Conservation is a global challenge, and while our boots-on-the-ground work is focussed on Australian landscapes, our vision to see people and nature flourishing together doesn’t stop here.
That’s why we’re back for our fourth year running with this year’s Cassinia Fundraising Walk, Step Up for Conservation 2026. The walk will see the Cassinia Environmental team set out along the Werribee Gorge on October 9th for a 15km trek through the rugged, dynamic terrain, in the name of supporting marine conservation via A Rocha Kenya. 25 team members will participate with the aim of raising $5,000.
Cassinia Environmental team walking the Anglesea Perimeter Walk in 2025
Who will funds support?
We’ve had a long-term relationship with A Rocha Kenya, including contributions to their Dakatcha Reserve (an area of critical forest that A Rocha is purchasing to create a protected Nature Reserve), and previous fundraisers supporting the training and employment of local conservationist Lucky Baraka.
This year, our raised funds will enable the establishment of a new A Rocha initiative, headed by Lucky himself, called Bahari (meaning ‘ocean’) Heroes, a project that will help children learn about the ecology of the ocean and become involved in caring for their local marine environment.
In Lucky’s own words:
“Conservation begins when someone first experiences the beauty of nature for themselves”.
This program will give children the opportunity to experience and fall in love with the ocean, and in turn, start to see their place and role in caring for it into the future.
Why marine conservation in Kenya?
The Western Indian Ocean’s marine environment boasts remarkable biodiversity, featuring habitats such as mangrove forests, pristine sandy beaches, seagrass beds, and coral reefs. However, these ecosystems face significant threats from coastal development, climate change, and fishing pressures.
A Rocha Kenya operates within Watamu Marine National Park, with core focus areas including coral reef health and monitoring, marine biodiversity research and assessment, marine debris and pollution mitigation, community-based marine resource management and the monitoring of climate change impacts on marine ecosystems.
Lucky Baraka, A Rocha Kenya, conducts marine research and clean-up
While this is the particular project our fundraising will support, it is just one window into why we value our relationship with A Rocha Kenya. Their broader work is very familiar to Cassinia: restoring and protecting landscapes, working alongside local communities, and finding practical ways for people and nature to flourish together. The difference is that much of their work is being done in communities facing extreme poverty, and insecure property rights that make the task considerably harder.
As we ‘Step Up for Conservation’ this year, we invite you to support our team’s fundraising efforts, as together we aim to make a difference in the protection of our important and beautiful marine life.
