Getting Down and Dirty with Ecotourism By Amy Ziff, Editor-at-Large In celebration of Earth Day, this column is devoted to ecotourism and ways to maintain a green sensibility on (and off) the road. As a travel writer, I feel a particular responsibility for preserving "the road" for generations to come, and as a fellow traveler, I believe that same responsibility applies to you. The concept of "ecotourism" has been embraced by destinations, hoteliers, and travelers around the globe who want to "do good." It's a catch-phrase as well as a trend, but to really be an eco-conscious traveler you have to have more than good intentions. According to the International Ecotourism Society, Ecotourism is defined as: responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and preserves the well-being of local people. Accordingly, ecotourism should minimize environmental impact; build cultural and environmental awareness; offer financial benefits for conservation; contribute to the local economy and support indigenous people; raise awareness about a destination's political, environmental, and social climate; support international human rights and labor agreements; and be a positive experience for both visitor and host. And this brings us to the larger reason for why we travel: to experience places and enjoy all they offer! Green vacations can take many different forms. Some take ecotourism to the extreme: trekking through the rain forest carrying in all that they need and carrying it all back out, following a indigenous guide who can assist them in not leaving behind so much as a footprint. While for others, it may be about conservation and maintaining the beauty of a place--picking up garbage they see on the beach and disposing of it properly, recycling water bottles and towels, and only using electricity when needed. Treading lightly is often the key to green travel. This means more than leaving no trace. Being an eco-minded traveler means avoiding products that are produced or sold illegally. Often these products come from endangered wildlife. The organization WildAid fights to end illegal wildlife trade and reminds travelers that ecotourism encompasses more than just the indigenous people in a place, but every living organism (including animal and plant life) as well. While it may be tempting for tourists to gather shells, rocks, and flowers as keepsakes, eco-conscious travelers never remove or collect any kind of plants or animals from parks, sanctuaries, or wilderness sites. As a rule, they never purchase products containing ivory, coral, reptile skins, turtle shells, or furs and also avoid purchasing exotic birds or reptiles. In order to act responsibly, travelers should educate themselves ahead of time about what is illegally traded in a particular place. All trade in endangered species and products containing endangered species is prohibited by federal and international law. Good sources for gathering this information include: the WildAid www.wildaid.org, CITES www.cites.org, and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service www.usfws.org Web sites. It's important to make all of these seemingly-distant ecological guidelines personally meaningful. So to me, eco-tourism is about appreciating a place and all the special things that place can offer. Right here in the U.S., natural beauty is both abundant and endangered--from the massive redwoods in California to the Texan wildflowers in hill country, from the bald eagles in Alaska to the wolves in Ely, Minnesota. If you've ever marveled at the beauty of a place, been awed by the majesty of nature, or been touched by an animal in the natural world then you qualify as an eco-tourist. Make it part of your mission to preserve and conserve so that others after you may enjoy and do the same. No matter where you are, at home or abroad, you can apply your green consciousness by turning out the lights, turning off the TV and radio, and closing the curtains or blinds when you leave. In hotels especially, reuse sheets and towels and turn the water off when you brush your teeth and wash your face. Support hotels that are part of the International Hotels Environmental Initiative or Green Hotels. To learn more about ecotourism, visit: www.ecotourism.org. If we all perform these seemingly small acts, collectively, we can have a very large impact in making this a greener world. Please join me, and Travelocity, in this effort and support green vacations. To see a list of deals to destinations that are proponents of ecotourism, please click the "Eco-Travel Destinations" link below. For the most recent travel news check out Amy Ziff's Travel Tips from AtoZ at www.travelocity.com/atoz. If you have a question or topic you would like me to cover in a future column, please e-mail Amy Ziff at ask.amy@travelocity.com ask.amy@travelocity.com. Come back monthly to see if your question has been answered. Related Links Eco-Travel Destinations

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