Going on a 'green' holiday these days is no longer about taking an or living off the land from in a tipi, but rather about treading a little lighter wherever you go whether on a city break, or a beach holiday.
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Once visited, a place is changed forever. An untouched landscape will have been trodded on, a sandy beach have been jostled. Ecotourism puts something back into the places we visit, so that the land will not be destroyed so quickly. It's about thinking first, and taking care that our impact does not negatively affect the environment and surrounding local communities we visit.


'Offsetting'

Consider 'offsetting' your carbon emissions. Organisations such as Climate Care (www.climatecare.com) and The CarbonNeutral Company (www.carbonneutral.com) help you calculate how much carbon is produced as a result of your flight and allow you to invest in a green prject to 'offset'the carbon produced, eg. tree planting initiatives. A return flight to Morocco will cost you just £5 to 'offset'.

Since aviation is the largest contributor to greenhouse gases, any alternative to flying is also worth considering - the Eurostar now making most European cities reachable by rail.


While you're there
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By staying in locally owned hotels and eating in local restaurants you can make sure your holiday benefits local people and also help put something back into the local economy by buying food and souvenirs from markets or craft co-operatives rather than airport or foreign-owned hotel lobby shops.

Local markets are great places to find everything from rugs to jewellery and local arts and crafts. And once back in the UK, you can buy more from developing countries through the Traidcraft mail order catalogue (www.traidcraft.co.uk) a Fair Trade Operator, which ensure their producers work in good conditions and are paid reasonable wages.

Water and energy conservation is also important as it is often a very scarce resource in holiday destinations. Consider how many towels you are washing each day and the energy you are consuming in air conditioning. Consider also also whether you need to take on holiday the packaging that comes with clothing and toiletries; if you recycle it beforehand, you won't end up in a situation where you have to litter unnecessarily.

Also, while it is better to buy products from local markets, avoid buying products made from endangered plants, wild animals, hard woods or corals. This encourages locals to continue selling them to tourists. And if you go snorkelling or diving, it's vital you observe the golden rule not to touch any coral - a handful of coral often takes decades to grow but can easily break and die in one careless moment!


Beware of 'Greenwashing'

Although the way we travel can make a huge difference to the places we visit, this term of 'ecotourism' can also be miused by to create money whilst not benefitting the environment at all. Therefore making it important to check the credentials of a tour operator you might choose is not 'greenwashing' is important.
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If you're unsure about this, Green Globe, a worldwide label that recognises hotels and travel companies that have been checked for their environmental achievement is a useful resource to check before booking.

In the UK, The Association of Independent Operators, also lists travel companies that have achieved a three star status for responsible tourism, which includes an undertaking of a specific project that contributes to the economy, culture or environment of a destination.

You, yourself can also check whilst you're there if your holiday company has a responsible travel policy: they should be able to demonstrate how the trip helps benefit local people, with their use of locally run hotels, hiring of local guides and visiting of local markets.

For more information click the following:

- Green Globe www.greenglobe21.com
- The Association of Independent Operators www.aito.co.uk