The first ever A Rocha meeting near Liverpool, England, in 1983. Establishing the foundations at Cruzinha A centre is established on the Alvor estuary and the first lessons are learned. To everyone s surprise there is a very good local response. The early results of field studies and schools work begin to attract interest. Gradually national participation and leadership grows, as does the international influence of the project.
Visitors begin to arrive in significant numbers from many countries.
The Portuguese project is under national management, so the UK Trustees decide to respond to requests for help from elsewhere. The decision is taken to focus on distinctively Christian projects for nature conservation in particularly needy parts of the world. Peter and Miranda Harris begin travelling to help other national projects get off the ground. Informal groups form in Brazil and the Czech Republic. Discussions are held in several other countries where Christians want to begin practical projects to express their sense that God cares deeply for his creation.