Light Footprints: Ecotourism Tips

If travel were fashion, green would be the new black. How can you distinguish a “greenwashed” company – whose loud claims of eco-friendliness run no deeper than a leaf-shaped note asking you to re-use your towel – from a truly green one? Instead of making vague promises to panda bears, a true ecotourism company will:

Support the local community: A key tenet of ecotourism is preservation of the area’s indigenous way of life. Avoid staged performances of minority dance where the profits are reaped by a faceless tour agency; instead, opt for home stays, where your dollar goes directly into the hands of the family hosting you, and try out small, grassroots tour companies run by locals.

Provide information about the area’s environmental issues: Rather than masking the environmental challenges an area faces, a true ecotourism company or lodging will be forthcoming about the pollution, deforestation, and other issues the area faces. Knowledge is the first step towards action.

Raise funds for the conservation of the area: Ideally, a portion of your fee should go directly towards a known conservation group working to protect the area. If it does not, tell the tour company that this is important to you.

Minimize impact: Keep an eye out for tours that tell you not to bring bottled water or packaged food (and provide trash-free options). Choose walking or biking tours instead of bus or car tours.

As we've mentioned in a previous blog post, Dandelion Hiking (www.chinahiking.cn) is a good example of a Beijing-based organization that operates by these principles.

If you’re looking for something further afield, consider the China Charity Challenge (www.chinacharitychallenge.org). In September 2009, they will sponsor the Roots & Shoots Yunnan Bicycle Challenge, an intense eight-day bicycling trek through Yunnan’s remote volcanic lakes and sweeping gorges. Bikers will cycle through various ethnic minority areas, including one of the world’s last matriarchal societies, and participate in community service events with the local residents. With the money raised, sponsors hope to create environmental education workshops for local teachers, and to create 40 new Roots & Shoots environmental clubs for over 500 students across the country.