Founded in 1948, the IUCN brings together States, government agencies and a diverse range of non-governmental organisations in a unique world partnership which seeks to safeguard natural resources at local, regional and global levels.

Holger Bismann, President of the EOG Association for Conservation, and General Manager, Patagonia (Europe) said, “The reason we wanted to become a part of this forward thinking, global organisation was to benefit from the expert advice available to help improve our decision-making as to the most worthwhile types of projects to support. We will also be able to use IUCN resources to help improve awareness within the outdoor industry about the need for conservation and responsible, sustainable behaviour in wild places”.

“The Association is a voice both for and directly to the outdoor industry across Europe. The heart of the industry – both industry players and their customers – is firmly placed in the great outdoors and experiencing nature in all its glory. Without guidance, this can and does lead to misuse and abuse of the environment”, he added. “The Association’s main goal is not only to make a difference by raising funds to put something back into the environment, but also to inform and educate all those who use the outdoors as their playground”.

Tanya Bascombe, General Manager for the Association added, “As we (the Association) are still a very young organisation, we have a great deal to learn about conservation and protection of the environment and what types of projects we should be concentrating on to ensure we benefit the environment, habitats and biodiversity the most. By using the services offered by the IUCN, we hope to promote and encourage responsible, sustainable behaviour through outdoor sports as well as providing a mechanism for giving something back to the environment through both financial and practical means”.

Founded in 1948, the IUCN brings together States, government agencies and a diverse range of non-governmental organisations in a unique world partnership which seeks to safeguard natural resources at local, regional and global levels.

Holger Bismann, President of the EOG Association for Conservation, and General Manager, Patagonia (Europe) said, “The reason we wanted to become a part of this forward thinking, global organisation was to benefit from the expert advice available to help improve our decision-making as to the most worthwhile types of projects to support. We will also be able to use IUCN resources to help improve awareness within the outdoor industry about the need for conservation and responsible, sustainable behaviour in wild places”.

“The Association is a voice both for and directly to the outdoor industry across Europe. The heart of the industry – both industry players and their customers – is firmly placed in the great outdoors and experiencing nature in all its glory. Without guidance, this can and does lead to misuse and abuse of the environment”, he added. “The Association’s main goal is not only to make a difference by raising funds to put something back into the environment, but also to inform and educate all those who use the outdoors as their playground”.

Tanya Bascombe, General Manager for the Association added, “As we (the Association) are still a very young organisation, we have a great deal to learn about conservation and protection of the environment and what types of projects we should be concentrating on to ensure we benefit the environment, habitats and biodiversity the most. By using the services offered by the IUCN, we hope to promote and encourage responsible, sustainable behaviour through outdoor sports as well as providing a mechanism for giving something back to the environment through both financial and practical means”.

The EOG Association for Conservation – Working to protect the outdoor environment for future generations.

Notes to Editors:

The EOG Association for Conservation is an initiative from the European outdoor industry with the objective of protecting the wild areas it cares so passionately about.
Designed to harness the incredible power of the outdoor industry and to raise money to donate to grassroots conservation groups, the EOG Association for Conservation is funded by membership and other fundraising activities within the outdoor industry. 100% of membership fees go to the support of projects.
Membership is open to anyone that can demonstrate an involvement in the outdoor industry.

To find out more about the EOG Association for Conservation please go to www.eogconservation.org
Press Releases are also available on the News and Press page of the website.

Contacts:
Manager: Tanya Bascombe
Tel: +44 1539 727255 Email: tanya.bascombe@eogconservation.org
Press Enquiries: Vanessa Knowles
Tel: +44 1942 886402 Email: vanessa.knowles@eogconservation.org

The IUCN seeks to influence, encourage and assist societies throughout the world to conserve the integrity and diversity of nature and to ensure that any use of natural resources is equitable and ecologically sustainable. It builds on the strength of its members, networks and partners to enhance their capacity and to support global alliances to safeguard natural resources at local, regional and global levels.

To find out more about the IUCN please go to: www.iucn.org

This is one of the most incredible documentaries ever made. With breathtaking footage from 54 countries, HOME takes you on an aerial journey from the formation of the Earth, through to the world we live in today, showing how all the Earth’s problems today are interlinked. Humanity, for all of its ingenuity, progress, discovery and intelligence, now faces one of the greatest crossroads in our history.

As the undisputed rulers of the planet, the film is a vivid reminder that we may fail in our duty as guardians of the most precious gift that we can leave for future generations – our HOME.

