The European Outdoor Conservation Association (EOCA) is celebrating being able to support more projects than ever before during its 2017 Spring Funding Round. Three projects were chosen during a public vote which reached 60.4 million people worldwide, and a further three were chosen by EOCA members themselves. These are all to be funded from membership fees and fundraising monies raised from the European outdoor Industry. In addition, three further projects are being funded by three individual EOCA members.
During March, following a four month process of accepting, accessing and approving applications, EOCA held its annual spring public vote. A shortlist of projects was showcased by The Great Outdoors (UK), Alpin (Germany, Austria and Switzerland), and Norr Magazin (Germany), as well as on the English and German EOCA websites. Readers of the magazines, outdoor enthusiasts and supporters of the projects were all invited to vote for their favourite project in three categories and the project with the most votes in each category is now being funded. A private vote for members only was then held, with a further three projects being chosen for funding. In addition to the 6 projects funded by EOCA, members POMOCA , KEEN and Osprey Europe have also each chosen a specific conservation project to fund entirely themselves and ORTLIEB decided to make a donation towards a winning river conservation project in Germany which they were supportive of. The 9 projects are all in different countries, 5 being in Europe, and tackle issues as wide ranging as metal waste left in mountains, elephants being poached, rubbish in rivers, overuse of forest resources, the captive elephant tourist trade and restoration of peatland.(more…)
an update reminding you of your opportunity to vote for which projects EOCAfunds this spring:
PUBLIC VOTE The public vote remains open until noon GMT this Thursday, 23rd March. We would be very grateful if you would take the opportunity to vote, and to also ask your colleagues, customers, followers, fans and friends to get involved. It is a great opportunity to communicate that you are involved in EOCA. You can get involved here. You can vote once in each category (Nature, Outdoor and Alpine) per electronic device.
The bi-annual European Outdoor Conservation Association (EOCA) public conservation vote has started in earnest. Anyone with an interest in conserving threatened wild spaces, species and habitats is being asked to go online and have their say as to which of the proposed nature conservation projects should receive funding of up to €30,000.
The ever popular spring vote, which has taken place each year for the last 7 years, asks the public to help EOCA choose projects from three approved shortlists. The project in each category (Nature, Outdoor and Alpine) with the most votes will each gain funding of up to €30,000. Joint General Manager Catherine Savidge explained the importance of the process. “As well as raising awareness of what the European outdoor industry and EOCA’s member companies are doing to conserve and protect wild spaces, the voting process is also a hugely beneficial opportunity for all of the conservation organisations involved. They are on an international stage, raising awareness of important conservation issues and gaining new support for their work along the way. This is about the European outdoor industry giving back – conserving the great outdoors and its various habitats and species which the industry and its customers are so passionate about”.
The public vote has attracted huge interest internationally over the years, with national radio stations, newspapers, politicians, celebrities and many people on social media all getting involved in encouraging people to join in. The coverage acheived is staggering, with over 31.5 million people reached in the spring of 2015 making the process a valuable tool in raising awareness of critical conservation issues around the world. In ten years, EOCA has given over €2 million to conservation projects around the world, some chosen through the public vote, and others by the Association’s members.
Catherine added,”This is always an incredibly exciting time of year for us and for the projects involved. Thousands of people get involved to have their say on which of these vital projects should be supported by EOCA in the coming year. Each project has already undergone a rigorous assessment, which has then been reviewed by a panel of scientific advisors, before getting on to the shortlist, so we would be extremely happy to fund any one of those taking part.”
Voting in each of the three categories is now open and will close at 12.00 noon GMT on the 23rd March. You can read about all of the projects looking for funding and votes by visiting www.outdoorconservation.eu or www.eoca.de
Following fundraising, donations and events at last month’s ISPOtrade show, the European Outdoor Conservation Association (EOCA) is delighted to announce that the total amount raised has equated to another 18,000 trees which can be planted towards its 2 Million Tree target launched last year.
