisms, their interrelationships and environments. A Rocha’s scientific programmes aim to provide the foundation needed for informed protection and management of examples of the world’s most precious natural areas.

Worldwide, A Rocha centres and initiatives aim to bring together team members, students, volunteers and other visiting researchers in scientific projects centred on strategically chosen study areas. Through species and habitat inventories, monitoring programmes and research projects, detailed ecological understanding is developed and applied to practical conservation and awareness-raising.

How do A Rocha projects make a difference?

A Rocha Portugal has ringed > 5,000 European Storm-petrels as part of research into their survival strategies.

Over a three year period, scientists and bird experts from A Rocha Lebanon and SPNL (BirdLife’s national partner in Lebanon) conducted the most extensive bird research project ever undertaken in Lebanon. Over 30 sites were surveyed and 11 were found to satisfy BirdLife’s rigorous criteria for designation as ‘Important Bird Areas’.  This more than trebled the IBAs identified in the country from 4 to 15.

A Rocha has been studying Asian Elephants in Bannerghatta National Park, South India, since 2004, in order to better understand why conflicts between the elephants and the farmers have been increasing. Research into the seasonal movements of the animals and the pattern of conflicts has led to interventions which are proving effective. See the video