Our world is an incredibly rich place full of wonderful ecosystems. Each one is a unique corner of the world, supporting plants and animals that are not found anywhere else on the planet. But over time, the Earth's most precious places are being destroyed; and it's a process that is speeding up as humans expand. Entire habitats are disappearing, and the plants and animals that live there are going extinct one by one.
There are a lot of people out there who care about saving the planet, or at least about protecting their own small corner of perfection. But many of the world's most precious places are found in countries with limited resources; the governments in question simply don't have the funds or the ability to protect important habitats. It may just happen, however, that you do. If you're looking to invest in the planet and do your part to save it, your money and time may well be spent best by taking a vacation.
Ecotourism is sustainable travel which is based on the idea of experiencing the balance of nature rather than upsetting it. And it can do a lot to protect the most wildlife-rich ecosystems in the world. When tourists come and spend money to visit a place, that money can be siphoned back into managing and protecting the environment. And it can also show the local population (people who are simply trying to eat and support their families) that their natural resources --plants and animals-- are worth more to them alive than they are dead.
Visiting communities and reserves whose natural resources are being depleted also educates people from outside of that community. When visitors see what it is that's truly endangered --they see and touch and smell it all for themselves-- they're much more liable to care about preserving it. And to do their part to make a difference when they come back home.
Booking Your Trip
If you've got "I love the rainforest" as your internet dating profile tagline and want to do your part, ecotourism is a great way to do it. But if you're looking into taking an ecotourism vacation, you need to know what qualifies as ecotourism... and what doesn't.
Ecotourism is any trip taken for the express purpose of improving or protecting the place you visit. To be considered as such, ecotourism needs to benefit the environment and/or the community. When booking your trip, make sure to work with a reputable agent who truly follows the definition of ecotourism. Because "going green" is so trendy, many companies are slapping ecotourism labels on their offerings, while doing nothing that will truly benefit the environment.
Places to Put on Your List
There are way too many beautiful, endangered areas in the world to put them all in one article. But if you're looking for a place to carry out your eco-travels, you can't go wrong with some of the incredible places below:
Costa Rica
Costa Rica is one of the world's ecotourism hotspots. With exceptionally lush rainforests, gorgeous beaches, wildlife refuges, and an incredibly variety of wildlife (monkeys, crocodiles, seat turtles, rare frogs, you name it), there's no lack of things to see-- and by seeing them (and spending money there), to protect. Want your trip to be extra environmentally friendly? Check out the Costa Rica Tourism Institute for a list of hotels, etc., that operate in environmentally friendly ways.
Ghana, Africa
Because of farming and logging, the Upper Guinean Rainforest is currently at only 20% of its previous size. This gorgeous place, full of rare wildlife species that don't exist anywhere else, is in danger of disappearing completely. This area has more the 500 species of butterfly living there alone! Visiting and spending money in an endangered area is a good way to help protect it. Visit the Kakum National Park in Ghana (you can even bring a tent and camp out!) for a glimpse at what the world would be missing were this place to disappear.
Kerala, India
In a country crowed with people, Kerala is an isolated haven of nature, beaches, and virgin forest. About 2,500 different kinds of plants live here, as well as 100s of one-of-a-kind animal species. To keep the danger of logging and expansion at bay, the government in Kerala has begun to encourage tourists to visit its incredible forests, and is even planning to build specially-designed ecologically sound lodging for ecotourists.
