WESTERN WILDERNESS CONFERENCE 2010April 8th- 11th, 2010Berkeley, Californiawww.westernwilderness.orgCalifornia Wilderness Coalition, Sierra Club, , and Northwest Wilderness and Parks Conference are the principal planning organizations, and also represented on the planning committee areThe Wilderness Society, Great Old Broads for Wilderness, Desert Survivors, Audubon California, Tuleyome, and Californians for Western Wilderness.Although the event will take place in California’s San Francisco Bay Area, wilderness organizations and advocates from all twelve western states, including Alaska, are involved, and wild lands advocates from all those states are enthusiastically invited to participate in this grand event.... Read More

Oregon needs more wilderness, according to the Eugene Register-Guard and Senators Merkley and Wyden. And we couldn't agree more! Conservation Alliance grantee the Oregon Natural Desert Association has been working hard to secure the Horse Heaven and Cathedral Rock Wilderness, and now we're one step closer.

From the Eugene Register-Guard:

"The proposed Cathedral Rock and Horse Heaven federal wilderness areas make up for their lack of size with the uniqueness of Oregon’s incomparable high desert, with its basalt cliffs and rolling hills of juniper, sagebrush and bluebunch wheatgrass. And a horizon that drifts into eternity.

Oregon Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley have proposed adding to the state’s wilderness inventory 16,000 acres of high desert near the John Day River in Central Oregon. A land swap between private landholders and the federal Bureau of Land Management would clear the way for congressional approval of the two new wilderness areas...

For a state known for its forests, mountains and rivers, Oregon has a surprisingly small amount of land designated as wilderness...

Even with the addition of these and other proposed wilderness areas, Oregon still would lag behind other Western states in the percentage of land protected as federal wilderness. Oregon needs more wilderness, and the high desert is an excellent place to start filling that need."

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This would be a huge victory for conservation and recreation in the Oregon high desert. To take action, please send letters of thanks and encouragement can be sent directly to:

Senator Jeff Merkley
One World Trade Center
121 SW Salmon Suite 1250, Portland, OR  97204
Tel: 503-326-3386
Fax: 503-326-2900 

Senator Ron Wyden
700 NE Multnomah Suite 450
Portland, OR  97232
Tel: 503-326-7525
Fax: 503-326-7528

 

 

If you haven't already heard the buzz... Check out The Season.

Combining adventure, conservation and inspiring people, this cool new web television project followed five athletes through the course of a single season in the Pacific Northwest.

A veteran climber invents a new piece of gear. A pro snowboarder searches for a way to return to the roots of his sport. A boulderer returns from a series of injuries with new perspective. A family man goes to Whistler to test himself against mountain biking’s elite. A young sea kayaker with a troubled past sets out to reinvent his sport. From the creators of The Dirtbag Diaries and 49 Megawatt, make sure to check it out!

Shot entirely in HD, you can watch the 22-episode series for free. Every episode premieres once or twice a week on the Arc’teryx website, subscribe to The Season on iTunes.

Thanks to Conservation Alliance member company Outdoor Research for supporting this great project. And a big shout-out to the creators for promoting conservation and including The Conservation Alliance and The Access Fund!

Check out the First Episode right here!

 

Key lawmakers say that they are likely to pass another sweeping package of wilderness, parks and other natural resources bills by the end of this year. This action would follow the passing of the unprecedented Ominibus Public Land Management Act last year that protected 3 million acres of land, and 1,000 miles of rivers throughout the US.

Every conservation provision included in the legislation started at the local level where grassroots organizations led the charge to build public support to protect a special wildland or waterway. The Conservation Alliance supported the local organizations that led the efforts behind 12 of the 16 Wilderness provisions included in the package, and funded the groups leading the efforts behind protecting the Snake River Headwaters, and closing the Wyoming Range to new oil and gas development.

In total, The Conservation Alliance contributed more than $700,000 to 10 different organizations and worked in close partnership with Outdoor Industry Association to demonstrate that the outdoor industry stood uniformly behind the provisions in this package.

