European Outdoor Conservation Association (EOCA) raised €18,000 ($23,000) for conservation projects at OutDoor 2013, where it also signed up six new members.


 

During the show, LiteXpress GmbH, The Original Mountain Marathon, Qualiance International, Goal Zero, Montane, and Craghoppers all signed up to support conservation through the association, which raises money from outdoor products companies for conservation projects much as The Conservation Alliance does in the United States.

 

As well as new members adding their membership contributions to support conservation, existing members also helped EOCA to raise more funds at OutDoor. Many of them generously donated gear to EOCA’s Annual Conservation Fundraiser, and attendees of the show again made donations to conservation in return for the gear. Just over €14,000 was raised through the fundraiser this year over the 4 days. In addition, nearly €3,000 was raised by KEEN Footwear through the sale of 100 pairs of KEEN sandals on their stand – which were sold out within 10 minutes! And generous donations amounting to over €1,000 were given by visitors to the Scandinavian Outdoor Group bar – all of which will be used to support projects in 2014.

 

During the show, LiteXpress GmbH, The Original Mountain Marathon, Qualiance International, Goal Zero, Montane, and Craghoppers all signed up to support conservation through the association.

 

“This year’s fundraising efforts brings the total raised from the outdoor industry during the 6 years that EOCA has held fundraisers at OutDoor to over €104,000,” said Catherine Savidge, joint general manager of EOCA. “As with membership fees, 100 percent of this tremendous amount of money goes towards making a significant difference to conservation in the great outdoors.”

 

Since the show, both Exped AG and Outwell (part of the Oase Outdoors group) have also joined EOCA, growing membership to 108.

 

“The ethos of any responsible equipment manufacturer must go beyond just the development and supply of quality equipment,” said Lotte Simonsen, marketing director for Oase Outdoors. “We owe our livelihoods and leisure time enjoyment to the great outdoors so there is a moral duty to protect and sustain the environment that provides us so much. The Association offers an efficient way to dispense financial support, to educate and to inform. It ensures its members' resources provide optimum impact when preserving our ecosystems for present and future generations”.

 

Heidi Brun, General Manager of Exped added, “What EOCA has achieved over the last 7 years to protect wild spaces is amazing. Exped is delighted to be part of it.” ”.