Ecotourism is not an activity in the true sense of
the word, "eco-tourism" is more of a philosophy,
a type of tourism with ecological aims, which takes place
in a totally natural environment.
Ecotravelers
can support the preservation of local cultures and ecosystems
by educating themselves about the impact of tourism and
by making informed travel choices that minimize the impact
on the people and environments they visit.
Traveling is not only stressful on us, but on our planet.
Imagine how much water and energy is consumed and how much
waste is generated by roughly 4 million U.S. travelers each
day.
But you don't need to sacrifice comfort or convenience to
be conservation-minded.
We've
compiled a list of resources and great energy-saving tips
for a healthier planet:
Experience
the natural environs. Go hiking, rent a bike, sailboat
or in-line skates. Visit a local waterfront, park or
aquarium.
"Leave
nothing but footprints, take nothing but photographs" and recycle and reuse the plastic film containers.
When
camping or hiking, pack out what you pack in. There
is no such thing as garbage in nature.
If
possible, bring a bag with you to pick up human litter
- you're doing the watershed and local wildlife a favor,
and improving the next hiker's experience.
Try
something new and plan your day's route using public
transit or bicycle.
Walk
to nearby destinations for fresh air, to stretch your
legs and to take in the local sights and sounds.
When
driving, make sure your car is well tuned and tires
are fully inflated. You'll increase your mileage and
cut gas costs up to 15%.
On
the road, fill up with the lowest octane gasoline possible.
The higher the octane, the more hazardous pollutants
released when fuel is burned. Only 1 out of 10 vehicles
manufactured after 1982 require high-octane gas.
If
purchasing a new vehicle, consider a fuel-smart car
one that gets more miles to the gallon than your
current vehicle, and match the vehicle to your needs.
The potential carbon dioxide reduction for a car that
gets 32 miles per gallon is 5,600 pounds per year.