As in previous years, the Association held a fundraising event on its stand every day of the show, asking for minimum donations for a huge range of products donated by over half its members, including everything from sleeping bags, to head torches, recycled t-shirts and even pages of advertising. Well over €11,000 was raised by this fundraiser alone.

Not to be outdone, several members of the Association also took matters into their own hands, staging events on their stands, in order to help raise further funds for vital conservation projects:

• Keen Footwear raised €2,000 through a happy hour and the sale of their recycled Harvester bags on their stand and that of the Association.
• Source Vagabond collected donations for 200 Liquitainer bottles on their stand and at the Association’s booth, foldable when empty and packaged using card made from orange peel (yes, really!) raising a total of €600.
• After the success of last year’s show, CamelBak again swapped empty plastic bottles for their BPA-free Better Bottle and a donation to the Association – raising a huge €3,000.
• New member Wenger SA ran a water bottle hire scheme, perfect for a busy trade show with the options of water refills and keeping the bottle at the end of the scheme. They raised €500.
• The beer keg party run by The North Face on Friday night raised €1,000 directly for the Association.
• Finally, Jack Wolfskin gave the Association an extremely generous top up of €2,000, taking the grand total raised on members stands and the Association’s together to €20,000.

Holger Bismann, president of the Association and managing director of Patagonia Europe said, “Our members have really pulled together at OutDoor this year to raise a huge amount of money. Whether it was through donating product, or organising specific events, there was a real excitement and a buzz amongst our members and visitors to the show that they were able to do something positive for a great cause. The best part is that conservation is now €20,000 better off as a result”.

EOG Association for Conservation members who took part in the fundraiser were: Bergans, Berghaus, Bever Zwerfsport, Black Diamond, Camelbak, Cascade Designs, Columbia, Contigo, Deuter, Ferrino, Fusion Clothing, GoLite, Grivel, Haglöfs, Jack Wolfskin, Keen, Mammut, Mountain Equipment, Nikwax, Ortlieb, Outdoor Markt, Pacsafe, Patagonia, Rock Point, Salomon, Snugpak, Source Vagabond, Maruba Publishing, The North Face, Timex, Vaude and Wenger.

As in previous years, the Association held a fundraising event on its stand every day of the show, asking for minimum donations for a huge range of products donated by over half its members, including everything from sleeping bags, to head torches, recycled t-shirts and even pages of advertising. Well over €11,000 was raised by this fundraiser alone.

Not to be outdone, several members of the Association also took matters into their own hands, staging events on their stands, in order to help raise further funds for vital conservation projects:

• Keen Footwear raised €2,000 through a happy hour and the sale of their recycled Harvester bags on their stand and that of the Association.
• Source Vagabond collected donations for 200 Liquitainer bottles on their stand and at the Association’s booth, foldable when empty and packaged using card made from orange peel (yes, really!) raising a total of €600.
• After the success of last year’s show, CamelBak again swapped empty plastic bottles for their BPA-free Better Bottle and a donation to the Association – raising a huge €3,000.
• New member Wenger SA ran a water bottle hire scheme, perfect for a busy trade show with the options of water refills and keeping the bottle at the end of the scheme. They raised €500.
• The beer keg party run by The North Face on Friday night raised €1,000 directly for the Association.
• Finally, Jack Wolfskin gave the Association an extremely generous top up of €2,000, taking the grand total raised on members stands and the Association’s together to €20,000.

Holger Bismann, president of the Association and managing director of Patagonia Europe said, “Our members have really pulled together at OutDoor this year to raise a huge amount of money. Whether it was through donating product, or organising specific events, there was a real excitement and a buzz amongst our members and visitors to the show that they were able to do something positive for a great cause. The best part is that conservation is now €20,000 better off as a result”.

EOG Association for Conservation members who took part in the fundraiser were: Bergans, Berghaus, Bever Zwerfsport, Black Diamond, Camelbak, Cascade Designs, Columbia, Contigo, Deuter, Ferrino, Fusion Clothing, GoLite, Grivel, Haglöfs, Jack Wolfskin, Keen, Mammut, Mountain Equipment, Nikwax, Ortlieb, Outdoor Markt, Pacsafe, Patagonia, Rock Point, Salomon, Snugpak, Source Vagabond, Maruba Publishing, The North Face, Timex, Vaude and Wenger.

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 outdoor sector is taking its responsibility to nature conservation extremely seriously and the opportunity to help has arrived – hurry down, join in, grab some amazing gear and feel great about being able to support conservation at the same time – it’s a win-win situation!