This showing of the film is free and will take place at the Snow, Ice and Rock Summit area in Hall A6. Monday 8th February at 16:30 – 18:00 (before the ispo get-together)

There will also be free drinks available during the film, which have been very kindly sponsored by Timex, one of the members of the Association. Herberto Calves, Vice President Marketing for Timex said ‘This is a fantastic opportunity for Timex to support the EOG Association for Conservation. Everyone is welcome – please bring as many colleagues as you can to enjoy the experience!’

Don’t miss out on this inspirational film in English with German Subtitles.

This is one of the most incredible documentaries ever made. With breathtaking footage from 54 countries, HOME takes you on an aerial journey from the formation of the Earth, through to the world we live in today, showing how all the Earth’s problems today are interlinked. Humanity, for all of its ingenuity, progress, discovery and intelligence, now faces one of the greatest crossroads in our history.
As the undisputed rulers of the planet, the film is a vivid reminder that we may fail in our duty as guardians of the most precious gift that we can leave for future generations – our HOME.

This showing of the film is free and will take place at the Snow, Ice and Rock Summit area in Hall A6. Monday 8th February at 16:30 – 18:00 (before the ispo get-together)

There will also be free drinks available during the film, which have been very kindly sponsored by Timex, one of the members of the Association. Herberto Calves, Vice President Marketing for Timex said ‘This is a fantastic opportunity for Timex to support the EOG Association for Conservation. Everyone is welcome – please bring as many colleagues as you can to enjoy the experience!’

Don’t miss out on this inspirational film in English with German Subtitles.

The EOG Association for Conservation – Working to protect the outdoor environment for future generations.

Notes to Editors:

The EOG Association for Conservation is an initiative from the European outdoor industry with the objective of protecting the wild areas it cares so passionately about.
Designed to harness the incredible power of the outdoor industry and to raise money to donate to grassroots conservation groups, the EOG Association for Conservation is funded by membership and other fundraising activities within the outdoor industry. 100% of membership fees go to the support of projects.
Membership is open to anyone that can demonstrate an involvement in the outdoor industry.

To find out more about the EOG Association for Conservation please go to www.eogconservation.org
Press Releases are also available on the News and Press page of the website.

At ispo:
East Foyer Entrance Area

Contacts:
Manager: Tanya Bascombe
Tel: +44 1539 727255 Email: tanya.bascombe@eogconservation.org
Press Enquiries: Vanessa Knowles
Tel: +44 1942 886402 Email: vanessa.knowles@eogconservation.org

The Timex Group designs, manufactures and markets innovative timepieces and jewellery globally.
Founded in 1854, Timex is part of Timex Group, a privately-held company with numerous brands and
over 5,000 employees worldwide. It is one of the largest watch makers in the world with companies and
exclusive licenses worldwide.

To find out more about Timex please go to www.timex.com

At ispo:
Hall B4 Stand No. 401

Contacts:
International Marketing Manager Rene Basson
Tel: +44 208 326 6929 Email: rbasson@timex.com
Press Enquiries: Alison Reemer, Taylor PR
Tel: +44 207 937 5187 Email: areemer@taylorpr.com

Brought into being just three years ago, the Association has to date raised EUR€500,000, all of which has been put into 21 grassroots conservation projects worldwide. Numbers have been steadily growing since the organisation’s inception in 2006, as more companies within the outdoor industry see the importance of being able to put something back into the great outdoors – on which they depend for their livelihood.

Oksana Donets from Gorgany.com Ltd, a distributor of outdoor products in the Ukraine was delighted to be named as the EOG Association for Conservation’s 50th member. “I can’t wait to get involved,” she said, “the work the Association does is vital and I am very excited to be part of it.”

Holger Bismann, General Manager of Patagonia Europe and President of the Association said, “We are thrilled to see the Association growing like this. As a charitable organisation directly funding specific projects, we can prove that the European outdoor industry is committed to putting something back into the environment – and all working together we can really make a difference”.

New members of the EOG Association for Conservation since OutDoor include Hurrangane Turlag, Norway, INVIA Sportartikel Vertriebs GmbH, Germany, SGB Outdoor, UK, Gorgany.com Ltd, Ukraine, Fusion Clothing Company, India, and Snugpak, UK.

Brought into being just three years ago, the Association has to date raised EUR€500,000, all of which has been put into 21 grassroots conservation projects worldwide. Numbers have been steadily growing since the organisation’s inception in 2006, as more companies within the outdoor industry see the importance of being able to put something back into the great outdoors – on which they depend for their livelihood.

Oksana Donets from Gorgany.com Ltd, a distributor of outdoor products in the Ukraine was delighted to be named as the EOG Association for Conservation’s 50th member. “I can’t wait to get involved,” she said, “the work the Association does is vital and I am very excited to be part of it.”

