MY PART FOR THE WORLD: THIS IS OUR ONLY PLANET AND WE DON T HAVE A SPARE

Transcription

1 MY PART FOR THE WORLD: THIS IS OUR ONLY PLANET AND WE DON T HAVE A SPARE In the last of our series, freelance travel and environment writer, Carolyn Beasley shares that ecotourism is easily achievable with families, and a great way to conserve environments! WORDS & PHOTOS CAROLYN BEASLEY SCOOT 13 OCTOBER 2017

2 Legend: Tips. I believe that ecotourism, if implemented correctly, can really help to conserve environments. Ecotourism puts a dollar value on the animals, reefs, or forests. A study I read on Palau found that each live shark they had was worth close to $2 million to the nation s tourism industry. With such a figure in mind, it s no surprise the government moved to protect sharks. The same is happening in the Maldives and many other countries. These tourism dollars make it obvious to governments that we need to care for the ecosystem, so it s a very useful method of conservation. When I choose nature experiences for my family, I want to support local communities who are protecting their own environments. I try to book experiences through local operators and research for companies that operate in an ethical and sustainable way. Often, I find that local operators understand their own backyard better than anyone, and have a vested interest in protecting it. Their pride in the place leads to a fantastic experience for us. I ve been lucky enough to travel to many amazing places to experience nature. Some highlights include swimming with whale sharks in Western Australia, rehabilitating coral in the Maldives, narrowly avoiding a charging hippo in Africa, SCOOT 14 OCTOBER 2017

3 paddling a kayak for three days through national parks of Laos and diving with a huge school of hammerhead sharks off Sabah, East Malaysia. My kids have joined in with leopard spotting in Sri Lanka and snorkelling with sharks in Sulawesi, Indonesia, where we also hiked at dawn with endangered black crested macaques, and searched the forest at night to find the tiny, adorable tarsier. At the floating villages of Inle Lake in Myanmar, the kids observed the community s dependence on clean water, and in France they explored an ice cave in a glacier and learnt first hand about global warming. One of my happiest ecotourism moments was at Batu Batu Resort, Malaysia. We had just arrived when baby sea turtles started hatching. We bolted to the nest site, and found 176 baby hawksbill turtles, which are critically endangered. Their nest site had been netted for protection from predators and the hatchlings were flapping and clambering inside the net. After the resort s biologist recorded some data, she immediately released them en masse. I ll never forget the joy on my kids faces as they watched the amazing hatchlings scurry for the ocean. I was so impressed with the way the resort ran their programme. They did not let guests interfere or handle the turtles. The programme was about helping the turtles, and giving guests information about why turtles need protection. This is fantastic conservation in action, and by choosing to stay with ethical operators like this, the environment benefits. SCOOT 15 OCTOBER 2017

4 Doing proper research is necessary in ensuring both the environment and the community living in it benefit from tours and activities. One of my saddest experiences with ecotourism was in Sri Lanka on a whale-watching boat. I had hastily booked the tour without checking on the company s reviews. Having worked in the whale-watching industry in Australia, where operators adhere to strict rules, our tour in Sri Lanka seemed jarringly wrong. The whale we saw that day was almost run over by our boat, while being harassed by another boat at the same time. The whale could have been injured or killed. But also, it seems obvious that if the animals are frightened away, they may not return, and the operators might lose their income. I found this waste of a natural wonder really depressing but I d love to go back and try again with a more ethical operator. As a mother of three, I am also interested in imparting my love for nature and conservation to my children. The best way to get kids interested in conservation is to immerse them in nature. When kids have an experience with a turtle, leopard or shark, they understand how amazing and vulnerable these animals are. If they hear that animals are threatened by human actions, they re more likely to take action. When they ve seen these animals, they develop empathy, and they become outraged when they see people exploiting them. We need to explain to our kids that this is their only planet and we don t have a spare. Showing them first-hand what we have that needs saving is the best way to get the message across. If you would like your trip to contribute to environmental conservation, do your research first. Check for reviews of each activity to see if it sounds like the company is all about profits or all about nature. Try to select an activity that is run by or benefits local communities, as locals are often best placed to protect their own environment. If you re planning to volunteer for conservation, check the company carefully. Sometimes voluntourism can line the pockets of private travel companies that arrange the trip and be of limited use to the environment. Careful research can help make sure your money and your time are being spent wisely and with the best effect. SCOOT 16 OCTOBER 2017

5 As a mother of three, I am also interested in imparting my love for nature and conservation to my children. MUMMY-OF-THREE CAROLYN SHARES HOW TO GET KIDS EXCITED ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION The most effective is to lead by example, as kids take cues from their parents! If you re embracing nature and conservation, then chances are the kids will too. If conservation comes in the form of an adventure, most kids seem up for it. My kids love bike tours, and we ve explored off-road mountain bike trails, even when my daughter was in a baby seat on my bike. Educate then activate. I persuaded my kids to join a rubbish clean-up day when we were in Malaysia. Our resort s biologist showed the kids how rubbish could kill turtles and soon the kids were happily bagging up rubbish. PRACTICAL TIPS TO BE MORE MINDFUL ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION WHEN TRAVELLING Plastic bottles are a major problem in many tourist destinations, and they are a large component of trash that pollutes oceans and kills wildlife. Travel with your own re-usable bottle and refill it at hotels or from the tap where the water is safe. Switch off your air-conditioning when it s not needed, especially if you re out of your hotel room for extended hours. Saving power helps cut down on diesel generator use, or the need for new power stations to be built. Consider all your actions when travelling. Always question whether this activity or experience is going to leave the place worse than when you found it. Support businesses that promote sustainability in a meaningful, rather than tokenistic way. Look for hotels that offer more than the green opportunity of electing to not wash your towels every day. SCOOT 17 OCTOBER 2017