The American Alpine Club takes seriously the need to protect the mountain environment and to recreate responsibly in it. Our activities run the gamut from scientific research grants to better understand impacts on alpine regions, conservation projects to help improve best practices, and advocacy efforts to ensure climbing can occur on public lands, The American Alpine Club is a national leader in conservation and advocacy efforts.

AAC staff and volunteers try to maximize our resources by focusing on issues that will have the greatest impact to climbers nationwide. Policy efforts from the national office are focused in three areas: 1) national policies and rules, 2) local policies and rules that may set a national precedent, and 3) nationally significant climbing areas. Local volunteers augment these efforts with conservation and advocacy efforts at local climbing destinations around the country. You can get involved by contacting Policy Committee Chair Keith Cole by email at kncole@verizon.net or Deputy Director Lloyd Athearn at lathearn@americanalpineclub.org, or by contacting your local section chair to see what activities are occurring in your area.

	Club Policy Statements The AAC has been a consistent voice on behalf of wilderness protection, responsible use of public lands, and reasonable management of climbing and mountaineering. The AAC board of directors adopted the following policy statements in the years noted, and they reflect the official opinions of the organization on these issues.
	National Policy Issues Under Construction
	Local Land Management Plans
	Conservation Projects Conservation and preservation of the mountain environment has been a focal point of the AAC's activities since our founding more than a century ago. The AAC has organized and funded conservation projects worldwide, ranging from trail-building projects at nearby cliffs to major cleanup expeditions on Himalayan peaks.
	Research and Conservation Grants