Holger Bismann, General Manager of Patagonia Europe and President of the Association said, “We are thrilled to see the Association growing like this. As a charitable organisation directly funding specific projects, we can prove that the European outdoor industry is committed to putting something back into the environment – and all working together we can really make a difference”.

New members of the EOG Association for Conservation since OutDoor include Hurrangane Turlag, Norway, INVIA Sportartikel Vertriebs GmbH, Germany, SGB Outdoor, UK, Gorgany.com Ltd, Ukraine, Fusion Clothing Company, India, and Snugpak, UK.

The EOG Association for Conservation – Working to protect the outdoor environment for future generations.

Notes to Editors:
The EOG Association for Conservation is an initiative from the European outdoor industry with the objective of protecting the wild areas it cares so passionately about.
Designed to harness the incredible power of the outdoor industry and to raise money to donate to grassroots conservation groups, the EOG Association for Conservation is funded by membership and other fundraising activities within the outdoor industry. 100% of membership fees go to the support of projects.
Membership is open to anyone that can demonstrate an involvement in the outdoor industry.

To find out more about the EOG Association for Conservation please go to www.eogconservation.org
Press Releases are also available on the News and Press page of the website.

Contacts:
Manager: Tanya Bascombe
Tel: +44 1539 727255 Email: tanya.bascombe@eogconservation.org
Press Enquiries: Vanessa Knowles
Tel: +44 1942 886402 Email: vanessa.knowles@eogconservation.org

Holger Bismann, Managing Director of Patagonia Europe, based in Annecy, France was unanimously voted into the position of President. Holger has been serving as the Association’s Interim President since January this year when he took over from Topher Gaylord who returned to his native US to take up a new position within VF Corporation. Holger commented, “The continued success and growth of the EOG Association for Conservation are vital to the outdoor sector. I am thrilled that the membership has approved my position and I will help with the Association’s future growth and expansion in every way I can. I am personally committed to ensuring that we succeed in every aspect of our work by increasing funding available for conservation projects, developing our membership base and protecting the environment for future generations.”

In addition to his international management background Holger has fourteen years experience in the outdoor sector and will provide positive leadership and direction for the EOG Association for Conservation. He is an active sportsman, former competitive triathlete and active skier.

Holger is also to be joined by two new members of the Board of the Association; Didier Maclaine Pont, CEO, Bever Zwersport, in the Netherlands and Tomáš Skala, Eco Project Manager, Rock Point, in the Czech Republic. The new Board members join the Association at a time when it is going from strength to strength, and having just reached the milestone of EUR500,000 for funding conservation projects. Representing retail involvement with the Association, both Didier and Tomas are passionate about conservation and will bring a wide breadth of experience to strengthen the Association.

Holger Bismann, Managing Director of Patagonia Europe, based in Annecy, France was unanimously voted into the position of President. Holger has been serving as the Association’s Interim President since January this year when he took over from Topher Gaylord who returned to his native US to take up a new position within VF Corporation. Holger commented, “The continued success and growth of the EOG Association for Conservation are vital to the outdoor sector. I am thrilled that the membership has approved my position and I will help with the Association’s future growth and expansion in every way I can. I am personally committed to ensuring that we succeed in every aspect of our work by increasing funding available for conservation projects, developing our membership base and protecting the environment for future generations.”

In addition to his international management background Holger has fourteen years experience in the outdoor sector and will provide positive leadership and direction for the EOG Association for Conservation. He is an active sportsman, former competitive triathlete and active skier.

Holger is also to be joined by two new members of the Board of the Association; Didier Maclaine Pont, CEO, Bever Zwersport, in the Netherlands and Tomáš Skala, Eco Project Manager, Rock Point, in the Czech Republic. The new Board members join the Association at a time when it is going from strength to strength, and having just reached the milestone of EUR500,000 for funding conservation projects. Representing retail involvement with the Association, both Didier and Tomas are passionate about conservation and will bring a wide breadth of experience to strengthen the Association.

The EOG Association for Conservation – Working to protect the outdoor environment for future generations.

Notes to Editors:
The EOG Association for Conservation is an initiative from the European outdoor industry with the objective of protecting the wild areas it cares so passionately about.
The Association is designed to harness the incredible power of the outdoor industry and to raise money to donate to grass roots conservation groups.
The EOG Association for Conservation is funded by membership and other fundraising activities within the outdoor industry. 100% of membership fees go to the support of projects.
Membership is open to anyone that can demonstrate an involvement in the outdoor industry.

To find out more about the EOG Association for Conservation please go to www.eogconservation.org
Press Releases are also available on the News and Press page of the website.