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

The outdoor sector is taking its responsibility to nature conservation extremely seriously and the opportunity to help has arrived – hurry down, join in, grab some amazing gear and feel great about being able to support conservation at the same time – it’s a win-win situation!

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 shortlist of 12, which had been narrowed down from an initial 46 nominated projects, was distributed to all Association members at the beginning of March who chose what they felt were the most worthwhile projects. Added to this was one final project which had been chosen by over 18,000 outdoor consumers in the UK. 6 projects were presented to outdoor consumers on the website of the UK’s most widely distributed outdoor magazine, Trail, and readers were encouraged to vote for their favourite project – which resulted in an incredible 18,652 votes!

The projects which will be supported by the Association this year are:
World Pheasant Association – School Extensions in return for Forest Protection (Nepal) – Pipar is a rhododendron forest in the Annapurna Conservation area and home to 5 out of 6 of Nepal’s Himalayan pheasant species. Since 1983, the WPA has worked closely with the village of Karuwa, helping to resource teaching facilities, staff and equipment in return for the villagers’ using the forest only as they have always done, for their own needs, and not for commercial gain. The pheasant population has since remained stable and is a novel way of supporting educational needs for the locals whilst at the same time promoting the conservation of an important area for biodiversity. This project will build extensions to 2 local schools and monitor biodiversity in Pipar and adjacent forests. Nominated by Berghaus.

World Land Trust – Elephant Corridors (India) – There are 88 corridors throughout India that are critical to the long term survival of the Asian Elephant. These are unprotected lands between fragments of protected areas and increasingly human dominated, resulting in high levels of human-wildlife conflict (loss of crops, buildings and even life). Securing corridors involves sensitising local communities to the option of voluntarily relocating outside the conflict zones to safer areas, with their own land and improved housing. It also leaves areas to regenerate naturally, and provides continued refuge for elephants together with a huge variety of wildlife including tigers. This project will prioritise seven corridors in Corbett National Park and introduce the concept of establishing elephant corridors to local communities and key conservationists. An individual donor has committed to match funds raised, thus doubling the Association’s grant award to EUR€60,000. Nominated by Nikwax.

Global Nature Fund – Mangrove Swamp Restoration (Sri Lanka) – Mangrove forests are unique habitats found in brackish estuaries and coastal areas, their habitat shared by vast numbers of salt and freshwater creatures as well as sea and land organisms, with extensive root systems protecting against tidal waves and erosion. Over the past 100 years, about 50% of the world’s mangrove forests have been irrecoverably lost. The Madampa Lake Wildlife Sanctuary is facing threats due to uncontrolled activities such as land reclamation, dumping of household/ industrial waste and logging of mangrove trees for timber/firewood. The aim is to increase local understanding of the importance of mangrove ecosystems through long term education, community mangrove conservation programmes and planting over 10,000 seedlings to reforest 6 acres of a destroyed mangrove area. Nominated by Messe Friedrichshafen.

Breathe Foundation – Rainforest Restoration (Brazil) – The Atlantic Rainforest in Brazil is less than 7% of its original size and has been identified by UNESCO as one of the five highest biodiversity hotspots in the world. Farming, illegal logging and poaching is pushing this area towards ecological collapse. The main focus here is guardianship, reforestation and education. The 10 year goal is to reclaim 700,000m2 of forest, creating an intact ecological corridor which will then be protected via Brazilian Environmental law. The main aims are building an education, management and meeting centre adjacent to the forest, acquiring of identified priority land positions to create ecological bridges and farmer allotment allocation, planting the initial area with seedlings, and identifying the next priority land purchase. Nominated by Messe München.

The project which was voted for by readers of Trail magazine (18,652 votes in total!) was:
The Bumblebee Conservation Trust – Pembrokeshire Bumblebee Path Project (UK) – The UK’s bumblebees have suffered huge declines due to widespread habitat loss. Bumblebees are major pollinators of a majority of wildflowers and many agricultural crops. If they continue to disappear, these plants will set less seed, resulting in sweeping changes to the countryside with catastrophic knock-on effects for other wildlife. The trust aims to conserve them by returning wildflowers to the countryside, striving to raise awareness, protect important bumblebee sites and engage with landowners to create flower-rich habitats. This project will create wildflower-rich habitat to support rare bumblebees along a new 10km section of path in the Pembrokeshire National Park. By connecting key sites, this attractive route through spectacular scenery will help prevent the national extinction of the shrill carder bee.

