Responsible Tourism - Our policies in action
Over the years, we have contributed financially to a variety of local projects, not necessarily always wildlife-related. Our tsunami appeal, for example, in partnership with our local Rotary Club, resulted in over £100,000 being raised to restore an orphanage and nearby village on the south coast of Sri Lanka.
It must be said, though, that, with a world to choose from, we are not always in the best position to assess which projects are most deserving. That is why we channel most of our direct financial contributions through conservation organisations like RSPB, Butterfly Conservation and local wildlife trusts, of which we have been corporate sponsors for many years.
Rainforest in San Juan, Costa Rica: our carbon-offset scheme will contribute towards its protection |
One of the concerns that we have always had is about one of the biggest side-effects of what we do. Simply by taking a flight to our destination, we are contributing towards greenhouse gases and global climate change. One thing we can do about this is to try to go some way to mitigating the effects, by using one of the Ôcarbon offsetÕ schemes. Although we are a bit wary of some of these schemes, others do fit in very well to our approach, particularly those that protect existing primary habitats. We will therefore contribute to the World Land Trust, an international conservation charity, who will invest the funds in restoration ecology projects which deliver offsets through the protection and regeneration of threatened tropical habitats.
We are therefore making a contribution of £5 per client on short-haul destinations, £15 per client for medium-haul (e.g Americas, Africa), and £35 per client for long-haul (mainly Australasia) to go towards the offsetting of these flights. Offset contributions will also be made for all our leadersÕ flights. It is sometimes said that more carbon is produced by passengers travelling to and from the airport than by the flight itself! We hope that clients will recognise this by matching our contribution, and will be offering you the chance to do so. |
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World Land Trust Restoration Ecology Projects The World Land Trust (WLT) is an international conservation charity, based in Suffolk, UK. Since its foundation in 1989 the World Land Trust has been working to preserve the world's most biologically important and threatened lands, and has, so far, helped purchase and protect nearly 400,000 acres of threatened habitats of high biodiversity, in Asia, Central and South America and the UK. Running in parallel with its conservation land purchase activities, WLT launched its innovative Carbon Balanced programme in March 2005. The aim of the World Land Trust Carbon Balanced Programme is to offer individuals and companies a means of offsetting their CO2 emissions while also conserving the worldÕs most threatened habitats and their wildlife. The Carbon Balanced programme is run by the Restoration Ecology Team who design projects to deliver offsets (measured as tonnes of CO2 sequestered) by restoring forest and preventing deforestation. Biodiversity conservation is at the centre of the project design and all WLT restoration ecology projects are managed in collaboration with in country, conservation non-governmental organisations. WLT currently has four restoration ecology project sites delivering offsets. These are located in Ecuador and Mexico, all associated with well-established and important protected areas. Our offset contributions will be used to support these and other similar restoration ecology projects. Keep an eye on our website and e-newsletters for project updates. For more information please visit the Carbon Balanced and World Land Trust websites at: 
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AITO 3-star Responsible Tourism Award We are delighted to have been awarded three stars in AITO's Responsible Tourism Awards, in recognition of our achievements and practices in this field. |
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