The Conservation Alliance

Every year, The Conservation Alliance grants Outstanding Partnership Awards to recognize member companies that have provided an elevated level of support and partnership to TCA grantees working to protect outdoor spaces, support local communities, and expand access to outdoor recreation. We are thrilled to announce the four recipients of the 2024 Awards: 🏆 Flickr 🏆 MYSTERY RANCH 🏆 Osprey Packs, Inc. 🏆 Rogue Heart Media SPC In 2024 alone, these like-minded companies have gone above and beyond to work with us in support of organizations from Montana, Colorado, California, and Washington in their efforts protect special places critical to local economies, critical habitat, and climate resilience. We are so grateful for the ways they have helped TCA harness the power of businesses and outdoor communities to protect North America’s cherished wild places and outdoor spaces. Please help us celebrate them! Special thanks to Kiitella, Inc. for creating the plaques to commemorate their awards.

BREAKING NEWS! 🚨 The Bureau of Land Management has taken a powerful step to safeguard some of America’s wildest lands by moving to permanently protect 28 million acres in Alaska. Protecting Alaska’s Homelands is a priority TCA campaign because: 1️⃣ This is a huge win for tribally led conservation efforts. 2️⃣ This region connects land conservation and climate. 3️⃣ Protecting Alaska’s Homelands would be a boon for businesses and the economy. More than 140 federally recognized Alaska Native Tribes, local communities, and businesses representing Alaska’s $2.6 billion outdoor recreation industry have voiced support for permanently protecting this landscape. We are proud to have supported that work through on the ground partners like SalmonState. Today’s news is just one step toward finalizing protections for this region. Learn more at alaskahomelands.com.

Exciting news! The Conservation Alliance is excited to be expanding our membership to include leaders from the fishing industry. Seven prominent fishing brands have joined forces with TCA: Abel, Airflo Fishing, Emerger Strategies, Dyna-King, Inc., RareWaters, Ross Reels, and Simms Fishing Products. These companies bring a wealth of expertise and passion for conservation, enhancing our collective impact on land and water preservation across the continent. Learn more about our new members and shared vision at https://lnkd.in/g6YKg774.

Please join us in welcoming our new Confluence Grant Program Advisory Committee! Each year, TCA’s Confluence Program funds four organizations led by individuals who identify as people of color that are working on projects to protect outdoor spaces that impact communities near and far. TCA awards each organization $100,000 over two years and strives to engage in meaningful partnerships that add capacity and resources to these community-led efforts. This Advisory Committee consists of individuals from TCA member companies, grantee organizations, and partners and they will lead this year’s Confluence Program grant cycle. We are so thankful for their time and expertise! Learn more about the committee and Confluence Grants at https://lnkd.in/gEHHukuk.

Earlier this month, The Conservation Alliance joined forces with representatives from member companies including KEEN, Adidas TERREX, B.Colective, Puddle Creative, Noto Group Executive Search, and Yukon Trading Co. for a Backyard Collective event hosted by the Columbia Land Trust (CLT) in Oregon. We worked to remove invasive species in the recently protected Nestwood Forest, an 820-acre area which CLT successfully purchased and permanently protected with the help of TCA funding. Together, we cleared a total area of around 1,000 square feet! This will create space for seeding native grasses and wildflowers later this year, followed in future years by planting native trees and shrubs to reforest the slope and restore forest habitat. Learn more about this project at https://lnkd.in/gpPbbx64.

The Conservation Alliance is proud to highlight individuals at member companies who are doing exceptional work to advance TCA priority campaigns and grantmaking efforts. This month, we are excited to recognize Annie Nyborg, the Head of Environmental and Social Impact at Peak Design and the current TCA Board Chair! Annie is a 6th generation Californian with a deep passion for the outdoors and protecting natural places. Through her roles at Peak Design and on our board, she has provided invaluable support to TCA and has remained committed to helping us realize ongoing growth and impact. Largely thanks to Annie, Peak Design has been prioritizing the importance of collective business advocacy in supporting grassroots conservation efforts. We are grateful to be one of their key partners in that work and are especially proud to have them as a Pinnacle Member. Please help us celebrate and thank Annie for everything she does to partner with us!

Headquartered in Cortez, CO, Osprey Packs, Inc. employees understand the incredible value of the Dolores River. The company supports efforts to protect this region because they will "help provide economic incentives for increased investment in key communities, increase federal support for stewardship, increase climate resiliency of the landscape and broaden protections that echo local voices." Thank you, Osprey Packs, Inc., for partnering with TCA to advocate for one of Colorado’s last wild places. Take a look at their full statement of support in the Durango Harold: https://lnkd.in/gEkNufXf

Thank you to TCA grantee Chesapeake Conservancy and the Tribe for hosting our Grants Director, Kim Paymaster, to experience the incredible landscape along the Rapphannock River in Virginia. The group was able to connect with each of the partners involved in this effort and hear from Chief Anne on why this landscape is so important to protect. The Tribe, Chesapeake Conservancy, and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation are working together to protect and steward the 4-mile stretch of land along the river called Fones Cliff. It is the ancestral home of the Rapphannock Tribe and an important home for resident and migratory bald eagles, signifying its natural and cultural importance.

Tomorrow is the anniversary of the Antiquities Act, which empowers presidents to designate national monuments, and we’re thrilled to announce that over 100 companies have signed the Mobilizing for Monuments Pledge. This pledge calls on the Biden administration to protect more public lands through national monument designations and expansions. National Monuments are one of the most effective ways to permanently protect public lands, generating dual benefits for  individuals, businesses, and communities.  Mobilizing for Monuments was created by business leaders in the outdoor space to protect over 3 million acres of public lands. The support of these companies underscores how national monuments play a vital role in fostering a $1.1 trillion outdoor recreation economy.

Our team had a blast at last week's Outdoor Festival Summit where we reconnected with industry friends from across the country, heard from a wide array of insightful speakers during panels, and were honored to host the event happy hour, sponsored by OrthoLite. Thank you to Outside for creating such a unique experience and putting on an impressive festival!