The International Ecotourism Society defines Ecotourism as “responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment, sustains the well-being of the local people, and involves interpretation and education”. Education is meant to be inclusive of both staff and guests.
Ecotourism is about uniting conservation, communities, and sustainable travel. Unfortunately, ecotourism is a term used too loosely and much of the so-called ecotourism only pays lip service to core values – in other words, Greenwashing.
I carry out the necessary due diligence and make the right, sustainable choices on your behalf. I’m happy to talk through my decisions with you if you are interested. In brief, I use established benchmarks and certifications as well as my first-hand reviews.
I will only recommend camps and lodges that take this seriously and demonstrably live up to the right values.
Their focus includes:
- low environmental impact by checking sustainable ecological practice from energy and water use to waste management, transport and construction
- Revitalising and preserving habitats for wildlife
- Tangibly supporting local communities and local economies
Discerning tourists can be conservationists by using award winning eco-friendly, intimate camps that provide unsurpassed wildlife experiences using local guides and deliver tangible benefits to the local communities whilst preserving vital habitats.
You might be thinking “all this is great but what about the carbon footprint from my flights?”
The chances are that to get to the safari destination, you’re going to have to take a long-haul international flight. In isolation, these are bad for the environment, we all agree about that. Whilst from a carbon footprint perspective, it is generally a good thing to take holidays closer to home, here’s why it can and indeed should be slightly different as far as your safari is concerned:
Carbon sequestration
Forests and savanna play a vital role in carbon sequestration. If tourists don’t visit these areas, they will be lost to wildlife. When it becomes unviable to preserve the land for wildlife there is pressure to use it for something else. These days it’s often industry. So that carbon absorbing green land becomes a carbon emitting industrial system. It’s already happening in places like the Amazon.
Habitat preservation
There are thousands of species that call my destinations their home. There is no economic viability to preserving their habitats if tourists don’t visit. If tourists stopped visiting, the habitats would disappear, causing the extinction of hundreds if not thousands of species. Look at what’s happening to Orangutans in Borneo.
Development of local communities
Local communities benefit directly from your visit. Revenue is often set aside for bursaries, which allows more children to be educated. The additional income from tourism allows local communities to make sustainable choices that preserve their way of life and are kind to the environment rather than bowing to economic pressures, often with negative environmental consequences.
Many of us are concerned about carbon and air miles – but there is a trade off.
I will help you strike the balance by calculating your carbon footprint and allow you to offset it by contributing to habitat preservation and greening.
Tailor-made trips, unique destinations, enthusiastic expert guides, up close & personal with wildlife, night-time excursions and the bush by foot
