Celebrating Ten Years and €2 Million with the planting of 2 Million Trees – EOCA at OutDoor 2016

Published by Mountainblog on 06/30/2016.

This is an important year for the EOCA (European Outdoor Conservation Association). During 2016, the Association is celebrating its 10 year anniversary and 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 EOCA boasts 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…)

Conservation Worth Celebrating at OutDoor 2016

Published by Mountainblog on 06/29/2016.

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…)

EOCA Conservation Vote Now Live!

Published by Mountainblog on 03/08/2016.

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 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. 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

EOCA at ISPO – Celebrating 10 Years of Conservation

Published by Mountainblog on 02/26/2016.

The European Outdoor Conservation Association (EOCA) began its tenth anniversary year in style at ISPO, by raising nearly €7000, hosting an After Work get together, and by being supported by members organising other fun and fundraising activities to mark the occasion.

Since EOCA was founded, €1.8 million has been raised and spent on conservation by the Association. This money, raised from and by member companies all operating in the European outdoor industry, has funded conservation projects in 36 different countries around the world, and made a real difference to many landscapes, habitats and local communities.

Twenty EOCA members kindly donated gear to the EOCA Conservation Fundraiser, held everyday on the EOCA stand. In addition, the Scandinavian Outdoor Group and Goal Zero collected further funds for the Association during happy hours they hosted during the show. The ISPO After Work, hosted by EOCA and KEEN outside in the A1/B1 atrium was very popular. Many people enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere, music and free drinks, as well as the table football and conservation photo booth. A small number of limited edition EOCA insulated mugs produced by Stanley – A PMI brand, were very popular and quickly sold. The Dirty Water Challenge organised by new EOCA Member LifeStraw drew a lot of attention to this innovative product. Whilst enjoying the fun, visitors also generously made donations to EOCA at the bars. In total, €6786 were raised during the four days of the show. (more…)

EOCA 10th Anniversary – Video Interview With Anna Maria Rugarli

Published by Mountainblog on 02/16/2016.

ISPO 2016, Anna Maria Rugarli (President EOCA) talks about the 10th Anniversay of EOCA, the goals achieved during this period of time and the future aims. Watch the video interview!

Interviews: Andrea Bianchi

Video shooting and editing: Andrea Monticelli

EOCA at ISPO – Celebrating 10 Years of Conservation

Published by Mountainblog on 01/14/2016.

During 2016, EOCA will be celebrating all that it has achieved in the ten years since the Association was formed. Celebrations will start at ISPO in Munich this month, with new members joining up, an After Work get together, plus fun and fundraising activities to mark the occasion.

Since the Association was founded, €1.8 million has been raised and spent on conservation. This money has funded conservation projects in 36 different countries around the world, and made a real difference to many landscapes, habitats and local communities. It has been spent on replanting and protecting forests, maintaining trails, removing rubbish, restoring habitats and protecting endangered species that people hope to glimpse sightings of when exploring the outdoors, such as snowleopards, red squirrels, tigers, birds of prey, deer and orangutans.

The €1.8 million has been raised by EOCA members. Currently 126 companies from the European outdoor industry are members of the Association and 100% of their annual membership fees are spent on conservation. Two new members have joined this January to ensure that more money can be put into conservation in the future. EOCA is delighted to welcome Throne, a Swedish outdoor garment supplier and WaterNlife, whose personal, portable water filters are award winning, into EOCA membership.

Further money is raised for conservation through fundraising events held at ISPO and OutDoor each year. And this year is no exception. At ISPO this month, EOCA will have a brand new stand in the West Entrance. All day, everyday, there will be a great range of gear – all generously donated by EOCA members – available in return for a donation for conservation. The Scandinavian Outdoor Group will also be collecting donations for EOCA during their happy hour each evening, 17.00-18.00 hrs at A2.224.

There will be celebrations during the ISPO After Work, hosted by EOCA and KEEN. Everyone is invited on Monday 17.30-20.00hrs in the atrium between A1 and B1. There will be free drinks for early arrivals and food available, plus free Glühwein with the purchase of a Stanley mug. There will a fun atmosphere at the event, with activities such as the LifeStraw Dirty Water Challenge being organised by WaterNLife, and an entertaining photo booth adding to the occasion.

Catherine Savidge, Joint General Manager of EOCA said, “We very much look forward to celebrating the 10 year anniversary of EOCA with members of the Association at ISPO. Together, we have achieved significant conservation successes around the world and we look forward to working with them and our newest members in the future.”

To find out more about the Association please go to: www.outdoorconservation.eu

EOCA Voting has finished! Suilvan Path Restoration
Wins in the Alpine Category

Published by Mountainblog on 10/20/2015.

