Wild New Jersey - Human Nature by Lynda Hester D'Orio. Ecotourism tips.

Ecotourism - Taking Your Next Vacation to New Heights

When you are thinking of taking a vacation, how do you decide where to go and what activities you would like to enjoy? Do you take a friend’s recommendation, check the ads in the paper or magazines? Are you the type to go to a travel agent or are you searching the web for sites on great destinations?

Before you decide, think about a vacation that is fun and relaxing for you that can also aid a great cause. You may have heard of ecotourism as you search for ideas and right now it’s a booming industry.

Over the last 30 years, ecotourism has been evolving from it’s infancy to its current status of trendiness. Now it’s turned into an exciting way to find adventure. Vacation destinations aren’t what they used to be. Sure, most people love the idea of a resort, room service, fine dining, entertainment, but now more people are seeking a different kind of get-away, so what’s changed over three decades?

Polls show 80% of Americans find preserving the environment to be a priority to them. People have an innate love of animals, we find them intriguing. Now the trend is to support them in their habitat & environment by traveling to ecosystems and seeing these animals in their natural setting. Some tours will even give you the opportunity to view and photograph animals that are threatened and endangered, it’s like seeing the last frontier.

Ecotourism means you are in for an adventure, in some cases, you will experience wild animals in close proximity. But the rub lies in gauging the experience and expertise of the people who are guiding you through these incredible experiences. When you travel so far away, you want the security of knowing the quality of the activities and accommodations and since there are no formal certifications for wildlife guides in Ecotourism, you need to know a few basics to find qualified folks whose livelihood depend on doing this work correctly and with integrity.

If you’ve selected the correct tour operator, you’ve supported the environment, the culture, the people in that area and the wildlife and it’s habitat through your ticket. Ecotourism isn’t just traveling to the exotic locations, although they are the most sought after excursions. You can be an ecotourist anywhere, it’s a state of mind. It’s respecting the site you are visiting, not damaging any natural area by stepping on plant or animal life, not leaving refuse or garbage in it, or disturbing any animal, vegetable or mineral in the area. That is ecotourism and it’s easy to learn and easy to teach to children.

Standards for tours have gotten quite good, through the efforts of organizations such as Audubon Society and The Ecotourism Society. If done through reputable organizations, tourist dollars help preserve the environment and wild animals. Ecotours also support cultures and governments that would probably have no other choice than stripping the habitat acreage for fuel or money. It’s a non-violent way of preserving the wilderness, it’s action through financial support and you are able to enjoy what you are supporting. You may not consider yourself an adventurer, or an international traveler, but the possibilities are endless for people of any age and physical ability level to try eco-tours.

On some tours, visitors assist scientific efforts to help animals, you’ll be able to work with animals first hand. Right now, some of the favorite destinations include Yellowstone National Park, very popular because it’s so close and even in the fall and winter allows viewing of wildlife like Wolves and Elk, Central America, for its rainforests and wildlife including Birdwatching of Macaws, Monkeys and other colorful species. Africa is the place for safari - great views of Elephants, Big Cats and Gorillas. Canada’s Manitoba Province is now the destination for the Polar Bear migration. There are too many to mention, but almost every corner of the World is open to Ecotours.

Your journey starts with the first step, at these web sites:

The National Audubon Society website, http://www.audubon.org
It has a complete and indeed what is considered the original list of travel ethics for ecotourism that most organizations base their methods on. Use this as a basis to question your potential tour guide operators. Audubon also suggests you ask them if they have a recommended reading list, if they don’t, move on.
The Ecotourism Society website, http://www.ecotourism.org is loaded with valuable information for you to aquaint yourself on how tour operators set up their business and how your choice of guides affects communities and wildlife. Get a list of approved tour operators here or if you want to do it the old fashioned way, you can obtain the list of approved TES tour operators by sending a postage paid envelope with 2 stamps to:
The Ecotourism Society
P.O. Box 755
North Bennigton, Vermont 05257
Our special report on ecotourism in New Jersey, Natural State, reprinted from the Bergen Record, which includes driving tours, profiles of key areas of the state, and a special note about ticks.

Ecotourism Guidelines
Below you’ll find some key information from the The Ecotourism Society web site - I listed it here because it’s so useful for you as a traveler to learn how to become an active conservationist as you enjoy your vacations. This is just one list of many included in their site. It features rules on protecting marine animals and suggestions for boating and scuba safety.

Never get between a marine animal and its path to the water.
Never get between a parent and its young.
Never surround a single animal or a group of animals; there should always be an area for animals to move away from you.
Animals always have the right-of-way; it is their home; you are merely a visitor.
Never touch marine animals.
Keep noise levels to a minimum to avoid unnecessary stress.
Never harass or chase wildlife for the sake of a better look or an 'ultimate' photograph.
If you see a marine animal that appears to be in distress or injured, do not attempt to rescue it. The best course of action is to contact the nearest authorities and they will determine the most suitable course of action for the animal.
Do not litter; if you see any litter when viewing wildlife, pick it up. Many forms of litter have devastating effects on natural ecosystems.

Recreational Boating Etiquette

Make advance navigation plans prior to departure, and take note of shallow and fragile areas. Note the influence of the tide as low tide can create shallow conditions in otherwise navigable waters.
Stay within marked channels and be knowledgeable of the different navigation markers.
Safety First! Carry emergency gear, tell people on shore what you are doing and where you are going and be aware of upcoming weather patterns.
Ideally you should undertake a boating course prior to use; this will improve your skills and safety and therefore aid the reduction of your impact on the environment.
Use mooring buoys where possible, as improper anchorage can cause environmental damage.
Keep a covered garbage receptacle on board and ensure people use it. Dispose of your trash at the marina. Adopt of policy of Reuse, Reduce, Recycle.
Do not discharge sewage waste into the water; use the nearest pump-out facility.
Never discard fishing lines overboard.
Do not drain any engine fluids into the water. Take care to avoid unnecessary spillages.

Snorkeling/SCUBA Diving

Do not touch living marine wildlife, such as coral, animals, etc.
Do not collect souvenirs (shells, coral, etc.).
Do not stand or rest on coral reefs.
Never harass aquatic animals for your own amusement.
Always be aware of your position in the water and that of your dive gear, in relation to marine animals and the coral reef.
Remember to dive safely both in terms of your health and that of the marine environment.
Review and update diving skills such as buoyancy control, finning and positioning.
Do not feed marine animals.

FURTHER RESOURCES

Marine Ecotourism Information Package. A detailed review of the different aspects of being an educated marine ecotourist. Available from The Ecotourism Society (TES see contact information above).
Center for Marine Conservation
1725 DeSales Street, NW, Suite 500
Washington, DC 20036, USA
Tel: 202-429-5609, Fax: 202-872-0619
URL: http://www.cmc-ocean.org
Reef Environmental Education Foundation (REEF)
PO Box 430, Key West, FL 33041, USA