When President Obama signed the Act into law, John Sterling, Executive Director of the Conservation Alliance said, "This is a major conservation victory that preserves wild places throughout the US forever. We did everything within the limits of our lean staff capacity and financial resources to ensure it crossed the finish line."

Here's hoping for another year of victory!

 

Proposed mountaintop removal mining in southeastern British Columbia is threatening one of America’s most endangered rivers and North America’s wildest remaining valley — The Flathead. But the Sierra Club of British Columbia, Canada, a Conservation Alliance grantee, is getting some help from the United Nations in their campaign to protect the Flathead River Valley. Last week, a United Nations committee report recommendeded a moratorium on mining in the Flathead Valley of southeastern B.C. and development of a comprehensive transboundary conservation and wildlife management plan for the area.

The Flathead Valley is comprised of nearly 400,000 acres of wilderness located in southeastern British Columbia, straddling the Canada/U.S. border. Home to the most grizzly bears per acre of anywhere in the interior of North America and the pristine Flathead River, the Flathead Valley is the only unsettled, low-elevation valley of its kind in Western Canada. 

The Sierra Club also partnered up with the International League of Conservation Photographers and conservation filmmakers, the Epicocity Project, to document the wild Flathead with photos and film.

View a gallery of photos here.

Watch the Flathead WILD film.

Take action to save the Flathead!

 

Conservation Alliance grantee Oregon Natural Desert Association announced that Oregon Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkely introduced legislation yesterday to protect two new Wilderness areas in the John Day River Basin. The Cathedral Rock (photo above) and Horse Heaven Wilderness areas together comprise 18,000 acres of public land adjacent to or near the Wild and Scenic John Day River. The legislation would transfer important riverfront property into public hands, increasing access to this special river. The Alliance supported this campaign with a $30,000 grant in July, 2009.

Click here for the full story.

A United Nations report has recommended a moratorium on mining in the Flathead River Valley, which adjoins Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park! The report also recommends development of a comprehensive transboundary conservation and wildlife management plan for the area. Sierra Club BC and 10 other U.S. and Canadian groups petitioned the UN's World Heritage Committee last year, asking that Waterton-Glacier be declared a World Heritage Site in Danger due to energy and mining threats in the Flathead River Valley.  Sierra Club BC--along with our partner organization Wildsight--presented to a World Heritage Committee mission in September. We told the mission that the southeastern one-third of the Flathead must be protected as a National Park in order to preserve the ecological integrity of Waterton-Glacier, and that a Wildlife Management Area must be established in the rest of the valley and adjoining habitat.  See the Calgary Herald story. The story has also been covered... Read More

For the last two years, WELC has prioritized the protection of wildlife corridors in order to address the catastrophic effects that climate change will have on the West's water and vegetation, in turn forcing wildlife to move in order to survive. At the heart of our work is fundamentally shifting how wildlife protection is viewed in decision-making processes to ensure that wildlife corridors are considered early in the process, before it is too late.  With the support of the Conservation Alliance we have achieved much success and are working to advance protection of wildlife migration corridors at the federal, state, and local levels.For example, with our partners, the Center for Large Landscape Conservation (the Center), WELC is working to administratively designate wildlife corridors on both Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management lands to increase protections and set the stage for federal administrative action by the Departments of Energy, Interior, and Agriculture.Following... Read More

For the last two years, WELC has prioritized the protection of wildlife corridors in order to address the catastrophic effects that climate change will have on the West's water and vegetation, in turn forcing wildlife to move in order to survive. At the heart of our work is fundamentally shifting how wildlife protection is viewed in decision-making processes to ensure that wildlife corridors are considered early in the process, before it is too late.  With the support of the Conservation Alliance we have achieved much success and are working to advance protection of wildlife migration corridors at the federal, state, and local levels.For example, with our partners, the Center for Large Landscape Conservation (the Center), WELC is working to administratively designate wildlife corridors on both Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management lands to increase protections and set the stage for federal administrative action by the Departments of Energy, Interior, and Agriculture.Following... Read More

Looking for a new pair of kicks to get muddy on the trail? How about a new water bottle or hydration pack to quench your thirst? Our member companies are offering screaming deals at Outdoor Retailer this week to benefit The Conservation Alliance. Below is a comprehensive list of the brands, the booths and the sweet schwag that will be up for grabs at the show. So, take a quick break from your meetings and boogie on over to one of the booths below and support great work of The Conservation Alliance and our grantees. After all, we're protecting your playground!

