The Conservation Alliance brings the Backyard Collective to clean up Marin County Parks

May 3, 2012 - PRLog -- San Rafael, Calif. — On Friday, May 4th, the Conservation Alliance and member companies The North Face, Marmot, CamelBak, Clif Bar, and REI will partner with Marin County Parks in a conservation effort to remove invasive plant species from the Terra Linda Sleepy Hollow Preserve. The cross-organizational event, known as the Backyard Collective, brings together Conservation Alliance member companies and their employees for a day of collective action.

“Through various Backyard Collectives across the country, Conservation Alliance member employees have worked together to help preserve the outdoor recreational areas in which we play,” says John Sterling, executive director for the Conservation Alliance.  “Each collective focuses on the region, and employees work to restore trails, add plants to burn areas, and, in this case, remove invasive plant species, among other conservation efforts.”

The Marin Backyard Collective takes place May 4, 2012 from 9:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. and the team plans to work to preserve the Spring Hill area from invasive barbed goat grass.  An after party with refreshments and food, catered by the Top Dog, follows the volunteer effort. The event also features a volunteer fair at which Conservation Alliance grantees and local environmental organizations will share information on their current conservation initiatives and share ways for individuals to get involved.

“We are thrilled to see so many local businesses support a work day at this natural treasure, right in people’s backyards, the Terra Linda Sleepy Hollow Preserve,” says Linda Dahl, director of Marin County Parks. “We love watching so many people willing to dedicate their time and get dirty for the sake of conservation.”

The Backyard Collective conservation effort in Marin County is the second of eight planned for 2012.  The other cities include: Santa Barbara (March 12), Seattle (June 28), Vancouver, B.C. (July 12), Portland, Ore. (August 15) Boulder (August 24), Bend, Ore. (September 13), Peterborough, N.H. (September 18). This is the fourth year of Backyard Collectives for the Conservation Alliance and their members, grantees and partners.

For more information about this event please contact coordinator, Cassondra Schindler at cassondra@conservationalliance.com or 541.222.9380

About the Conservation Alliance:
The Conservation Alliance is an organization of outdoor businesses whose collective contributions support grassroots environmental organizations and their efforts to protect wild places where outdoor enthusiasts recreate. Alliance funds have played a key role in protecting rivers, trails, wildlands and climbing areas throughout North America.

Membership in the Alliance is open to companies representing all aspects of the outdoor industry, including manufacturers, retailers, publishers, mills and sales representatives. The result is a diverse group of businesses whose livelihood depends on protecting our natural environment.

Since its inception in 1989, the Alliance has contributed nearly $10 million to grassroots conservation groups. Alliance funding has helped save more than 29 million acres of wildlands; protect 2,700 miles of rivers; stop or remove 25 dams; designate five marine reserves; and purchase nine climbing areas.

For complete information on The Conservation Alliance, see:  www.conservationalliance.com.

About Marin County Parks:
Marin County Parks is dedicated to educating, inspiring, and engaging the people of Marin in the shared commitment of preserving, protecting, and enriching the natural beauty of Marin’s parks and open spaces, and providing recreational opportunities for the enjoyment of all generations. In 2012, Marin County Parks will celebrate 40 years of conservation and recreation in Marin.

For additional information on Marin County Parks, see: http://www.marincountyparks.org.