Sustainable Travel & Ecotourism

Sustainable tourism is conscientious travel. It means being careful with the environments you explore and respecting the communities you visit. Two overlapping components of sustainable travel are ecotourism and ethical tourism. The International Ecotourism Society (TIES) defines ecotourism as responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the well-being of local people. TIES suggests that ecotourists follow these principles:

• Minimize environmental impact.
• Build environmental and cultural awareness and respect.
• Provide positive experiences for both visitors and hosts.
• Provide direct financial benefits for conservation and for local people.
• Raise sensitivity to host countries' political, environmental, and social climates.
• Support international human rights and labor agreements.

You can find some ecofriendly travel tips and statistics, as well as touring companies and associations -- listed by destination under "Travel Choice" -- at the TIES website, www.ecotourism.org. Also check out Ecotravel.com, which lets you search for sustainable touring companies in several categories (water-based, land-based, spiritually oriented, and so on).

While much of the focus of ecotourism is about reducing impact on the natural environment, ethical tourism concentrates on ways to preserve and enhance local economies and communities, regardless of location. You can embrace ethical tourism by staying at a locally owned hotel or shopping at a store that employs local workers and sells locally produced goods.

Responsible Travel (www.responsibletravel.com) is a great source of sustainable travel ideas; the site is run by a spokesperson for ethical tourism in the travel industry. Sustainable Travel International (www.sustainabletravelinternational.org) promotes ethical tourism practices and manages an extensive directory of sustainable properties and tour operators around the world.

In Australia, the national body which sets guidelines and standards for ecotourism is Ecotourism Australia (tel. 07/3252 1530; www.ecotourism.org.au). When planning your holiday in Australia, look for tourism operators who have their tour, attraction, or accommodations accredited under the Eco Certification Program. Also look for nature and ecotour guides who have credentials through the EcoGuide Australia Certification Program. Savannah Guides (tel. 07/4062 1057; www.savannah-guides.com.au) is a network of professional tour guides, mostly in north Queensland, the Northern Territory, and Western Australia's Kimberley region, who have in-depth knowledge of the natural and cultural assets of the tropical savannas of northern Australia. Savannah Guides sites and stations feature nature- and/or culture-based interpretive activities; and all Savannah Guides promote ecologically sustainable tourism principles, encourage the protection and conservation of natural and cultural resources, and are committed to conservation values.

Volunteer travel has become increasingly popular among those who want to venture beyond the standard group-tour experience to interact with locals and make a positive difference while on vacation. Volunteer travel usually doesn't require special skills -- just a willingness to work hard -- and programs vary in length from a few days to a number of weeks. Some programs provide free housing and food, but many require volunteers to pay for travel expenses, which can add up quickly.

For general info on volunteer travel, visit www.volunteerabroad.org and www.idealist.org.

Before you commit to a volunteer program, it's important to make sure any money you're giving is truly going back to the local community, and that the work you'll be doing will be a good fit for you. Volunteer International (www.volunteerinternational.org) has a helpful list of questions to ask to determine the intentions and the nature of a volunteer program.

Animal-Rights Issues

Cuddling a koala might be top of your list of things to do in Australia, but a word of warning first. Koalas might look soft and cuddly, but the reality is a bit different. They are wild animals with sharp claws, and you should treat them with caution. Koalas in the wild are not safe to approach -- even if you could reach them. Most of your encounters with them will be at a distance, looking on as they rest high in the branches of a tree, or in a wildlife park where "controlled cuddling" is allowed. Holding a koala is allowed only in Queensland, South Australia, and Western Australia. In Victoria, New South Wales, and Tasmania, it is banned, but in some places you can pose beside one and have your photo taken. There are no koalas in the Northern Territory.

For more on koalas and where to see them in their natural habitat, contact the Australian Koala Foundation (AKF; tel. 1800 4KOALA or 07/3229 7233; www.savethekoala.com) or drop into their office at 40 Charlotte St., Brisbane.

For information on animal-friendly issues throughout the world, visit Tread Lightly (www.treadlightly.org).

For information about the ethics of swimming with dolphins, visit the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society (www.wdcs.org).

It's Easy Being Green

Here are a few simple ways you can help conserve fuel and energy when you travel:

• Each time you take a flight or drive a car, greenhouse gases release into the atmosphere. You can help neutralize this danger to the planet through "carbon offsetting" -- paying someone to invest your money in programs that reduce your greenhouse-gas emissions by the same amount you've added. Before buying carbon offset credits, just make sure that you're using a reputable company, one with a proven program that invests in renewable energy. Reliable carbon offset companies include Carbonfund (www.carbonfund.org), TerraPass (www.terrapass.org), and Carbon Neutral (www.carbonneutral.org).
• Whenever possible, choose nonstop flights; they generally require less fuel than indirect flights that stop and take off again. Try to fly during the day -- some scientists estimate that nighttime flights are twice as harmful to the environment. And pack light -- each 15 pounds of luggage on a 5,000-mile flight adds up to 50 pounds of carbon dioxide emitted.
• Where you stay during your travels can have a major environmental impact. To determine the green credentials of a property, ask about trash disposal and recycling, water conservation, and energy use; also question if sustainable materials were used in the construction of the property. The website www.greenhotels.com recommends green-rated member hotels around the world that fulfill the company's stringent environmental requirements. Also consult www.environmentallyfriendlyhotels.com for more green accommodation ratings.
• At hotels, request that your sheets and towels not be changed daily. (Many hotels already have programs like this in place.) Turn off the lights and air-conditioner (or heater) when you leave your room.
• Use public transport where possible -- trains, buses, and even taxis are more energy-efficient forms of transport than driving. Even better is to walk or cycle; you'll produce zero emissions and stay fit and healthy on your travels.
• If renting a car is necessary, ask the rental agent for a hybrid, or rent the most fuel-efficient car available. You'll use less gas and save money at the tank.
• Eat at locally owned and operated restaurants that use produce grown in the area. This contributes to the local economy and cuts down on greenhouse-gas emissions by supporting restaurants where the food is not flown or trucked in across long distances. One Australian restaurant leading the charge in this respect is 100 Mile Café, Level 3 in the Melbourne Central shopping centre, 211 La Trobe St. (tel. 03/9654 0808; www.100milecafe.com.au), which sources all its produce from within 160km (100 miles) -- and each menu item tells you how far the food has come.