Faint Footprints

My family has been vegetarian for over 40 generations, and the practice of Jainism and the principles of ahimsa (non-violence) were instilled in my everyday life from a very early age. My childhood experiences, conditioning and travel all influenced the way I think and live today; my work as an environmental planner, architect and landscape architect helps me reduce my carbon footprint and the footprint of those around me.

Ecotourism started in my home country, Kenya, in the late 1970s when biologist David Western attempted to link tourism and community conservation in Amboseli National Park, located at the base of Mount Kilimanjaro. His concept was to use tourism as a way to conserve the floral and faunal biodiversity of the park, while at the same time helping to benefit the local Maasai communities that had been living on the land for hundreds of years.

This “holistic” concept of tourism then spread worldwide, with Costa Rica being one of the first countries to latch on. Today, compared to even five years ago, ecotourism has become a major force thanks to greater awareness of low-impact travelling, climate change, global warming and corporate social responsibility. People are realising that it is the right thing to do and this has led to a significant growth in both ecotourism and ecolodges.

Staying in Touch
With indigenous cultures, native languages and local customs and rituals all under threat, it is crucial that ecotourism companies are involved with the local community and offer sustainable benefits. Ecolodges are “low-impact, nature-based accommodations of five to 75 rooms that protect the surrounding environment; benefit the local community; offer tourists an interpretative and interactive participatory experience; provide a spiritual communion with nature and culture and are designed, constructed and operated in an environmentally and socially sensitive manner.”

Nihiwatu Resort in Indonesia has achieved this by drastically reducing the number of malaria cases among local Sumbanese people by hiring a malaria expert, distributing mosquito nets and offering medical check-ups at their clinics. Wilderness Safaris in southern Africa runs an equally successful project called “Children of the Wilderness” which aims to expose underprivileged local children to their own wildlife heritage, teach them about conservation and equip them with life skills.

Similarly, the ecolodge Campi ya Kanzi in Kenya is owned and run by local Maasais, and the owners of Lapa Rios Ecolodge in Costa Rica have helped build classrooms for the local primary school and provide scholarships to local students. Over the past two and a half years, I have seen a growing number of community-owned and -operated projects that respect the local cultures and architecture.

As for the future, I see the following technologies shaping ecofriendly resorts: fuel cells, solar, wind and tidal power providing efficient energy; lowimpact light fittings that give out a warm glow; and environmentally friendly materials made from recycled products for use in interior design. It is my hope that locally owned and run organisations continue to grow, and that there will be public and private partnerships when it comes to owning and managing these special places.

It’s Down to You
But you can also do your part and make a difference. As a traveller, you have the responsibility to help promote ecotourism and ecolodges. When travelling to another country, do respect the local culture, understand the politics, read up about the destination, and learn some important phrases in the local language. And it’s always good to keep the environment pristine by not littering or driving off designated routes.

When planning your trip it’s also wise to choose an environmentally friendly tour operator and low carbon or carbon neutral mode of transportation if you can. In my opinion, carbon offsetting for airline travel is better done by donating directly to the ecolodge itself if it has a carbon offsetting programme.

If your chosen destination doesn’t run such a programme, you can donate to companies such as NativeEnergy or Atmosfair (the latter funds alternative energy projects in countries like Honduras, India and China). Having said that, airlines only generate 2 percent of global carbon emissions, whereas cows spew out nearly three times that – but every little helps.

While staying at a resort, keep your personal impact down too. It is important to be frugal when using water in showers, bathtubs and sinks. Switch on lights only when necessary, and take your rubbish home for proper disposal. And do not leave any food on the plate at the end of a meal; this is just as wasteful as leaving a tap running. Most importantly, whatever activities you take part in, leave a faint footprint.