Apologies for the delayed final result, EOCA has been checking and double checking the votes that came in in the last 24 hours!

So the final result for the Alpine category is as follows …. total votes 12,087!

Winner – Suilvan Path 6267
Gorillas – 3633
Obsolete Facilities – 909
APOLLO – 899
Bergwald – 379

Congratulations to the John Muir Trust on their success, EOCA is look forward to working with you. And a huge congratulations to every other project – it has been a very exciting 2 weeks!

Once again a big congratulations to all of you, thank you so much for taking part. For anyone who would like to apply again, EOCA will next be accepting applications on its website from 1-30 November.

Final report with the reults of all the categories…coming soon!

INFO: EOCA

EOCA: Cast your vote for the environment on MountainBlog.it – (Edition 2015)

Published by Mountainblog on 10/05/2015.

For the second year as a media partner of the European Outdoor Conservation Association EOCA, MountainBlog is very happy to host again the autumn EOCA vote for conservation! This will give our readers the chance to help choose which valuable conservation projects EOCA funds this year.

EOCA is a conservation charity which has over 120 member companies that pay an annual membership fee which is spent on conservation work around the world.

During July, EOCA was open for applications for funding from organisations looking to implement valuable conservation projects around the world. They received a staggering 92 applications and e have spent their summer reading through all of these applications, assessing them against the EOCA strict guidelines and have produced a shortlist of the projects which best meet the criteria.

Now these projects need your help! Between 5th and 18th October, MountainBlog gives the possibility to read the details of the shortlisted 5 projects. Please, take a minute to read though them, choose your favourite and click to vote for it – it is that simple! The project with the most votes will get funding to carry out their work so your vote really can make a difference.

What are you waiting for: help the environment, go on www.mountainBlog.it and vote now!

Smartwool and Vaude Named as EOCA Conservation Champions!

Published by Mountainblog on 09/28/2015.

Every year, the European Outdoor Conservation Association (EOCA) gives the ‘Conservation Champion’ award to members that have gone ‘the extra mile’ to support conservation. The award recognises members that have taken the initiative to raise extra money for and awareness of conservation through the Association. EOCA is delighted to name Smartwool and Vaude as its Conservation Champions for 2015.

Twenty four months ago, Smartwool approached EOCA with an innovative and exciting way in which they wanted to raise money for the Association at tradeshows. They have since hosted a “Smartwool sock vending machine” twice at both ISPO and OutDoor. The vending machine has proved extremely popular and has required regular restocking throughout the shows! This inspirational idea has raised awareness of EOCA as well as around €8,000 to date during four shows, 100% of which has been spent on conservation.

A founding member and long term supporter of EOCA, Vaude always makes a very generous donation to EOCA’s Conservation Fundraiser at OutDoor. This enables EOCA to raise significant additional amounts of money for conservation each year. In addition, Vaude organised a collection at their 40 year anniversary celebrations in 2014, with proceeds going to a conservation project at Lake Baikal, Russia via EOCA. Furthermore, Vaude supported, promoted and attended the launch of an EOCA funded project, which they had nominated for funding in Romania.

Catherine Savidge, Joint General Manager of EOCA said, “the Conservation Champion award is about recognising member companies large and small, who take the initiative to benefit conservation through EOCA in ways other than simply paying their membership fees. We are proud to work with these two companies. They are each passionate about the great outdoors and their responsibility towards it and have both come up with novel ways of raising additional funds for conservation.”

INFO: European Outdoor Conservation Association

Good Things Come to Those That Wait – EOCA Outdoor Round Up

Published by Mountainblog on 09/01/2015.

Success comes to those who wait, and came in abundance for the European Outdoor Conservation Association (EOCA) at last month’s OutDoor. Not only did four new organisations sign up to be involved in the Association’s work, but the target of the show to reach €30,000 in fundraising was met as the final donations were counted after the show.

Insulated steel flask producers Hydro Flask, outerwear supplier PYUA, Gregory Packs, which is part of the Samsonite Group and the OSV (Outdoor Sports Valley), home of the French oudoor sports industry joined or partnered with EOCA either immediately before or during the show. Steffen Riese, CSR Manager of PYUA said, “Sustainability is part of our make up. PYUA’s ethos is to live, experience and protect nature in its purest form, giving it the respect that it is due. Joining EOCA makes total sense as it is a perfect match between enjoying the outdoors yet also taking the responsibility to protect and look after it.” Mike Wallenfels, VP Worldwide Sales for Hydro Flask agreed, “Reusing and recycling is something we promote every day at Hydroflask, which makes sense economically as well as environmentally. Hydro Flask is proud to join EOCA as an organisation that brings so many members of the same industry together to actively put our shared values into practice”. (more…)

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