The environment is a very important issue nowadays. People travel more and more each year. Travel is a great experience. It’s something that everyone should do. However, there is a big environmental toll enacted by travel. Travel is not very green. Airplanes release carbon dioxide, people don’t recycle, and lots of energy gets wasted.

With climate change, deforestation, and species extinction the defining issues of the day, it’s more important than ever that our travels become environmentally friendly. Over the past decade, a movement has grown within in the travel industry called “ecotourism” to help make that possible. Eco-tourism deals with sustainable travel- both for the environment and for local populations. It promotes environmental and social awareness and, typically, eco-tours go to countries where the flora and fauna are abundant. Think Costa Rica, Tanzania, the Amazon, and New Zealand.

While most eco-tours are simply greener versions of normal tours, others offer specific angles: First, there is volunteering. Many tours are based on participants volunteering in local community initiatives and clean up projects. Many tours focus on educating groups about the local culture. This includes cooking classes, home stays, and language classes. The idea is to spread cultural respect and understanding while decreasing everyone’s environmental impact. Lastly, some tours focus on environmental education. These highlight environmental issues in a local area and what can be done to improve the situation.

Besides just protecting the environment, green travel is about helping people. It’s about using companies who protect the environment to show support with your own green. If people see they will make money from the environment they will be less likely to cut it down. Eco tours use companies who protect and save the environment and ensure that money stays in local communities.

Eco-tourism promotes environmental awareness among its participants and reduces the environmental impact of travel. Companies use local products, local guides, and visit organizations that use sustainable and low impact methods. Moreover, it promotes local conservation and trains locals on how protecting the environment is good for the planet but also for their wallet. Many companies run conservation programs and train locals on how to look after the environment. After all, no flora and fauna, no travel business.

The environment is the defining issue of our century. Climate change affects us all and, if we don’t being reducing our footprint, these wonderful places in the world might soon vanish. Travel is a great experience and helps promote cultural understanding but normal travel has a heavy environmental impact. For those who a green spirit, this can present a problem. Yet we should not have to decide between travel and the environment and, with eco-tours, we can sleep well knowing we can have our cake and eat it too.

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