The official presentation of each of the projects and the progress to date will take place in Room Berlin at 11.00hrs on Friday 16th July 2010 during OutDoor in Friedrichshafen.

The shortlist of 12, which had been narrowed down from an initial 46 nominated projects, was distributed to all Association members at the beginning of March who chose what they felt were the most worthwhile projects. Added to this was one final project which had been chosen by over 18,000 outdoor consumers in the UK. 6 projects were presented to outdoor consumers on the website of the UK’s most widely distributed outdoor magazine, Trail, and readers were encouraged to vote for their favourite project – which resulted in an incredible 18,652 votes!

The projects which will be supported by the Association this year are:
World Pheasant Association – School Extensions in return for Forest Protection (Nepal) – Pipar is a rhododendron forest in the Annapurna Conservation area and home to 5 out of 6 of Nepal’s Himalayan pheasant species. Since 1983, the WPA has worked closely with the village of Karuwa, helping to resource teaching facilities, staff and equipment in return for the villagers’ using the forest only as they have always done, for their own needs, and not for commercial gain. The pheasant population has since remained stable and is a novel way of supporting educational needs for the locals whilst at the same time promoting the conservation of an important area for biodiversity. This project will build extensions to 2 local schools and monitor biodiversity in Pipar and adjacent forests. Nominated by Berghaus.

World Land Trust – Elephant Corridors (India) – There are 88 corridors throughout India that are critical to the long term survival of the Asian Elephant. These are unprotected lands between fragments of protected areas and increasingly human dominated, resulting in high levels of human-wildlife conflict (loss of crops, buildings and even life). Securing corridors involves sensitising local communities to the option of voluntarily relocating outside the conflict zones to safer areas, with their own land and improved housing. It also leaves areas to regenerate naturally, and provides continued refuge for elephants together with a huge variety of wildlife including tigers. This project will prioritise seven corridors in Corbett National Park and introduce the concept of establishing elephant corridors to local communities and key conservationists. An individual donor has committed to match funds raised, thus doubling the Association’s grant award to EUR€60,000. Nominated by Nikwax.

Global Nature Fund – Mangrove Swamp Restoration (Sri Lanka) – Mangrove forests are unique habitats found in brackish estuaries and coastal areas, their habitat shared by vast numbers of salt and freshwater creatures as well as sea and land organisms, with extensive root systems protecting against tidal waves and erosion. Over the past 100 years, about 50% of the world’s mangrove forests have been irrecoverably lost. The Madampa Lake Wildlife Sanctuary is facing threats due to uncontrolled activities such as land reclamation, dumping of household/ industrial waste and logging of mangrove trees for timber/firewood. The aim is to increase local understanding of the importance of mangrove ecosystems through long term education, community mangrove conservation programmes and planting over 10,000 seedlings to reforest 6 acres of a destroyed mangrove area. Nominated by Messe Freidrichshafen

Breathe Foundation – Rainforest Restoration (Brazil) – The Atlantic Rainforest in Brazil is less than 7% of its original size and has been identified by UNESCO as one of the five highest biodiversity hotspots in the world. Farming, illegal logging and poaching is pushing this area towards ecological collapse. The main focus here is guardianship, reforestation and education. The 10 year goal is to reclaim 700,000m2 of forest, creating an intact ecological corridor which will then be protected via Brazilian Environmental law. The main aims are building an education, management and meeting centre adjacent to the forest, acquiring of identified priority land positions to create ecological bridges and farmer allotment allocation, planting the initial area with seedlings, and identifying the next priority land purchase. Nominated by Messe München.

The project which was voted for by readers of Trail magazine (18,652 votes in total!) was:
The Bumblebee Conservation Trust – Pembrokeshire Bumblebee Path Project (UK) - The UK’s bumblebees have suffered huge declines due to widespread habitat loss. Bumblebees are major pollinators of a majority of wildflowers and many agricultural crops. If they continue to disappear, these plants will set less seed, resulting in sweeping changes to the countryside with catastrophic knock-on effects for other wildlife. The trust aims to conserve them by returning wildflowers to the countryside, striving to raise awareness, protect important bumblebee sites and engage with landowners to create flower-rich habitats. This project will create wildflower-rich habitat to support rare bumblebees along a new 10km section of path in the Pembrokeshire National Park. By connecting key sites, this attractive route through spectacular scenery will help prevent the national extinction of the shrill carder bee.

The official presentation of each of the projects and the progress to date will take place in Room Berlin at 11.00hrs on Friday 16th July 2010 during OutDoor in Friedrichshafen.

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

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