A Rocha Portugal

Last night, I had the priviledge of listening to Paula and Marcial, a couple who are the current wardens at Cruzinha, A Rocha Portugal's field study centre, speak about their experiences there. Both of them have basically been involved with A Rocha from the very beginning, and it was inspiring to hear their stories. For 20 years, A Rocha has been working in the Algarve in southern Portugal. The focus has been on the Alvor Estuary, an ecologically diverse area consisting of coastal wetland, scrubland and farmland. A Rocha's work has helped establish this area as a Natura 2000 site, as well as a European Special Area of Conservation. However, amidst the successes, disappointments and challenges have been many, especially today. Development pressures continue to be felt on all sides of the estuary and if it wasn't for the fact that A Rocha has been working there for 20 years, collecting valuable data and becoming accepted and respected on the scientific front, much of the estuary would be lost.

Today, A Rocha Portugal's efforts have been focused on coming up with alternative development and conservation plans, so that the current excessive and inappropriate development trends do not continue. They also continue to build up partnerships with other NGO's and universities from all over Europe, as well as the local government and media. The threats are far from gone, and A Rocha Portugal is in desperate need of continued prayers, both for the team itself, who must continue to live amongst these challenges and stresses, but also for the key developers and members of the community. The estuary needs to be embraced as an ecologically valuable area and development practices need to change if anything is going to be saved.

I find the stories of A Rocha Portugal inspiring as it reminds us of the value of the scientific data we collect today. It may not seem to be incredibly important today, but one day it may be. Of course, this doesn't mean we should go crazy and work really hard collecting all this data which seems completely useless today. :) You know that's not what I mean. But it does make me think that each small discovery we make in His world results in a smile from above, and it also instills a sense of awe and wonder in our hearts. Take the research into the life of the Oregon forestsnail currently happening at TWU - there are days when it seems pointless to collect all the data, yet it has also shattered my preconceived notion that snails move really slowly. Given their size and their mode of transportation, they can move incredible distances! And then you realize that this is one more creature that God purposefully designed and placed here.

And He saw all that He had made, and it was very good.