Latest Posts

The (Dirty) Truth About Carbon Offsetting

Published by Gabi Logan

Once upon a time, in a long ago land when “green” was just starting to morph from a colour to an all-encompassing word for “eco-friendly” and any “green” initiative was cause for celebration, carbon offsetting was the coolest kid on the block.

With a donation to a carbon offsetting fund, the emissions from your air travel, personal vehicle travel, and daily life on the whole could disappear, offset by the work of organizations removing carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gasses from the air in mysterious, magical ways that weren’t explained well but sounded fantastic in theory.

Then, a dark time came, when consumers realized that many companies in this new carbon offsetting industry weren’t doing what they claimed.

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Meeting Sir David Attenborough, and His Version of “What a Wonderful World”

Published by Linda McCormick

life on earth If there’s one person I owe my fascination with the natural world to, it’s the wonderful Sir David Attenborough.

Watching a natural history documentary narrated by him is completely mesmerizing. His unique dulcet tones hypnotise like an environmental siren. It’s impossible to look away. And just as impossible not to learn from him.

Imagine what a good teacher he would have made. I can visualise a whole class of stroppy teenagers sitting with their head in their hands, chins resting on palms listening intently; only rousing when the bell sounds, wondering what just happened. That’s what it’s like when I watch him. I lose time.

Granted, the visuals are equally enthralling, but it’s his genuine passion and excitement for the subject, no matter what it is, that make him so infectious.

I met him once. Yes, it’s true.

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How Do You Know if You’re Staying in an Ecolodge?

Published by Gabi Logan

ecolodge oregon
Image: Oregon_Coast

Rampant greenwashing in the travel industry means that a staggering number of hotels, inns, and nature lodges claim to be ecoresorts, ecohotels, or ecolodges. How can you as a consumer know who is the real deal?

What is an Ecolodge?

Like ecotourism, the definition of an ecolodge is a murky subject, and many organisations bend the meaning to meet their needs.

According to architect, academic, and International Tourism Society founding board member Hitesh Mehta, who created the internationally-recognised ecolodge guidelines, ecolodges must embrace the three basic principles of ecotourism:

  1. Be in a nature-based location
  2. Benefit local people
  3. Offer interpretative programs

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Ecotourism in Iraq

Published by Catherine
babylon

The Historical City of Babylon

Perhaps it’s not the top of everyone’s ecotourism ‘must-see’ list, but the tourist ministry of Iraq is working hard to lure visitors back to the ancient kingdom. And, alongside the promotion of the traditional tourist sites, there is a concerted effort to develop and nourish the surrounding natural environment in a bid to attract eco tourists.

Whilst the traditional religious sites and shrines at Najaf and Karbala pull in a large proportion of tourists from neighbouring Iran and other countries with Shia minorities, the tourist ministry thinks there is huge potential to be uncovered at the many other sites of natural and historical interest. This would diversify the tourist industry in Iraq and restore much needed confidence in the war torn country.

iraq marshlands

Iraqi Marshlands

In the future, it is hoped that the marshlands in the South of the country will be restored to their former glory, and that eco tourists will flock to see this unique natural environment.

Destroyed by Saddam Hussein in order to punish dissenting locals, the marshlands previously boasted beautiful wildlife and scenery, but were reduced to desert and rubble by Hussein. It is hoped that the regeneration will bring back the water buffalo, birds and otters that used to live in the area, which many believe is the site of the Garden of Eden.

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Watching a Stairway to the Moon Appear in Broome

Published by Linda McCormick

stairway moon broome

Smugly spreading our rug on the grass verge on the beach front, it’s hard to hide the satisfaction of landing one of the sweetest spots to view Broome’s natural lunar phenomenon – Stairway to the Moon.

Expensive cameras atop their tripods sit dotted around us. Photographers, both professional and amateur, wait in poised position to snap the reflection of the moon rising across the mudflats of Broome’s main beach, Roebuck Bay.

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tree in turkey

Interview with an Ecotourism Pioneer: Bulent Saraloglu in Turkey

Published by Gabi Logan

When the Turkish government decided to bring in a group of ecotourism specialists to help them turn Eastern Turkey into a top ecotourism destination, they called in the region’s top guide to show us around.

With a sharp business sense and an inability to compromise on the values of ecotourism, Bulent Saraloglu has become a leading figure in the Turkish tourism landscape, collaborating frequently with the government to implement ecotourism programs in Eastern Turkey, where he is from, and other parts of the peninsula.

After the International Conference on Ecotourism in the Eastern Black Sea Region, I sat down with Bulent to discuss his take on ecotourism in Turkey.

turkey ecotourism

Bulent is sitting on the left.

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Eastern Turkey’s Yaylas: Uber Community-based Tourism

Published by Gabi Logan

After an hour long drive in a mini-bus and another—at times death-defying—hour crawling up a just-bulldozed road along the side of a mountain in an open-back 12-seater jeep, we reached our destination. And it was worth every yelp of fear on the way up.

Yayla peninsula

What is a Yayla?

Eastern Turkey’s yaylas, villages used by nomadic herdsman in the summer, are truly like no other place I have visited in the world. And judging by the reactions of the other esteemed members of my group, which included three International Ecotourism Society board members, I can promise you I’m not the only one who thought so.

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unesco mali timbuktu

World Heritage Site Timbuktu Threatened

Published by Linda McCormick

unesco mali timbuktu
This article by Natalie Lefevre first appeared on EthicalTraveler.org.

The irreplaceable historic and architectural treasures of Mali’s great desert city, Timbuktu, are under threat of destruction by Islamist rebels occupying the city. 

Timbuktu, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1988, has already suffered several attacks on its religious monuments, including the destruction of several ancient shrines of Muslim saints that the fundamentalist attackers consider to be idolatrous. Read More

phu quoc island

The Idyllic Island Getaway: Phu Quoc, Vietnam

Published by Catherine

phu quoc island

The island of Phu Quoc, located in the Gulf of Siam, is Vietnam’s largest. Beautiful clean beaches, stunning landscapes and relatively unspoilt natural scenery abound on Phu Quoc, which is fast becoming one of Vietnam’s most visited resorts.

Local government could be forgiven for attempting to cash in on the islands idyllic features and attract the rich and famous to its shores, but fortunately it seems they have its heart set on preserving the islands heritage and landscape.

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The Ultimate in Location Independent Living: Solar Powered Desk

Published by Linda McCormick

working on beachImage: Marylka Yoe Uusisaari

Imagine you’ve spent years trying to make your dream of working in a remote location work. You’ve got your location independent job; you’ve got an idea of where you want to be – on a little island in the middle of the South Pacific – you’ve pretty much got the design of your hut and sustainable living patch down pat.

Sounds good so far… well, to me; might not be everyone’s cuppa.

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