This April, we wanted to take some time to highlight a hugely important partner in our fight to protect and preserve wild lands: The Conservation Alliance. The Alliance is a membership of numerous outdoor industry companies that uses its membership dues to fund grassroots environmental groups. Founded in 1989 by REI, Patagonia, The North Face, and Kelty, the Conservation Alliance now has more than 190 members, Chaco included.

The Conservation Alliance serves an important purposes for outdoor enthusiasts all over the world. Their efforts serve to protect and enshrine our most cherished wild places so that we can continue to enjoy them, both for recreation and for their natural beauty. As the naturalist John Muir put it:

“Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul.”

We could not agree more. Even as we post this message, the Conservation Alliance has announced its 2016 grant recipients and the causes which will be funded through the support of outdoor enthusiasts like you.

So this April, please take a moment to reflect on the important role our wild places play in our lives and livelihoods. Everyone from the casual camper to the rafting guide to the sales associate at your local outfitter are supported, one way or another, through the Conservation Alliance’s efforts to preserve our lands. This April, let’s celebrate that.

To learn more about the Conservation Alliance and the important work they do, visit ConservationAlliance.com and follow them on Instagram at @ConservationAlliance.