Ecotourism

All images are copyrighted by Carlay Crabtree

Inspiring Responsible Travel

Although there are negative effects from irresponsible travel, there can be great benefits from traveling with smart intentions. By traveling responsibly, we can benefit communities, appreciate cultures, support small businesses, have authentic experiences, conserve environments, and aid the longevity of earth and life on it. Part of the Uprooted Crabtree mission is to encourage responsible travel and a positive impact lifestyle. Below you will find resources and best practices from our travels and findings to help you begin your sustainable adventures!

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WHAT’S ECOTOURISM?

What exactly is ecotourism, or in other words, sustainable travel? Well, as the world population increases, so does the amount of people traveling. The common traveler typically leaves a negative impact on the environment -but it doesn’t have to be this way. If we all work together by traveling smart and with purpose, we can transform tourism’s impact by leaving as little of a carbon footprint as possible and offering better support to local communities we visit. This can help conserve resources, be less wasteful, support each other better, and extend life here on planet earth.

The World Tourism Organization reports that, of each $100 spent during a trip, only $5 benefits the destination, meaning there’s a tremendous missed opportunity for travel to support local economies. There’s a major call for action here! Smarter planning can help fix this.

With an increase in carbon emissions from flights and other means of travel, the natural resources and habitats taken from the building of more commercial businesses and resorts, and the extra trash and pollution created from convenience and carelessness, it’s crucial to spread awareness and begin making simple changes. These are just a few things we can consider when thinking about how we can begin traveling with sustainability more in mind. We, the Uprooted Crabtrees, are here to help you learn even more. Together we can put in the effort to help protect and preserve life on our planet, respect local culture, help support social economics for future generations, and more!

WHY IT MATTERS

In the last couple of decades, climate change has been at the forefront of concern for our future. There’s plenty of scientific research supporting the rise of global warming and the impact humans have in the process. According to the Global Warming 101 article written by The Natural Resources Defense Council, “Nine of the 10 warmest years since 1880 have occurred since 2005—and the 5 warmest years on record have all occurred since 2015. Climate change deniers have argued that there has been a “pause” or a “slowdown” in rising global temperatures, but numerous studies, including a 2018 paper published in the journal Environmental Research Letters, have disproved this claim.”. You can find more resources about climate change on the Natural Resources Defense Council website.

Regardless of your belief on why global warming is occurring, that data proves our planet’s temperatures are rising. There’s also plenty of evidence proving greenhouse gases create heat in our atmosphere. So what do we need to do? We simply need to limit or avoid producing greenhouse gases. These gases are carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, water vapor, and synthetic fluorinated. Burning fossil fuels such as coal, oil, gasoline, and natural gas all contribute to the greenhouse effect. Unfortunately, most homes, businesses, factories, and vehicles use fossil fuels. But, this doesn’t have to be. Scientists and engineers have invented plenty of environmentally friendly replacements. For example, we can choose to use solar, nuclear, geothermal, and wind power instead. We can drive electric cars instead of burning gasoline. We can grow and eat more vegetables instead of methane-producing livestock. We can limit the number of goods and materials we consume and waste. The list goes on and on.

It’s up to us and our actions to slow down the warming and save life on earth. Your actions big or small can have a big impact in ways you have never imagined. It’s everyone’s responsibility to take care of the environment. If we don’t the future generation will suffer. The transition to a low-carbon world has begun. And we’re all part of it. What can you hold yourself accountable for? Are you willing to learn and contribute to a cleaner future?

Understanding the “why” is vital. We’re already seeing the negative effects of global warming all around the world today. There are numerous reasons. Let’s begin by mentioning just a few here.

Lack of freshwater due to extreme droughts
Spread of wildfires destroying communities, habitats, and life itself
Sea levels rising causing floods, displacement, and loss of crops
Extinction to plants and animals unable to adapt to climate changes
Tropical storms and other natural disasters causing destruction

GREEN LIVING

Although our main mission is to help travelers understand and practice eco-friendly ways while traveling, we encourage a green lifestyle as well. Honestly, they go hand-in-hand. You can apply just about any ecotourism practice to your everyday life.

Environmental awareness has grown by leaps and bounds over the past few decades. We’re here to inspire even more people to practice environmental stewardship. Below you can find our environmentally friendly lifestyle articles to learn how to make an even greater impact!

ECOTOURISM PRACTICES?

ECOTOURISM PRACTICES

Although everyday life ultimately has a major effect on climate change, tourism contributes as well. There are many aspects of tourism where you can practice more sustainable methods. Where we go, how we spend our money, and what activities we do while we’re away can add up to make a huge difference!

**SUPPORT THE REAL LOCAL ECONOMY**

Supporting the people and communities you visit can be a huge benefit to tourism. It’s important to do this carefully and ensure your money is going to the right place. Big corporations set up travel agencies and tours in countries all around the world. If you book carelessly there’s a good chance your money is not contributing to the local community, nor the country in general. It’s also important to respect the authentic cultures and heritage you’re visiting by wearing appropriate clothing, understanding the basic language, and considering the religious beliefs. View the list below for more ways to support locals and their economy.

Carefully research things to do in the area you are visiting and book with small, local companies. Big corporations might have locals working but a majority of the money does not actually support the local community.
Stop by the visitors center or ask your hotel front desk if there are local events, festivals, or celebrations you can attend and participate in.
Purchase fresh food from local farm stands, farmers markets, and vendors.
Eat at local restaurants, street vendors, and food trucks. Find out what is grown or caught nearby and pick restaurants that serve locally sourced foods. Try not to eat at fast food or other chain restaurants. Eat at places that offer organic foods and focus on zero-waste!
Buy meaningful goods and souvenirs from local artisans. These might be more expensive, but purchasing them ensures your contribution to the local economy. Choose hand-made and locally sourced items and goods you plan to actually use. Don’t just buy to buy. And NEVER purchase wildlife products- this only supports a growing marketplace for trafficking rare and endangered wildlife products.
Use travel agents that directly focus on offering sustainable options. For example, Lokal will help you customize travel plans and offer ways for you to strengthen the locals, protect wild places, and preserve cultural traditions as you do your exploring.

RESEARCH, PLAN AND MAKE INTENTIONAL DECISIONS

Take the time to sort out and plan for your trips. It is so important that you research and make well-thought-out decisions. Visit our Traveling page for helpful tips and articles for planning an eco-friendly trip. You can read a few brief examples below!

Choose your destination wisely and with intention
Book eco-friendly accommodations
Be strategic when choosing your method of transportation
Pick sustainable experiences
Pack clean, green, & reusable goods
Practice etiquette by leaving a place better than you found it

HELP ADVOCATE FOR ECOTOURISM

Other than practicing more sustainable ways while you travel, there’s one more thing you can do to further help! Spread the word with us! If you believe this matters, then begin advocating for sustainable tourism. You don’t need to start shouting out your window or yelling at the next person you see using a plastic water bottle, simply bring up one of these points next time you’re out at a social gathering. Mention a thing or two about what you’re doing to support sustainable tourism the next time you attend a family dinner or club meeting and see if anyone else is on board. Share your next sustainable practice on a social media post. The more we talk about these smart, eco-friendly ways, the better chance more people will understand and take action themselves. Let’s clean up our planet so our kids, grandkids, and future generations can enjoy adventuring as we do!

Big or small, all of our negative actions have consequences. Recognize your right to choose and believe your behaviors matter. Together, we can put in the effort to travel more sustainably and spread the word. Let’s make contributions for our future, not consequences!

There are strategic methods to planning and experiencing a trip if you want to have a positive impact, but it’s not rocket science. Contributing in these different ways can do SO much good for you, others, and the earth! We truly hope you are willing to hold yourself accountable and join us in this eco-friendly movement! If you can implement these eco-friendly ways while you travel, that’s AWESOME! If you can carry many of these best practices in your everyday life, that’s EVEN BETTER! Any bit you can offer is helpful! Let’s do this together. 🙂