A Rocha Kenya (ARK) serves the natural world through scientific research, advocacy, environmental education, and sustainable community-based conservation programmes.
By working with local communities, our partner aims to achieve the long-term conservation of threatened habitats and species, with a focus on the Important Bird Areas clustered around Watamu and Malindi on the Kenyan coast.
ARK’s work restores habitats and empowers people to be agents and stewards of conservation.
ARK is part of the wider A Rocha conservation network, which has a presence in more than 20 countries around the world.
Since being founded in 1999, ARK have worked closely with local authorities, communities, and conservation organisations in Kenya, studying and restoring threatened habitats and protecting endangered species within two landscapes (Dakatcha Woodland and Arabuko-Sokoke Forest) and two coastal seascapes (Mida Creek and Watamu Marine National Park).
ARK’s advice on avian conservation issues has been sought by the Kenya Wildlife Service, Kenya Forest Service, Kenya Airports Authority and the National Museums of Kenya.
World Land Trust (WLT) have been working with ARK since 2020, when we began funding land purchase in the Dakatcha Woodland through our Action Fund.
Although recognised as a Key Biodiversity Area and part of the Coastal Forests of Eastern Africa biodiversity hotspot, the 465,000-acre Dakatcha Woodland area receives no protection from the Kenyan government; 50% of the habitat here has already been converted to farmland and pasture, and it continues to be cleared for agriculture and burned for charcoal (a source of fuel).
Together with a group of other organisations, WLT helped ARK to expand the size of their A Rocha Kenya Dakatcha Reserve by almost two and a half times in 2021.
Please see our Kenya page.
Much of ARK’s work is connected to the Arabuko-Sokoke Forest, the largest and most intact coastal forest in East Africa. ARK is involved in management, research, conservation, fundraising, and community roles here, including:
