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Uniting Conservation, Communities, and Sustainable Travel

First Quarter 2007

Price: $2.00 USD


E c oCurrents
Editor: Katie Maschman

INSIDE THIS ISSUE: GUEST EDITORIAL


SUSTAINABLE THE CHALLENGE OF GLOBAL WARMING
TRANSPORTATION How ecotourism can become more climate-friendly
GUEST EDITORIAL: THE CHALLENGE
1 By: Wolfgang Strasdas
OF GLOBAL WARMING

CARBON FREE CRUISING 4


AN INTREPID STEP TO CARBON
5
NEUTRAL TRAVEL
LEBANON TRAIL PROJECT
6
EXEMPLIFIES SUSTAINABILITY
REACHING BEYOND OFFSETS IN
7
OUTDOOR ADVENTURE
WHY WE CARE
8
ABOUT TRANSPORTATION
ONE PLANET ECO TRAVEL
CARBON OFFSETTING PROGRAMS
9
I
t has been one and a half years since TIES
published the first EcoCurrents dedicated
10 to the issue of global warming and what the
promise some action. Many others, in the U.S.
(most notably the State of California) and
around the globe have already begun to do so.
BUS COMPANY BECOMES ONE OF tourism industry can do to curb it.1 Well ahead The European Union has implemented a cap-
11 of today’s worldwide debate on climate change, and-trade system for greenhouse gas emissions
THE GREENEST ON THE PLANET
a variety of mitigation strategies were discussed, as mandated by the Kyoto Protocol and is now
ranging from mandatory government policies, considering to include aviation in it.
technological solutions and environmentally
friendly means of transportation to different It becomes increasingly obvious that tourism,
travel patterns and the voluntary compensation and nature-based tourism in particular, with
of greenhouse gas emissions. its dependence on natural resources will be
severely affected by global warming. This will
What has changed since then? And how has require a variety of adaptation measures and
ecotourism evolved in response to the challenge long-term strategic planning, especially in
of global warming? First of all, the challenge the most vulnerable tourism destinations to
hasn’t gone away. While this is hardly a surprise be found in the Mediterranean, Sub-Saharan
to those who have followed scientific research Africa, small island states, mountainous areas
with an open mind, the recent IPCC report2 and the Arctic. Research on how this can be
has managed to convince even those who until done has only just begun and will be a major
now have steadfastly refused to acknowledge issue for ecotourism in the years to come.
the increasing evidence. The United States,
the world’s worst emitter of greenhouse gases, On the other hand, tourism also contributes to
are awakening to “an inconvenient truth” global warming, mostly through transportation.
Sea Turtle in Tortuguero prompting even the federal government to Aviation, arguably the core and motor of
National Park, Costa Rica (Continued on next page)

The International Ecotourism Society (TIES)


Uniting Conservation, Communities, and Sustainable Travel
CHALLENGE:
THE INTERNATIONAL ECOTOURISM SOCIETY (TIES) GLOBAL WARMING
(Continued from page 1)
Founded in 1990, TIES is the world’s oldest and largest ecotourism organization, international tourism growth, is
now coming under increasing
with members in nearly 100 countries. It promotes the policies, practices, and public pressure, particularly in
principles of environmentally and socially responsible travel through training Britain and in Germany, two of
courses, consumer and advocacy campaigns, publications, workshops, and field the most important tourism-
generating countries in the
projects. For more information on TIES membership and resources, visit world. In Germany, demands to
www.ecotourism.org. travel less and closer to home
have recently re-emerged. While
For more on Sustainable Transportation ... visit TIES Advocacy Section www.ecotourism.org. tourism industry representatives
argue that aviation’s contribution to
global warming is small compared
to other polluters, it is certainly
true that, from a consumer’s
perspective, a lifestyle of frequent
flying is extremely unsustainable.
This problem concerns ecotourism
just like any other form of travel
since ecotourists use the same
planes as everybody else. And they
tend to do so even more frequently
YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO than the often despised mass
The 4th Annual tourist who is content to “hang out
on the beach” rather than sitting in
Celebration of Ecotourism Gala
some sort of vehicle almost every
& Eco-Holiday Auction day of a typical “eco-tour”.3
Thursday April 19, 2007
Doors open at 5:45 PM A survey recently conducted by the
University of Eberswalde among
The Organization of the American States (OAS)
exhibitors from around the world
17th Street & Constitution Avenue N.W.
Washington, D.C. at this year’s ITB tourism fair in
Berlin revealed that although a
FEATURING majority of tourism professionals
Steve Case are generally concerned about
Founder of AOL and CEO of REVOLUTION global warming and acknowledge
Silent and Live Auctions that their industry plays a role
Dozens of fabulous ecotourism vacations in it, there is a widespread lack
from around the world. of understanding of the specific
interrelations and what exactly
RECEPTION needs to be done to curb tourism’s
International buffet, organic cuisine, contribution to global warming.4
cocktails, wines and Brazilian flavors In Britain, the tourism industry
TICKETS appears to be more advanced.
Tickets available online: www.ecotourismgala.org Three of the country’s largest tour
or contact us: events@ecotourism.org or 202 347-9203 operator associations have pledged
$95 before April 6 - $125 at the door to compensate sizeable parts of
Become a Patron: Reserve a table for 8 - $700 their greenhouse gas emissions
through their own carbon-offset
www.ecotourismgala.org program.5 This may have been
in response to growing public
criticism and a tougher regulatory
approach that the British
(Continued on next page)
2
Uniting Conservation, Communities, and Sustainable Travel
CHALLENGE: GLOBAL WARMING
(Continued from page 2)

government has announced to take on aviation, including one mitigation strategy in the tourism industry and in the
an additional tax that was recently introduced. There are non-profit community where compensating emissions from
also certain tendencies in the luxury tourism segment to business trips and conferences is almost commonplace now.
assume responsibility for climate change by offsetting carbon The number of carbon-offset providers, now at around fifty
emissions. worldwide, is another indicator for this trend. However,
carbon-offsetting is an extremely complex task which carries
Where can ecotourism be placed in this debate and evolving the risk of inadequate compensation and project failures,
field of coping strategies? A website analysis and survey of especially in relation to reforestation measures. In order to
over 300 nature-based tour operators of TIES, Sustainable make sure that it is performed in a sustainable way quality
Travel International (STI) and the Adventure Travel Trade standards and independent verification are indispensable.6
Association (ATTA) that was recently conducted by TIES Furthermore, carbon-offsetting is only the second-best
and the Center on Ecotourism and Sustainable Development option and will not be sufficient to achieve the enormous
(CESD) found that while there is not really a broad debate reduction of greenhouse gas emissions that will be necessary
on the issue, several members of the ecotourism community to stabilize the world climate. At some point we will have to
have nevertheless begun to take action. Most of the operators travel less – not as far away and not as frequently. Apparently,
surveyed see global warming as a serious problem which will this inconvenient truth has not fully dawned on the
also affect nature-based tourism, and about 10% of them have (eco)tourism industry and the travelling public yet.
become active in implementing sustainable transportation
principles. While inbound operators (many of them based So, what needs to be done? Ecotourism has long been
in developing countries) were mostly concerned about local a frontrunner in terms of sustainable development and
transportation by giving preference to bio-fuelled buses there is a good chance for it to continue playing this role in
or by favoring muscle-powered forms of mobility such as relation to global warming and sustainable transportation
walking or biking, outbound operators (mostly based in if the exemplary initiatives taken by several companies are
North America) assume responsibility for their flights to being adopted by many others in the industry. Carbon-
the destination and back by offsetting the emissions thus offsetting is a first step, but it may be a costly one for small
incurred. However, the degree of commitment varies: Some companies if their customers are not being educated about
operators such as Intrepid Travel (Australia), OARS or it and made to pay their share. Promoting the further use
Natural Habitat Adventures (both USA) have already begun of renewable energies is another step, one that many eco-
to offset their entire emissions including office operations and lodges have already been particularly good at. Establishing
their supply chain management while others simply ask their public transportation systems in frequently visited natural
customers to use a certain (Continued on next page)
carbon-offset program.
Nature Air, a small-plane
carrier based in Costa
Rica, compensates its
greenhouse gas emissions
by paying into forestry
projects. Costa Rica
is also contemplating
to become the world’s
first carbon-neutral
ecotourism destination
by offsetting its tourism-
related emissions through
domestic compensation
measures. In Australia,
ecotourism destinations
such as Queensland and
Tasmania are beginning
to take action as well.

Carbon-offsetting
3 clearly is the number
Uniting Conservation, Communities, and Sustainable Travel
CHALLENGE: GLOBAL WARMING Sustainable Transportation Guidelines for Nature Tour
(Continued from page 3) Operators which are to become an integral part of
ecotourism certification schemes and codes of conduct.
areas such as national parks and World Heritage Sites is yet
another important element of sustainable transportation 1
See EcoCurrents Q3/2005 at www.ecotourism.org/...
strategies. 2
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change: Climate Change 2007
– The Physical Science Basis. Paris, 2 February 2007
3
For an excellent case study from New Zealand see: “The Cost of Getting
But one of the biggest challenges will be to change our travel There – impacts of travel to ecotourism destinations” by D. Simmons/S.
habits in relation to time – preferring nearby destinations Becken. In: R. Buckley: “Environmental impacts of ecotourism”. CABI
for shorter trips, spending more quality time on long-haul Publishing, 2004
journeys, really getting to know the land and the people
4
See www.fh-eberswalde.de/tour (in German)
5
Tourism Industry Carbon-Offset Scheme (TICOS)
visited, and generally slowing down. While this is ultimately 6
See article in this issue on page 10.
up to the consumer to decide, tour operators and other
ecotourism providers can do their share by designing and Wolfgang Strasdas is a professor for Sustainable Tourism Management at
promoting attractive trips with no need to rush. At the same the University of Eberswalde (Germany), a tourism consultant and a TIES
Board member who is presently
time it has to be made sure that the many destinations in the using his sabbatical to work on
developing world that have benefited from (eco)tourism in climate change. Although he does
the past continue to do so in the future – this time with an not own a car and cycles instead,
environmental and social balance that is unambiguously a he is also a frequent flyer who
offsets his emissions by using
positive one. atmosfair. He can be reached at
wstrasdas@ecotourism.org or at
TIES has responded to this challenge by initiating an +1 (650) 723-0894. For further
advocacy campaign that comprises a number of activities information, please see his
background article at:
ranging from educational and consumer outreach to www.ecotourism.org.

CARBON FREE CRUISING


Up Close Exploring in Alaska, USA
By: Todd Smith

I began my travel career as a guide on the ultimate carbon


neutral trip in Alaska – paddling and camping among
glaciers, whales and bears in Glacier Bay National Park.
many tons of CO2 are released as a result of our cruises and
create and offset program to neutralize those emissions.
Sustainable Travel International’s offset project portfolio
As a long time naturalist and guide, especially in Alaska, I includes solar collectors in Costa Rica, biomass energy in
have witnessed first hand the effects that global warming India and wind energy in Madagascar.
and climate change are having on our planet. Glaciers are
retreating, permafrost is melting, forests fires are more THE MYCLIMATETM OFFSET PORTFOLIO INCLUDES
intense and entire ecosystems are affected. Regions such as SOLAR COLLECTORS IN COSTA RICA, BIOMASS ENERGY IN INDIA
Alaska, Antarctica, and the Amazon Rainforest are the first
AND WIND ENERGY IN MADAGASCAR.
to feel the ecological implications of global climate change,
though it affects us all.
Sustainable development options, including more efficient
I founded AdventureSmith Explorations to utilize expedition vessels and alternative fuels are better for everyone in the long
vessels to provide this same type of wilderness experience but term, but there is simply not enough money or an incentive
with greater range and more comfort. Realizing that boats to change in the immediate future. Through our Carbon Free
would impact our surroundings in different ways than kayaks Cruising campaign we hope to educate our travelers about
alone I sought innovative ways to minimize our travelers’ global warming while helping them reduce their own carbon
footprint. Small vessels are closed systems, much like a footprint. We also hope to influence the cruise industry,
remote wilderness lodge, and are inherently low impact. A which has remained relatively silent in terms of sustainable
good crew is obsessive about recycling and efficiency because travel.
all waste is processed and stored on board. AdventureSmith
was the first North American-based small cruise ship Todd Smith is the AdventureSmith Explorations has committed
operator to offset emissions through a new partnership with to sustainable tourism and ecotourism principles. The naturally
active explorations are designed to provide a means for travelers to
MyClimate (available in the US through Sustainable Travel
TM
make a contribution to conservation. Part of the AdventureSmith
International). Any responsible maritime engineer knows Explorations’ mission is to give something back to the individuals,
exactly how much fuel and oil his/her vessel is burning every communities and environments encountered on every exploration.
hour, day and month, which makes it easy to calculate how AdventureSmith Explorations maintains a network of grassroots and
much fuel and oil is burned per cruise and per passenger.
Armed with this information, our partners calculate how
global non profit partners worldwide. For more visit: www.adventures
mithexplorations.com.
4
Uniting Conservation, Communities, and Sustainable Travel

AN INTREPID STEP TO CARBON NEUTRAL TRAVEL

By: Jen Riley

A fter 18 years in the travel business, Intrepid Travel has


grown from a 2 man operation to one of the world’s
leading small group adventure companies. But just as we have
traveler’ is embracing the opportunity to take control of their
flight emissions.

grown, our commitment to sustainable, grassroots travel has On the home front we are creating a Carbon Neutral work
remained the same. environment. In head office recycling and waste reduction
practices are well entrenched and the majority of our
We are firm believers that energy already comes from renewable resources. After
travel is one of the most recently completing a ‘carbon audit’, the office is to become
fulfilling things you could even greener. We are looking to install rainwater tanks,
ever do, but we also recognize we’re switching to energy saving fluorescent lights and any
that by being a part of the electricity that isn’t 100% green will be offset annually. A plan
travel industry we’re actually is also in place to introduce the same measures to our other
endangering the very places offices around the world.
we love to explore. Traveling
by bus, train or boat, printing However, it’s our final step which will prove our most
brochures, using electricity challenging; making every one of our 470 trips carbon
and especially taking neutral. Although, where possible, trip emissions are limited
flights, we’re contributing by our use of public transport, we aim to reduce them further
significantly to greenhouse and will completely offset the remainder. We’re already
gas emissions. Last year well on the way, offering some exciting new ‘eco-friendly’
alone our travelers emitted journeys. Our Independent European trips are a chance for
300,000 tonnes of Carbon travelers to discover Europe at the ground level, by cycling
Dioxide from flights - as or walking from destination to destination. We’re also
good a reason as any for us particularly proud of our newest overland adventure, To the
to become a Carbon Neutral End of the Earth and Back which encourages travelers to take
company, something we aim longer, land-based journeys instead of multiple fly-in, fly-out
Franz Joseph Glacier, to become in the next 3 years. vacations. This journey takes travelers on a 130 day journey
New Zealand from Singapore to Paris, taking in every corner of Asia and
In January 2007 we introduced mandatory carbon offset Europe along the way. Traveling by boat, train and even
payments on all flights sold from Australia. It was an elephant, this really is an epic but low-carbon adventure of a
Australian industry first and a risky move in a marketplace lifetime and puts us well on the way to reaching our end goal:
that was only just coming to terms with the broader issue of to offer our clients 100% carbon neutral adventures by 2009.
climate change. But while many travelers still question who is
responsible for offsetting carbon, it seems the typical ‘Intrepid Jen Riley is an editor with Intrepid Travel. For more information
on Intrepid’s initiatives, visit www.intrepidtravel.com.

INTREPIDS’s
Other Going Green Initiatives:

• We have a full time Carbon Offset Manager who’s time is devoted to researching
our best practices and developing relationships with offset providers.
• Introducing optional offsetting on flights sold from UK & NZ. For our mandatory,
carbon offset flights in Australia, passengers pay the full offset payment but
Intrepid makes NO from profit offsets.
• Carbon auditing our offshore offices.
• We use vegetable inks and source environmentally friendly stock from sustainable
forests for our brochure production and are looking at FSC accreditation.
• We encourage best practice from our hotels and where possible chose which we
5 use based on common ethical thinking.
Uniting Conservation, Communities, and Sustainable Travel

Lebanon Trail Project Exeplifies Sustainability

By: Scott Wayne

S tretching over 350 kms along the entire length of


Lebanon, and overlooking the Mediterranean Sea, the
Lebanon Mountain Trail (LMT) is a successful model of
of transportation of people and goods from one village
to another. It has more recently also been used by tour
operators. The LMT crosses three protected areas, as well as
environmentally and socially responsible tourism and is several other natural, historic and cultural sites. The LMT
bringing the Lebanese together to rebuild and develop the project will supplement and connect these individual sites to
country. The LMT serves as one example of ecotourism create a destination of national and international appeal.
trail development in rural regions utilizing alternative
modes of transportation. The LMT is also helping to expand
economic opportunities in rural areas of Lebanon and to
mobilize volunteers, the youth and community groups for a
worthwhile and unifying cause.

The LMT project is also implementing pilot activities


to enhance rural attractions and lodging along the trail,
including bed & breakfast facilities, campsites, and picnic
areas. The project is helping to renovate two historic town
squares, set up visitor information points, co-organize rural
events and develop a literary trail featuring some of the
country’s most renowned poets and writers.

The LMT project builds on previous efforts by connecting Maasser Ech Chouf, Lebanon
existing trails, and by leveraging on-going local initiatives.
The system of trails in the Lebanese mountains was built Core funding for the LMT project was provided by the
and conserved through the centuries, as the primary means US Agency for International Development (USAID). The
LMT project was
conceived, and is being
implemented, by the
US-based consulting
firm ECODIT, Inc. TIES
is providing advice
to the ECODIT LMT
project team on rural

2007 North American tourism standards and


international promotion
Ecotourism Conference and marketing of the
LMT.
Strengthing Community, Business and
Conservation through Ecotourism Scott Wayne is a long-
time TIES member and
strong contributor to this
project. Scott is also the
September 26 - 28, 2007 · Madison, Wisconsin principle consultant for SW
Associaties, Washington-
based firm. Find more
information on the LMT at:
www.ecotourismconference.org www.lebanontrail.org. 6
Uniting Conservation, Communities, and Sustainable Travel

REACHING BEYOND OFFSETS IN OUTDOOR ADVENTURE

By: Heather Fisher

O perating throughout western North America,


Escape Adventures became the world’s first carbon
neutral outfitter with a distinguishing focus on actual
carbon reduction. Alternatively, carbon offsetting is a
more commonly emerging practice, but with the planet
approaching a 20% deficit in sustainability, Escape
Adventures owners’ Jared and Heather Fisher didn’t
think that was enough. “Becoming carbon neutral means
understanding there’s a difference between offsetting and
mind-setting, and it starts right now,” says Director Jared
Fisher. Alternative Fuel Support Vehicle System

Over the past 16 years, Escape Adventures has recognized everyone is offered incentives to ride their bikes to work.
changes in the environment in which they operate. Some Large, homemade recycling centers are prominent in both
changes have been gradual, such as slowly receding Las Vegas and Moab locations, so customers can bring in
shorelines, and some drastic, like surges in wildfires and their recyclables—from everyday waste products to specialty
devastations of entire forests by bark beetles. Although the items that can’t be recycled anywhere else, like bike tires and
climate problem is bigger than any one person or entity can tubes.
reverse, the causes are clear and proven, and the solution
attainable, if it starts at one and becomes many. To do their Escape Adventures is the first to admit that none of these
part, Escape Adventures is aggressively pursuing a two-part changes can reverse something as big as global warming. But
campaign of reformation and education. they do believe that something as big as global awareness can.
“With its personal and broad-reaching effects, the ecotourism
Reformation is an extensive process—even for an already industry is the perfect venue to increase awareness to an
environmentally friendly company like Escape Adventures— affluent, productive, and caring clientele who care about the
but new business models are being created every day. Fisher outdoors and are in a position to do something about it,” says
is pioneering an Alternative Fuel Support Vehicle System Escape Adventures President, Heather Fisher.
(AFSVS) fueled by waste vegetable oil that he hopes will
catch on as a convenient and clean burning alternative to Escape Adventures recognizes their obligation to use their
burning fossil fuels. Escape Tour Centers are being converted position in the outdoor industry to promote sustainability to
to solar energy and promoted internally; sustainable living everyone with whom they come in contact. Guests are given
is a common thread among Escape Adventures’ employees. a positive outlook on sustainable living when eating delicious
When shopping for food, tour leaders buy organic products organic foods, traveling in veggie vans, and hiking, biking,
and refuse bags. The office staff uses recycled products and and rafting in some of the most beautiful places the natural
environment has to offer.

The bottom line is tri-fold; corporations need to start


focusing on the triple bottom line, which is people, planet,
and profit—for their own success and for the success of
humanity in general.

Heather Fisher is the president of Escape Adventures. In early 1992,


newlyweds Jared and Heather Fisher decided to turn a college project
into a business and began taking tourists on their own two bikes to
nearby Red Rock Canyon. While the company has grown from that
first tour to over 50 destinations, 2 tour center/bike shops, and 25
employees, the owners and their mission to promote human power
and the natural environment has stayed the same from day one, and
7 Escape Adventures Tour Participants
the focus on small groups and personalized service is still the hallmark
of the Escape Adventures experience.
Uniting Conservation, Communities, and Sustainable Travel

Why we care about Transportation:


Alternative Transportation in Protected Areas

National Park Service Transportation Planning Guideline

F ive The National Park Service (NPS) has long realized


the importance of sensitive design in planning in the
development of transportation facilities. This concern was
articulated by Director Mather in 1918 when he stated,
“In the construction of roads, trails buildings, and other
improvements, particular attention must be devoted
always to the harmonizing of these improvements with the
landscape.”

The NPS continues to implement this transportation


policy. All of our design and planning efforts are directed
to ensuring that facilities lie lightly on the land and
enhance the experience of our visitors. Transportation
is an integral, defining feature of the national park
experience, and a means by which the park mission of
protecting our natural and cultural resources for the
enjoyment of future generations can be realized.

Much has changed over the past 80 years. Parks have


become so popular and so readily accessible that many
park roads are inundated with increasingly long lines
Historic Red Bus Sight-seeing Tours
of vehicles. Some NPS facilities and infrastructure are
Glacier National Park, USA
stretched to their limits. Congestion and its accompanying
pollution threaten to degrade the visitor experience as well transportation in and around NPS facilities.
as the priceless natural and cultural resources that have
been so carefully preserved. Based on some of the recent NPS successes at Acadia
The National Park service has outlined in their 2006 National Park, Cape Cod National Seashore and Zion
Management Policies that “Depending on a parks size, National Park in developing transportation systems
location, resources, and level of use the Service will, with their partners Congress established the Alternative
where appropriate, emphasis and encourage alternative Transportation in Parks and Public Lands (ATPPL)
transportation systems, which may include a mix of buses, program. This new program was authorized by the
trains, ferries, trams and—preferably—non-motorized Safe, Accountable, Efficient Transportation Equity Act:
modes of access to, and moving within parks. In general, A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU). The ATPPL is
the preferred modes of transportation will be those administered by the Federal Transit Administration, in
that contribute to maximum visitor enjoyment of, and partnership with the U.S. Department of the Interior and
minimum adverse impacts on, park resources and values. the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service.
Before a decision is made to design, construct, expand,
or upgrade access to or within a park, non-construction The ATPPL program and the $97 million worth of
alternatives—such as distributing visitors to alternative funding, over 4 years, will be very beneficial to the NPS,
locations—must be fully explored.” Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service and the U.S. Forest Service in helping them
Recognizing the need for the NPS to draw upon consider and develop new transportation alternatives for
transportation specialists to meet these new policies, enjoying our parks and public lands without building
an agreement was reached between the Department of more roads and parking areas.
Interior and the Department of Transportation in the fall
For more information on the National Park Service transportation
of 1997. This agreement set forth goals and strategies for
establishing a mutually beneficial relationship to improve
initiatives, please review the NPS Alternative Transportation Web
site at: http://www.nps.gov/transportation/alt/ats-study.htm.
8
Uniting Conservation, Communities, and Sustainable Travel

One PLANET ECO TRAVEL:


REDUCING THE ECOLOGICAL & CARBON FOOTPRINT IMPACT OF DESTINATIONS

By: Motti Essakow

I f everyone in the world were to consume natural


resources and generate Carbon Dioxide (CO2) at the
rate humanity does, we would need many more planets to
Two practical examples of destinations who have
committed themselves towards reducing their overall
Ecological and Carbon Footprint impact and becoming a
support us. In order to live (and travel) we consume what carbon neutral destination (in its entire context) are Table
nature offers. We only have one planet and we are using Mountain National Park in Cape Town, South Africa and
and abusing its resources at a faster rate than nature can Norfolk Island, Australia.
replenish them. However, there is a way in which we can
live and travel within the earth’s natural capacity and still Table Mountain National Park in Cape Town, South Africa
enjoy a high quality of life—One Planet Living. is becoming the first sector within the destination to
measure the Ecological and Carbon Footprint impact of
In order to achieve travelers within the park. Once the
One Planet Living, Ecological Footprint is a resource management tool measurement has been completed
that measures how much land and water area a human
it is essential that the results will be integrated into
population requires to produce the resources it consumes.
humanity reduces the current “Triple Bottom Line”
its overall ecological This is of little concern as long as human use of resources strategy of the park (developed by
and carbon footprint does not exceed what the planet can renew. the Business school of The University
and thus begin the of Cape Town) and a “Top 10 tips
process of restoring for travelers on how to reduce their
and replenishing (not just preserving) our only livable carbon footprint impact” will be created. Given that Table
ecosystem. One Planet Living—within the ecotourism Mountain National Park borders both the Atlantic and
sector—takes the realization of reducing our ecological Indian Ocean, the park will be conducting a number of
impact, beyond transportation and takes into account the innovative land and ocean carbon offsetting projects.
carbon footprint in destination. The ocean carbon offsetting project is being coordinated
together with Planktos, an organization based in San
In order to legitimately address the issue of reducing the Francisco, California (www.planktos.com), who specialize
entire carbon footprint of a destination (which in essence on restoring Planktons in the ocean. In addition, Cape
is one part of the ecological footprint) an attempt should Town is developing a creative and forward thinking Urban
be made to analyze all land and ocean ecological footprint Ecotourism / Urban Nature / Urban Biodiversity map of
impacts of the traveler, various service providers and the city and its natural surroundings. The main objectives
organizations throughout the supply chain, including of the map are to increase both local and international
accommodation, facilities and activities. awareness of the unique ecosystem of Cape Town and
its natural surroundings and as an awareness raising
Therefore, the overall Sustainability action strategy marketing tool that will turn the local communities into
towards creating a Carbon Neutral destination should “local tourists” and thus further reduce the ecological and
include all four elements of Sustainability (socio/cultural, carbon footprint impact on Cape Town.
economic, wellbeing and nature – also known as the new
Quadruple Bottom Line – and without tradeoffs. This The eventual (and hopeful) result of reducing our overall
strategy should also focus on the connection between ecological and carbon footprint impact on destinations
reducing the overall ecological and carbon footprint through One Planet Living is One Planet Ecological
impacts of the destination and reducing local poverty, thus Economics – well-being for nature and well-being for
improving the wellbeing of both the local population and people.
nature.
Motti Essakow, an ecotourism and sustainable tourism specialist with
OmWard Bound, is currently based in Vancouver, Canada. OmWard Bound
Carbon neutral destination projects should focus on both is a sponsoring partner of the Global Footprint Network and is conducting a
land and ocean carbon offsetting through programs that number of pilot projects introducing the Ecological Footprint principles and
the quadruple bottom-line into all sectors and components of sustainable
are relevant to the needs of the local people and where
9 there is ongoing monitoring of these projects.
travel,wellness travel and ecotourism. For more information e-mail:
rythms@omwardbound.net.
Uniting Conservation, Communities, and Sustainable Travel

Carbon Offsetting Programs:


HOW TO CHOOSE THE BEST

By: Wolfgang Strasdas

C ompensating greenhouse gas emissions is a great way for


vacationers, business travellers and tourist companies
to reduce their carbon footprint while travelling or offering
monitoring of the trees’ growth and health.
• Compensation projects should be independently
(accredited third-party) verified. The best standards are
trips. However, proper compensation is a highly complex the CDM Gold Standard1 for energy projects and the
and challenging process that should be carried out by a CCB Project Design Standards for forestry and nature
professional provider. Do-it-yourself tree planting without conservation. 2
proper follow-up, for instance, may quickly turn out to be a
failure and a reputation risk. Thirdly, the carbon-offset provider itself should work
professionally and transparently. This can be demonstrated,
When considering using the services of one of the almost for instance, in the form of externally verified annual reports.
fifty carbon-offset providers worldwide, the following quality By the way, the cheapest companies are not necessarily the
criteria can serve as an orientation to make an appropriate best ones as they tend to undercalculate emissions and save
selection. The first set of criteria relates to the correct costs by applying less rigorous verification standards.
measurement of the emissions produced. In the case of flights At the moment there are no sustainability certification
this comprises two aspects: schemes for carbon-offset programs. In the U.S. the Center
• Taking into account greenhouse gases other than just for Resource Solutions is presently working on establishing
CO2 that occur in high cruising altitudes. This so-called such standards.3 Several organizations have recently evaluated
the Radiative Forcing Index (RFI) should be a factor of different carbon-offset programs worldwide. One of the best
2.7 according to the recommendations of the IPCC. As a is a report by the Tufts Climate Initiative (U.S.).4 TIES is
minimum requirement it must be 1.9. currently working with atmosfair (Germany), NativeEnergy
• Aviation data must be based on realistic average figures (U.S.) and MyClimateTM /Sustainable Travel International
taking into account, for example, that on an average flight (Switzerland/U.S.).5
only 70 percent of the seats are occupied and that, due
frequent airport congestion, distances flown may be longer.
Resources:
Check a program’s website for any explanation on how they 1
www.cdmgoldstandard.org
compute emissions. 2
www.climate-standards.org
3
www.green-e.org
4
entitled “Voluntary Offsets for Air-Travel Carbon Emissions – Evalua-
Secondly, the compensation projects offered must actually tions and Recommendations of Voluntary Offset Companies January 27.
achieve the promised compensation effect. This, in turn, 2007, http://www.tufts.edu/tie/tci/pdf/TCI_Carbon_Offsets_Paper_Jan31.
pdf. Other assessments were conducted by Clean Air-Cool Planet (U.S.), the
involves a number of sub-criteria: Climate Alliance (Europe) and BBC Wildlife 2007/01.
• Carbon offset projects must prove that they meet the key 5
www.atmosfair.de; www.nativeenergy.com; www.myclimate.org
criterium of additionality, that is, that they would not have
happened otherwise.
• Emissions must be withdrawn permanently from the Wolfgang Strasdas is a professor for Sustainable Tourism Management at
atmosphere. This is certainly the case with energy projects, the University of Eberswalde (Germany), a tourism consultant and a TIES
Board member. Dr. Strasdas is presently using his sabbatical to work on
but not necessarily with forestry or sequestration projects. climate change.
• If offset providers offer forestry projects, they should
at least have a mixed portfolio and guarantee permanent

... striving to offer a lodging experience where guests can


enjoy the surrounding beauty of the Oregon’s Rogue
River corridor with the least harmful environmental
impact. Working – every day – to reduce waste and carbon
in and around Rogue Forest Bed & Breakfast.
www.rogueforest.com/html/green.html
10
Uniting Conservation, Communities, and Sustainable Travel

VERMONT BUS COMPANY BECOMES


ONE OF THE GREENEST ON THE PLANET
By: Dave Kestenbaum

L amoille Valley Transportation (LVT) of Morrisville,


Vermont has become the first carbon-neutral private
motorcoach operator in the world. As part of a University
all enjoy…Our customers have stood firmly behind us. We
are grateful they have chosen to travel with a company that
is mindful and respectful of the environment, a company
of Vermont (UVM) led pilot-program related to sustainable that is helping reduce our dependence on fossil fuels,
transportation, LVT began running its entire fleet of luxury whether that is petroleum from a domestic or foreign
source.”

In June, UVM will roll-out its first sustainable


transportation certification program which will specialize
Vermont
in certifications for the motorcoach industry. During
Partners
a ceremony on June 22, LVT will be honored with the
Meet to
first “Green Coach Certification”. Representatives from
Celebrate a
UVM hope the program will operate similarly to USDA’s
Successful
Organic Certification program or the EPA’s Energy Star
Collaboration
program. Over the next three years UVM’s “Green Coach
Certification” pilot-program plans to offer technical
Vermont,
assistance, marketing support, and recognized certifications
USA
for coaches using traditional fuels and demonstrating
high-fuel economy, fleets participating in carbon-offsetting
programs, and vehicles using biodiesel blends, hydrogen,
motorcoaches and school buses on a blend of biodiesel and hybrid technologies, and other alternative fuels.
conventional diesel fuel in January of 2006. Over the past
year, LVT has seen a dramatic increase in bookings and David Kestenbaum is a specialist within the field of sustainable tourism
development. He is currently the Senior Program Manager for the University
revenues which they can link directly to consumer demand of Vermont’s Tourism Center and an adjunct Lecturer. He is also the owner of
for a “Greener” transportation. In January of 2007 the owner Sustainability Vermont, Inc., an umbrella company that operates a seasonal
of LVT decided to mark the company’s one year anniversary outfitting service and organic farm. David’s resume includes accomplishments
using biodiesel by going one step further and offsetting within the field of community development ranging from helping Vermont
communities utilize GPS technologies to helping communities and protected
greenhouse gas emissions. areas in Guyana, Costa Rica, and Honduras develop and implement strategies
for community based tourism development. David Kestenbaum can be reached
Norm Prive, owner of the 10 bus fleet, said, ”The use of at davekest@together.net.
biodiesel fuel was only the beginning of our company’s
commitment to being responsible stewards of the earth we

2007 ECOCURRENTS:
Editorial Calendar PHOTO CREDITS:
(Clockwise from left on each page)
During 2007, EcoCurrents will focus on the theme of
sustainability. The editorial calendar is as follows: Page 1: Table of Contents photo credit Instituto Costarricense
•Sustainable Transportation (April), de Tursimo. Article photo credit - Chadi Ghajar; Photo
•Sustainability & Certification (June), courtesy of ECODIT. Page 2: Photos courtesy of New England
•Sustainable Foods (September), Outdoor Center, Patagonia EcoCamp - Cascada Expediciones,
•Sustainable Suitcase* (December). and Terra Incognita ECOTOURS. Page 3: Photo courtesy of
*environmentally and socially responsible packing for the eco- CHF International. Page 4: Photo courtesy of AdventureSmith
traveler, for the ecotourism professional, and for the outbound Explorations. Page 5: Photo courtesy of Intrepid Travel. Page
operator. 6: Photo credit - Nizar Hani; Photo courtesy of ECODIT. Page
Each addition will feature one destination; TIES 7: Photo credits - Jared Fisher, courtesy of Escape Adventures.
encourages members to submit articles on the role of Page8: Photo courtesy of National Park Service. Page 11: Photo
ecotourism within these topics. Articles are due the 1st Courtesy of the University of Vermont.
11 of the month listed on the publication schedule.
Please submit articles to newsletters@ecotourism.org.
Uniting Conservation, Communities, and Sustainable Travel

TIES SPONSOR MEMBERS

Adventure Life Journeys • Alaska Wildland Adventures • Amazonia Expeditions • Aventuras Naturales - Pacuare Lodge • Canadian
Mountain Holidays Inc. (C.M.H.) • Cascada Expediciones / Patagonia Eco Camp • Crossing Latitudes, Inc. • ecoAfrica Travel •
Ecoventura/Galapagos Network • El Pescador Resorts • Finca Rosa Blanca Country Inn • Green Hotels of Costa Rica • Grupo Islita
• Holbrook Travel • Horizontes Nature Tours • InkaNatura Travel • International Expeditions, Inc • INTRAV / Clipper Cruise Lines •
Intrepid Travel Pty Ltd • Jungle Bay Resort and Spa, Dominica W.I. • Lapa Rios • Legitify • Lindblad Expeditions • Maho Bay Camps,
Inc. • Micato Safaris • Mithun • NatureAir • Nomadic Journeys Ltd • OARS (Outdoor Adventure River Specialists) • Penn State
University • Rainforest Expeditions (Posada Amazonas/Tambopata) • RawPerspective • Rhino Walking Safaris • Rivers Fiji • Royal
Society for the Conservation of Nature • Solimar Marketing & Travel • Tiamo Resorts • Trans Niugini Tours • Wilderness Travel •
Wildland Adventures • World Nomads Pty Ltd

TIES NATIONAL & REGIONAL ASSOCIATION MEMBERS

Aboriginal Tourism Australia • Alaska Wilderness Recreation & Tourism Association • Armenian Ecotourism Association •
Asociación Argentina de Ecoturismo y Aventura (AAETA) • Asociacion Ecoturismo Guatemala • Asociacion Ecuatoriana de
Ecoturismo - ASEC • Belarusian Assocation of Agro and Ecotourism • Belize Ecotourism Association (BETA) • Benin Ecotourism
Concern (ECO-BENIN) • BESST(Business and the Environment linked through Small Scale Tourism) • Brazilian Society for the
Environment • Camara Nacional de Ecoturismo de Costa Rica (CANAECO) • Central Balkan Kalofer Ecotourism Association •
Discover Nepal • EcoBrasil - Associacao Brasileira de Ecoturismo • ECO-NIGERIA - ECOTOURISM SOCIETY OF NIGERIA • Ecotourism
and Conservation Society of Sikkim (ECOSS) • Ecotourism Australia • Ecotourism Kenya • Ecotourism Laos-Mekong Tourism
Development Project • Ecotourism Norway • Ecotourism Society of Bicol Region • Ecotourism Society of Ethiopia • Ecotourism
Society of Saskatchewan • Ecotourism Society of Sri Lanka • Ecotourism Society Pakistan • Ecotourisme France • Ecotourismo
Italia • Estonian Ecotourism Association (ESTECAS) • Fiji Ecotourism Association • Grand Bahama Island Ecotourism Association
• Green Tourism Association • Hawaii Ecotourism Association • Himalayan EcoTourism Society • Indonesian Ecotourism Network
(INDECON) Foundation • Iran Ecotourism Association • Iringa Ecotourism Society • Israeli Ecotourism Society • Japan Ecolodge
Association • Japan Ecotourism Society (JES) • Kamchatka Ecotourism Society • Kunigami Tourism Association (KUTA) • La Ruta
de Sonora Ecotourism Association • Mesoamerican Ecotourism Alliance (MEA)/RARE Center • Mexican Association of Adventure
Tourism & Ecotourism (AMTAVE) • Mongolian Ecotourism Society (MES) • Murghab Ecotourism Association (META) • Nigeria
Ecotourism Foundation • Russian Ecotourism Society • Sri Lanka Ecotourism Foundation (SLEF) • Sustainable West Virginia •
Swedish Ecotourism Society • Taiwan Ecotourism Association (TEA) • Thai Ecotourism and Adventure Travel Association (TEATA)
• The Ontario Ecotourism Society (TOES) • Tilos Park Association • Virginia EcoTourism Association

TIES BOARD

Heba Aziz, Ministry of Tourism, Oman • Tracy Berno, University of the South Pacific, Fiji • Rajiv Bhartari, Indian Forest Service &
Corbett Tiger Reserve, India • Sylvie Blangy (Development Chair), TUKTU Ecotourism Consultants, France • Kelly Bricker (Board
Chair) , WILD-U, Fiji & USA • Tony Charters (Vice Chair), Tony Charters & Associates, Australia • Richard Denman (Secretary),
The Tourism Company, United Kingdom • Andrew Fairley (Treasurer), Alpine Resorts Council Victoria, Australia • Kamelia
Georgieva, Human Research Center, Bulgaria • Nandita Jain, Independent Consultant, India & USA • Glenn Jampol, Finca
Rosa Blanca Country Inn, Costa Rica • Karen Lewis, Lapa Rios Ecolodge, Costa Rica & USA • Hitesh Mehta, EDSA, USA • John
Poutasse, Attorney, USA • Ravi Ruparel, The World Bank, Uganda • Chandra de Silva, Ranweli Holiday Village, Sri Lanka •
Keith W. Sproule, Independent Consultant, USA • Masaru Takayama, Japan Ecolodge Association, Japan • Louise Twining-
Ward, Tourism Resource Consultants, USA • Wolfgang Strasdas, University of Eberswalde, Germany • Jan Wigsten, Nomadic
Journeys, Mongolia & Sweden • Carolyn Wild, WILD International, Canada

TIES STAFF
Mikael Castro, Events Coordinator • Christina Cavaliere, Director of Training andEducation • David Diedrich, Director
of Finance and Administration • Ayako Ezaki, Asia-Pacific Coordinator • Katie Maschman, Director of Membership and
Communications • Katrina Shum, Sponsorship Coordinator • Dave Sollitt, Executive Director

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