It may seem like a lot of work to have an environmentally friendly holiday, but it’s actually quite easy. It just boils down to a few key choices and a lot of common sense. Here are a few simple tips to help reduce the impact of your travels on the environment…
Leave no trace
The main principles of eco-tourism can be summed up in the well known phrase “Take only pictures, leave only footprints." It’s that simple. Don’t litter. Don’t take anything out of its natural environment -even if it’s just one rock, just one flower, if everyone takes one then it becomes five thousand rocks and you start to notice a difference.
This goes for beach-combing as well. Shells may be pretty, but they serve a purpose too. Remember that sand dollars and starfish are live animals, not souvenirs. Leave everything just as you found it so that someone else can come along and enjoy it as well.
Carbon offsetting
Air traffic accounts for ten percent of greenhouse gasses worldwide. Carbon offsetting is a way to make up for the pollution caused by your flight by paying someone else to balance the scales by planting tree or doing something similar. There are a number of websites that make this process incredibly easy. You just enter in your flight information and it calculates the mileage and amount of carbon emitted. You can then pay for the organization to compensate by giving money to offsetting.
Try some of these organisations:
www.co2balance.com
www.carbonneutral.com
www.climatecare.org
Choose your provider carefully
Your travel provider plays a huge role in how environmentally friendly your trip is. Make sure the trip you choose shares your environmental values. Look for companies that employ local people, have a long term affiliation with the community or donate money or energy into protecting natural areas.
Read more about choosing a travel provider.
www.srilankaholiday.travel
The same is true for hotels. Many hotels have “gone green." They may make small efforts, like only washing your sheets at the end of your stay or switching to water efficient showerheads. Other places make bigger efforts, like green building to conserve heat. There are many hotels that are choosing energy friendly alternatives (it saves them money as well) and finding one should be easy. Just make sure you do your research. Many places claim to be eco-friendly to gain customers, so look for awards or certifications.
Alternate transportation
When you travel, avoid renting a car or taking a taxi. Taking public transportation is better for the environment and it's great for people watching too. Most of the places you’ll be visiting will be serviced by a bus or train, so hop aboard and chat to a local. It may be a bit of a hassle to travel by public transit, but a ride on a local bus can be quite an experience.
When you can, walk or ride a bike. This is the most environmentally friendly option there is, though not always feasible. When it is an option, though, walking or biking provides exercise, entertainment and great views of the landscape.
Respect wild animals
Never touch or harass animals. Don’t chase animals or try to get too close. Overcrowding can cause stress and aggravation. It is easy to get caught up in the thrill of seeing an animal in the wild but respect that you are a visitor in their environment and don’t invade their personal space (which is quite a bit larger than ours). Many species are protected by laws that specify how close you can get to an animal. Know before you go. And if you’re with a guide who you feel is engaging in harmful wildlife viewing practices, tell him to back off or report him to the proper authorities.
Souvenir trade
Just as you shouldn’t take anything out of natural areas, you should be careful about what you buy as souvenirs. Refraining from taking shells from the beach doesn’t mean much if you buy them at a gift shop. Be careful buying things made from animal products. Don’t buy anything made from endangered plants or animals, such as ivory or turtle shells. It’s not good for population levels and it’s probably illegal.
Stay on the trail
It may be tempting to wander off the beaten track, but if you're in a national park or out in the wild it’s an unwise decision. You might suffer an unpleasant encounter with a snake and you’ll probably get lost. Remember that trails were made for a reason. If you go trekking through the underbrush, you’ll trample some of the forest’s unique plants and maybe some of its animals. Your footprint has a much larger impact on the forest floor than it has on a well groomed trail.
