Sustainable Travel & Ecotourism

The Bahamas is one of the most eco-friendly destinations in the Western Hemisphere. There are some, of course, who still eat endangered species like the turtle and who pollute the environment, but the government is increasingly aware that the pristine beauty of the islands -- both the waters and the land -- is one of the main reasons its vital tourism industry exists. Officials want to preserve it for future generations.

Hurricanes, along with the destruction of wetlands by people, remain a constant threat to the environment. The flood-and-surge damage from hurricanes alone can exceed US$500 million during a particularly destructive year when Mother Nature vents her fury on the archipelago.

Conserving the wetlands has become of prime importance to the government, as these wetlands are the potential source of an expanded eco-tourism industry and of vital importance to birds, animals, and fish. Meanwhile, fishing is the third largest industry in The Bahamas, generating millions of dollars in exports because the vast coastal wetlands serve as marine nurseries.

Eco-tours and adventures await visitors throughout The Bahamas. In Nassau (New Providence) and Paradise Island, Bahamas Adventure Glass Bottom Kayaks (tel. 800/688-5871 for bookings) allows you to sail the clear waters of New Providence Island while enjoying the marine life beneath you. Guided tours, including equipment, cost US$77 for adults and US$40 for children 11 and under. At the same number, you can also book a Blackbeard Cay Stingray Adventure, which lets you snorkel and interact with these gentle aquatic creatures. Prices are US$42 for adults and US$37 for children.

On land, Nassau Segway Nature Tour (tel. 800/688-5871 for bookings) takes you on a ride through Earth Village, a 65-hectare (162-acre) preserve acclaimed by botanists as one of the most diverse eco-systems in The Bahamas. The cost is US$75 for both adults and children.

On Grand Bahama Island, eco-tourism experiences include the Lucayan National Park & Cave Tour (tel. 800/688-5871 for bookings), which allows visitors to discover the pristine beauty of the 16-hectare (40-acre) Lucayan National Park for US$40 per adult or US$25 per child under 11. You can also take part in guided kayak expeditions through this tropical Eden for US$79 for both adults and children.

Some hotels are obviously "greener" than others. On Andros, Small Hope Bay Lodge has long adopted an eco-tourism philosophy. It's a nature-based resort whose aim is to protect the environment while still granting access to visitors who can enjoy it responsibly.

Also on Andros is another eco-friendly resort, Tiamo. On 5 hectares (12 acres) of land, this resort combines eco-sensitivity with first-class comforts in a setting of mangroves, wild sea grapes, and coconut palms. Some of its environmentally friendly elements include solar power and composting toilets. The staff also serves as nature guides, helping guests explore the bonefish flats or the inland blue holes.

General Resources for Green Travel

In addition to the resources for The Bahamas listed above, the following websites provide valuable wide-ranging information on sustainable travel. For a list of even more sustainable resources, as well as tips and explanations on how to make your travel more green, visit www.frommers.com/planning.

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; it also manages an extensive directory of sustainable properties and tour operators around the world.

• In the U.K., Tourism Concern (www.tourismconcern.org.uk) works to reduce social and environmental problems connected to tourism. The Association of Independent Tour Operators (AITO; www.aito.co.uk) is a group of specialist operators leading the field in making holidays sustainable.
• In Canada, www.greenlivingonline.com offers extensive content on how to travel sustainably, including a travel and transport section and profiles of the best green shops and services in Toronto, Vancouver, and Calgary.
• In Australia, the national body that sets guidelines and standards for eco-tourism is Ecotourism Australia (www.ecotourism.org.au). The Green Directory (www.thegreendirectory.com.au), Green Pages (www.thegreenpages.com.au), and Eco Directory (www.ecodirectory.com.au) offer sustainable travel tips and directories of green businesses.
• Carbonfund (www.carbonfund.org), TerraPass (www.terrapass.org), and Carbon Neutral (www.carbonneutral.org) provide info on "carbon offsetting," or offsetting the greenhouse gas emitted during flights.
• Greenhotels (www.greenhotels.com) recommends green-rated member hotels around the world that fulfill the company's stringent environmental requirements. Environmentally Friendly Hotels (www.environmentallyfriendlyhotels.com) offers more green accommodation ratings. The Hotel Association of Canada (www.hacgreenhotels.com) has a Green Key Eco-Rating Program, which audits the environmental performance of Canadian hotels, motels, and resorts.
• Sustain Lane (www.sustainlane.com) lists sustainable eating and drinking choices around the U.S.; also visit www.eatwellguide.org for tips on eating sustainably in the U.S. and Canada.
• 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).
• Volunteer International (www.volunteerinternational.org) has a list of questions to help you determine the intentions and the nature of a volunteer program. For general info on volunteer travel, visit www.volunteerabroad.org and www.idealist.org.