Practiced in a natural environment, outdoor sports are dependent on this environment which is constantly changing and suffering from climate change and pollution. To protect their playground, riders can get involved in environmental protection associations.
Surfrider Foundation
Created in 1984 in the United States by a group of surfers, the Surfrider Foundation is one of the world's most active and influential non-profit organizations and has expanded far beyond the world of outdoor sports. In Europe, the Surfrider Foundation has existed since 1990. It is responsible for the protection and enhancement of lakes, rivers, the ocean, waves and the coastline. It has 13,000 members and operates in 11 countries through its volunteer branches.
The association's expertise is recognized in three areas: aquatic waste, water quality and health, and coastal development and climate change. The association's press releases are regularly picked up by the world's media. Surfrider Foundation Europe's latest initiatives include mapping plastic pollution in the Rhine River and measuring the extent to which ocean users are exposed to certain chemical micropollutants in the water.
Mountain Riders
Associations that last are the most effective, Mountain Riders is still going strong, celebrating its twentieth anniversary this year. Created as an association for education in ecological transition, the latter aims to "encourage children and young people to become drivers of change, by inviting sports enthusiasts to commit to a responsible approach, by supporting those involved in tourism, and by involving citizens and elected representatives in preserving a mountain that is as essential as it is fragile."
Among its actions, the collection of waste which thus mobilized in 2019 more than 5,000 volunteers during 63 collections for a result of 25 tons of waste collected. The association accompanies territories in the process of application and labeling Flocon Vert (which aims to enhance tourist destinations with a policy of advanced sustainable development).
Run Eco Team
In 2016, Nicolas Lemonnier from Nantes made the buzz by collecting waste during his running trips and later creating the movement Run Eco Team whose initiative was highlighted by Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg. This movement (which aims to collect at least one piece of waste during each run) has logically become an association. The initiative has been taken up in more than 100 countries around the world and 20,000 runners have joined a Run Eco Team group to participate in the movement. If the actions of this association are based more on individual initiative, this idea is easily applicable by each of us. An application exists to estimate the total amount of waste collected by runners.
Guardians of the River
The "River Guardians"is managed and structured by the Fédération Française de Canoë Kayak. The FFCK aims to protect the waterways navigated by the members of its 800 clubs. It organizes annual "spring clean-up days". The network also aims to observe, monitor and protect aquatic environments in collaboration with local associations and public bodies.