The ISPO After Work, hosted by KEEN and EOCA saw large numbers of visitors braving the cold night air to meet together, drink beer or Glühwein and dance the night away, as well as raise money for EOCA’s 2 Million Tree Project. The Scandinavian Outdoor Group collected donations during their happy hours at the Scandinavian Village bar throughout the show and Stanley – A Brand of PMI and Original Buff, S.A. both created limited edition products specifically to help raise funds for the target, which has so far raised enough to enable over 1,174,000 trees to be planted.
The 2 Million Tree Project is a goal set by EOCA itself in celebration of the fact that the organisation has raised and put over €2 million into conservation projects since it started 10 years ago. These trees will leave a lasting legacy from the outdoor industry worldwide. Catherine Savidge, Joint General Manager of EOCA explained that “Trees are massively relevant and important to the outdoor community and all of our projects have a clear link to the outdoor enthusiast. Some trees are being planted which will improve habitats and experiences in areas that people love to explore, be it on foot, by bike or kayak, improving areas for wildlife which people enjoy seeking out and observing. Trees are being planted in the mountains as well as along coastlines and rivers, protecting against avalanche, landslide, flooding and tsunami , providing alternative resources for local communities, establishing ecotourism ventures or protecting exisiting threatened species and forests – all of which will benefit a threatened habitat, a local community and ultimately, the world’s climate.”
In addition to fundraising for the Tree Project, other EOCA members got involved by donating products for the ever popular conservation fundraiser, held on the Association’s stand in the West Entrance Foyer. Products donated ranged from hammocks to climbing helmets and head torches to hats and jackets. Two new members also joined the Association during the 4 day show: premiun insole producer Superfeet Worldwide Ltd and mountaineering apparel and gear producer BLACKYAKCo Ltd were keen to get involved with EOCA. Frits Kuper, European Sales Director for Superfeet said, “This is the perfect way for the outdoor industry to work together to give back to our stunning and fragile wild places and we are proud to become a part of such a vital initiative”. Joint General Manager Tanya Bascombe added,”We are thrilled to welcome our 2 newest members to EOCA, as well as being able to celebrate the great steps forward we have made towards our 2 Million Tree goal which is edging ever closer!”
Travel and Adventure clothing company prAna, Czech distributor WarmPeace and adventure product company Eagles Nest Outfitters Inc(ENO) all joined the organisation at the show or immediately afterwards, showing their commitment to looking after the wild places their customers love to visit. Joe Jansen, International Sales Manager for prAna was thrilled to join EOCA, saying “This is a logical and natural partnership for prAna, tying in closely with our own company ethos and we cannot wait to get more involved”. Pavel Habētín, Manager of WarmPeace was so excited about its new membership that he took managers Tanya and Catherine to meet several colleagues in the hope of encouraging their companies to join up as well! Finally Adam Cohen, International Sales Manager from ENO was keen that the company join EOCA before it officially launches its products in Europe in 2017 – to show its solid commitment to the environment and the European market from Day One. He said,” We are extremely proud of our “Giving Back” programme in the US. Our products have allowed individuals to adventure and sleep lightly all over the world and by supporting their efforts in the conservation of wild spaces, EOCA is the perfect partner to help us continue our mission further afield”. (more…)
2016 is EOCA’s 10 year anniversary, and this summer, the Association and its members are celebrating having raised and given €2 million to conservation projects around the world in that time – by launching an ambitious project to plant 2 million trees, leaving a lasting legacy from the European outdoor industry.
Watch the video interviews with Anna Maria Rugarli (President of EOCA) and Dr Nick Brown (Linacre College – University of Oxford) during the Tree Planting Ceremony at OutDoor Show 2016.
This is an important year for the EOCA (European Outdoor Conservation Association). During 2016, the Association is celebrating its 10 year anniversaryand having raised and spent an incredible €2 million on conservation in that time! To mark these milestones, an ambitious plan to plant or regenerate 2 million trees around the world is being launched at OutDoor.
