Oregon's Mount Hood Photo © John McAnulty
As we launch into 2010, many of us are planning new adventures in wild places across America. Before we get too far into the new year, here at Under Solen, we are taking a quick moment to be thankful for last year’s conservation victories that protected these places.
In 2009, Congress passed the Omnibus Public Land Management Act. In total, the landmark legislation designated 2 million acres of Wilderness, 1,100 miles of Wild and Scenic Rivers and closed the 1.2-million-acre Wyoming Range to new oil and gas development. One of the big driving forces behind this victory was the outdoor industry.
Of the projects in the legislation, 13 were supported by grants from The Conservation Alliance — a group of outdoor industry companies that disburses its collective annual membership dues to grassroots environmental organizations. Their goal: to engage businesses to fund and partner with organizations to protect wild places for their habitat and recreation values. Well, good on them, because last year was a huge success! Check out specific projects on on their website.
We’re stoked to play hard in these newly protected places and work even harder to keep the conservation victories coming in 2010!
john besmer on 
James Edward Mills on 
SFindle on 