Contacts:
PR & Marketing – Vanessa Knowles
Tel: +44 1942 886402 Email: vanessa.knowles@eogconservation.org
EOG Association for Conservation – Tanya Bascombe
Tel: +44 1539 727255 Email: tanya.bascombe@eogconservation.org

Association members have chosen a further eight extremely diverse and far-ranging projects for 2009. The announcement of those projects takes place on the second day of OutDoor, with some of the project representatives giving a brief introduction to their work.

Calla – Association for Conservation of the Environment, Czech Republic
Nominated by Rock Point
Calla has created one of the largest sand martin nest sites in Southern Bohemia over the last 10 years through the management of disused sand pits. With the Association’s help, the project aims to create and restore five further nest sites and three ponds as well as use lectures and excursions to inform and win support from the local public.

CMELAK – New Virgin Forest Project, Czech Republic
Nominated by Rock Point
This project has one of the longest plans – 300 years! The aim is to transform areas of pine monoculture into mixed forest supporting a high biodiversity through the purchase of land, awareness campaigns and planting tens of thousands of native species saplings.

Makay Nature Project, Madagascar
Nominated by Petzl
Thanks to its extraordinary and convoluted relief, the Makay mountain range has protected many different and endemic ecosystems, however due to farming and bush fire practices, it has now become a matter of urgency to protect this threatened area. The project aims to draw up an inventory of Makay’s biodiversity, raise awareness of biodiversity issues, educate local people about the preservation of their natural resources, create eco-tourist trails and obtain Protected Area status.

Euronatur, Germany Brown Bear Conservation, Northern Spain
Nominated by Vaude
Following work to stabilise numbers and improve the habitat of the brown bear population in the western ranges of the Cantabrian Mountains, the project is being awarded funding to improve the situation for the population in the eastern ranges. This will include improving the bear’s food supply, minimising the impact of hunting and poaching, monitoring the status and development of the population and organising age-based educational activities.

Surfers Against Sewage Campaign Film, UK
Nominated by Patagonia
Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) aims to produce and distribute an educational film following a well-known, professional surfer, initiating a number of campaigns within local communities to protect local surfing areas. The film aims to inspire, educate and mobilise SAS supporters to undertake their own campaigning efforts, linked directly to SAS campaigns, to achieve positive outcomes for their local beach environment.

Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds Protection of the Red-Footed Falcon, Bulgaria
Nominated by Patagonia
With the help of the EOG Association for Conservation, this project aims to continue the BSPB’s work for the Red-Footed Falcon which has suffered drastic declines in Bulgaria over the past decade. The project will take place in 3 regions of Bulgaria and will involve construction, installation and monitoring of specially designed nest boxes, and public awareness and media campaigns to change attitudes and behaviour that harms the Red-Footed Falcon.

Deutscher Alpen Verein Reconstruction of Gamsscharte, Eastern Alps
Nominated by Messe Friedrichshafen (OutDoor)
The Gamsscharte is an important Alpine passage connecting three refuges in the Tirol, Salzburg and Südtirol. Due to a receding glacier over the last few years, the passage has become so dangerous it has had to be closed. The project involves identifying the course of a new trail and constructing a secure pathway, involving local volunteers.

Biosphere Expeditions Human-Predator Conflict in Mamili National Park, Caprivi National Park, Namibia
Nominated by Haglöfs
In Mamili National Park there is urgent need to find strategies to resolve conflict between predators and humans, which has led to a significant decline in animal numbers, as well as threatening the lives and livelihoods of local inhabitants. This project involves the fitting of GPS collars to problem animals to enable tracking, alerting communities and relocation if necessary, workshops on animal husbandry and kraal construction (predator-proof cattle holding areas) and purchase of solar garden lamps for use round kraals at night.

Over €11,000 was raised from the fundraising sale alone, which was held on the EOG Association for Conservation stand each day of the show. “A medium sized retailer in a town would be very pleased with takings of that size over four days”, said Didier Maclaine Pont, CEO of Bever Zwerfsport in the Netherlands, and newly elected Board Member of the Association.

Tanya Bascombe, Association Manager, was delighted. “We were given some fantastic products to sell, and the response from people that came to the stand was amazing – we even had several straight donations to the Association, all of which will be put towards funding next year’s projects”.

The products on offer at the sale were very generously provided by the members of the Association in an effort not only to raise awareness of the work of the Association, but also to boost the funding that will be given to projects in 2010. Set up just 3 years ago, the EOG Association for Conservation was brought about by a desire within the outdoor industry to jointly and proactively look after its livelihood and most vital resource – the natural environment. Since then, and from a standing start, over €500,000 has been put into 21 projects worldwide.

CamelBak, Vaude and Nikwax, members of the Association also had sales on their stands in aid of the Association and once all the figures have been calculated, the total amount raised at the show will be even higher.