Columbia, Booth #28001
Product: Ravenice, Men's and Women's.
Donation: 100% to The Conservation Alliance
Price: $40, MSRP $115
Hours: Happy Hour, Thursday, January 21, 4:30-6pm

Montrail, Booth #26001
Product: Sabino Trail Shoe
Price: $35, MSRP $100
Donation: proceeds will be split between The Conservation Alliance and Conservation Alliance grantee The Wilderness Support Center
Hours: Friday, January 22, 4-6pm

Brooks, Booth # 36123
Product: Brooks Cascadia 5.
Price: $50, MSRP $100
Donation: 100% to The Conservation Alliance
Hours: Thursday, January 21 - Friday, January 22, 11am-6pm each day

Ruff Wear, Booth # 33061
Product: Ruff Wear Sqwash dog toy
Price: $5, MSRP $9.99
Donation: 100% to The Conservation Alliance
Hours: available throughout the show

Stanley, Booth #21017
Product: Stanley eCycle Exchange Recycled & Recyclable mug and bottle. Two limited Edition Nineteen 13 Flasks for Auction
Price: $10 for bottle/mug. Silent Auction for Flask
Donation: 100% to The Conservation Alliance
Hours: Runs through the show and at Open Air Demo

Timex, Booth # 35125
Product: WS4 Watch
Price: $50, MSRP $200
Donation: 50% of revenue will go directly to The Conservation Alliance. IF all 300 watches are sold, Timex will provide an additional donation to a Conservation Alliance grantee.
Hours: Friday, January 22nd, 3-5pm.
Additional notes: limited quantity available

CamelBak, Booth # 15027
Product: SnoBlast Pack, limited edition - embroidered with The Conservation Alliance logo!
Price: $30, MSRP $79.99
Donation: 100% to The Conservation Alliance
Hours: available throughout the show,

Dansko, Booth #18027
Product: Dansko Shoes for Women and Men
Price: $75, MSRP $120-140
Donation: $10 of each shoe sale will be donated to The Conservation Alliance
Hours: available throughout the show

NEMO, Booth #1011
Product: Ditto Tote, made of repurposed NEMO tent samples and manufacturing seconds.
Price: $15, MSRP $19.95
Donation: 100% of the proceeds will benefit The Conservation Alliance
Hours: Available throughout the show

Osprey, Booth #8027
Product: Osprey Raptor 6 Hydration Pack
Price: $30, MSRP $79
Donation: 100% of the proceeds will benefit The Conservation Alliance
Hours: Thursday, January 21, 3-6pm

Black Diamond, Booth #5027
Product: Ion Headlamp
Price: $10, MSRP $19.95
Donation: 100% will benefit The Conservation Alliance
Hours: available throughout the show

Eagle Creek, Booth #22027
Product: ES Cargo Duffle, medium size. The perfect bag for hauling gear through the rainforests of Borneo or valuable schwag home from OR.
Price: $25, MSRP $75
Donation: 100% will benefit The Conservation Alliance
Hours: available throughout the show

Canada Goose, Booth # 5045
Product: Merino Wool Beanie
Price: $20, MSRP $50
Donation: 100% to The Conservation Alliance
Hours: Thursday, January 21, 2 - 4pm

Grabber, Inc., Booth #132
Product: 20-pack Hand Warmers or 8-pair Toe Warmers
Price: $5, MSRP: $10 Hand / $15 Toe
Donation: 100% to The Conservation Alliance
Hours: All Day January 23-24, 2010

Horny Toad, Booth #30051
Product: Men's and Women's Cashmoore fleece styles
Price: $20-$40, MSRP $76-$110
Donation: 10% of the proceeds to The Conservation Alliance
Hours: available throughout the show