Starting with a founding meeting organised by the European Outdoor Group (EOG) in the summer of 2006, a handful of companies offered their support to an organisation that would raise money from the industry to put back into protecting and restoring the wild places they loved to explore. Ten years on and EOCAboasts nearly 130 members and the funding of around 10 new projects each year. With an annual reach during its public vote of up to 36 million consumers, and project achievements including trees planting, wilderness protection, mountain trail restoration, rubbish clear-ups and species conservation, there are many exciting stories to tell.
In order to celebrate, EOCA is launching its most ambitious project yet. Having raised €2 million, it is laying down ambitious plans to plant 2 million trees. By replanting, re-wilding, restoring and regenerating. Trees, shrubs, bushes, mangroves. There will be the opportunity for everyone to get involved – whether as a member company of EOCA, part of the outdoor industry community or as an individual, helping the Association to achieve its goal. An enormous celebration – and what a legacy! (more…)
2016 is a year of celebration for EOCA (European Outdoor Conservation Association). Two important milestones have been reached, new members have joined and there is a large number of events planned at the OutDoor Show next month in Friedrichshafen to mark the successes and continuation of the Association’s good work.
Not only is EOCA 10 years old, this summer the organisation, with the support of Europe’s Outdoor Industry, will have raised and given over €2 million to conservation projects around the world in that time. With an ever-increasing membership, the money available to protect and restore the precious landscapes the sector relies on for its livelihood grows each year. New to the Association are members Ortovox Sportartikel GmbH, high alpine, climbing equipment and clothing brand; Portuguese urban outdoor clothing, footwear and equipment brand Berg Outdoor and HDWool, sustainable internal insulation producers for the outdoor clothing industry. Kristin Pache, Product Director of Berg Outdoor said, “Although we are a relatively new company, we are very clear that we want to play our part for the environment and support EOCA. There are always ways to improve what you are doing and we are constantly striving to be better.”(more…)
The bi-annual European Outdoor Conservation Association (EOCA) public conservation vote has started in earnest and anyone with an interest in protecting or restoring wild spaces, species and habitats is being asked to go online and have their say as to which of the proposed nature conservation projects should receive funding of up to €30,000.
The ever popular spring vote, which has taken place each year for the last 6 years, asks the public to help EOCAchoose projects from three approved shortlists. The project in each category (Nature, Outdoor and Alpine) with the most votes will each gain funding of up to €30,000. As well as raising awareness of what the European outdoor industry and EOCA’s member companies are doing to conserve and protect wild spaces, the voting process is also a massive opportunity for many of these conservation organisations to put themselves on an international stage for the first time, gaining new support for their work along the way.
The public vote has attracted huge interest internationally over the years with national radio stations, politicians, presidents and celebrities all getting involved in encouraging people to join in. The coverage increases each year with the process reaching a staggering 31.5 million people in 2015. This is therefore a valuable tool in raising awareness of critical conservation issues around the world.
Joint General Manager of EOCA Tanya Bascombe said,”This is always an incredibly exciting time of year for us and for the projects as we see many thousands of people getting involved to have their say as to which of these vital projects should be supported for the coming year. Each project has already undergone a rigorous assessment, which has then been reviewed by a panel of scientific advisors, before getting on to the shortlist, so we would be extremely happy to fund any one of those taking part.”
Voting in each of the three categories is now open. You can read about all of the projects looking for funding and vote by visiting www.outdoorconservation.eu or www.eoca.de
Our Vision: The outdoor sector and the millions of people who enjoy the great outdoors are active champions for the conservation of nature and wild places*
* EOCA defines 'wild places' as non-urban environments and ecosystems occurring in as natural a state as possible, given the area's location and use. This may include for example moorland, hills, mountains, coasts, rivers, forest, grassland, peatland, lake and ocean areas.
There are currently over 150 members of this not-for profit Association, stretching from Norway to Italy, and Spain to Poland. As a charitable organisation directly funding specific conservation projects with money raised from the European outdoor industry, EOCA enables the industry to work together to make a real difference. ( more.. )
INFO-CONTACTS
European Outdoor Conservation Association
Registered as a not-for-profit association in Kanton Zug, Switzerland
Registration no. CH-170.6.000.188-3
