Saving the Earth While Traveling It

First posted on 06-23-2008

(NewsUSA) - These days, most people understand that “going green” doesn’t mean you’re eating more vegetables or that you’re taking a trip to Ireland, but rather you’re driving a Prius instead of a SUV, you’re recycling bottles and cans rather than throwing them away or you’re doing your part to help the loggerhead sea turtles who are on the verge of extinction.

There are many ways to go green. And they don’t just start and end at home.

The travel industry is now offering vacationers, or ecotourists, a new way of exploring the world. In contrast to their camera-toting counterparts of a few years ago, ecotourists, it is now said in the industry, “Leave nothing but footprints and take nothing but memories.”

If your goal is to be more environmentally conscious - either to save the creatures around your home or the turtles in the sea - these tips can help you treat the planet in a kinder, gentler fashion:

- Skip the rental. Instead of renting a car, use hotel vans, buses and subways to reduce pollution.

- Do your research. Plenty of businesses are now on board with protecting the environment by recycling and reusing everything from auto glass (one Wisconsin B&B installed a blue tile floor using this method) to stained tablecloths. Spend your travel dollars supporting establishments like these.

- Be sensitive to the ecosystem. Leaving a lighter footprint wherever you go includes doing so on both land and sea. While most people may consider themselves environmentally and culturally sensitive when traveling, some activities can still be harmful to creatures that call the ocean their home, says Oceana, an environmental advocacy group.

Consider this: Of the seven species of sea turtles worldwide, all but one call American waters home. However, environmental threats from humans during the last few decades have contributed to the aquatic reptile’s rapidly dwindling numbers. From pollution to vehicles driving on hidden nesting sites, to the mass destruction of the species as a result of commercial fishing, many human activities threaten sea turtle populations around the world.

- Do some research. Look for ways to help the environmental efforts that are being taken. Certain plants and animals, like the sea turtle, are being threatened with extinction. Look for groups like Oceana, and ask what you can do to help.

For more information on reducing pollution and preventing the irreversible collapse of sea life, visit http://www.Oceana.org.