The Conservation Alliance has awarded five grants from the organization’s Public Lands Defense Fund to groups working to defend the Roadless Rule, the National Environmental Policy Act, and Cascade Siskiyou National Monument. The awards were funded with the support of Velocio, Patagonia and The North Face.
The Conservation Alliance launched the Public Lands Defense Fund in January 2017 with a goal of supporting organizations that are strategically confronting efforts that would diminish the U.S. public lands system. The Conservation Alliance has awarded five Public Lands Defense Fund grants totaling $80,000 in 2020 to the following organizations: Western Environmental Law Center for their efforts to defend the Cascade Siskiyou National Monument ($15,000) and stop attempts to weaken the National Environmental Policy Act ($15,000); The Wilderness Society for their effort to defend the Roadless Rule in Alaska and Utah ($20,000); Southeast Alaska Conservation Council for their effort to keep the Tongass National Forest roadless and wild ($15,000); and Taxpayers for Common Sense for their effort to defend the Roadless Rule ($15,000).
Conservation Alliance founding member companies Patagonia and The North Face each pledged $50,000 to support the Public Lands Defense Fund in 2020. This is the fourth consecutive year these companies have supported the Public Lands Defense Fund.
Cycling apparel company Velocio also donated $25,000 to the Alliance’s Public Lands Defense Fund. This donation is the result of a special edition cycling jersey inspired by the company’s commitment to protecting wild places. Velocio’s 1% Better Way campaign to raise funding for environmental organizations is in partnership with 1% for the Planet.
The Conservation Alliance has awarded a total of $727,000 in Public Lands Defense Fund grants since the fund was launched in 2017. The following companies have made significant contributions to the Public Lands Defense Fund: Arc’teryx, Patagonia, The North Face, Ruffwear, Gu Energy Labs, Velocio, Smartwool, Farm to Feet and Keen. All donations to the Public Lands Defense Fund are incremental to a company’s annual membership dues.
“Our support for public lands is born of a need for those space,” said Andrew Gardner, co-founder and marketing director at Velocio. “There is a better way to interact with our public lands and we’re grateful for work from the Conservation Alliance in protecting the places that define wild adventure and lonely freedom.”
“Ecologically and culturally significant protected areas and important conservation laws are at risk,” said Brady Robinson, executive director at The Conservation Alliance. “Thanks to meaningful donations from Velocio, Patagonia and The North Face, we are in a position to support the organizations working tirelessly to uphold the integrity of our public lands system in 2020.”
Photo courtesy The Conservation Alliance/Tim Peterson
