Conservationists Advise Travelling Lightly

Ah, summer vacation. What could be better than a week or two at the beach or a drive across country to see relatives?

Lots, according to several groups that are reminding Americans this summer that how and where they travel can make a big difference to the environment -- and their own bottom line.

Ecotourism, or the art of traveling lightly on the earth, is growing by leaps and bounds, according to the Ecotourism Society in Bennington, VT, which gets more than 2,000 hits a week on its Web site. The approach is not simply about being environmentally sensitive but asking penetrating questions, said spokeswoman Lynnaire Sheridan.

"We are encouraging people to identify what it is they want from their experience. People can get spoon-fed an idea, but it's much more interesting to be going (somewhere) for a reason," she said.

For example, birdwatchers will travel thousands of miles just to get a glimpse of a particular bird. Unlike travelers who throw a dart at a map and head out, said Sheridan, these enthusiasts, through their research, likely gain significant insight into the local terrain, culture and even restaurants where people with similar interests congregate.

Whether traveling at home or abroad, Sheridan said, she would ask how a resort or hotel contributes to the local community, whether it's helping to protect fragile natural areas and whether it employs local people. While making a reservation, Sheridan suggested, potential guests should query the clerk about issues such as energy efficiency and whether each guest's towels and sheets are washed every day or only periodically, to save water and electricity.

Camping, house swapping and staying at a farm is even easier on the wallet and may make for a more authentic experience, conservation groups say. Meeting local people is easier at these places, and they're often willing to share inside information about things to see that are off the beaten path.

Traveling in the off-season can also net financial and cultural gains for visitors. If you travel in summer you're not going to be alone and may put pressure on popular places to overbuild, according to Co-op America, a conservation group.

Traveling out of season not only helps visitors avoid crowds but translates into cheaper airfares and accommodations and puts money in the coffers of local businesses when they most need it.

No matter how careful we are as travelers, however, we'll still be using at least some energy that generates greenhouse gases. To offset the impact, American Forests has come up with the Vacation Climate Change Calculator, which figures out how many trees a visitor should plant to offset the impact of his or her trip.

For example, a family of four that drives 1,200 miles in a minivan, stays in a family-style motel for a week and visits amusement parks with boats, horses and movies needs to plant six trees to offset the carbon dioxide it will generate.

On the other hand, four people driving 800 miles, spending two nights in a motel and camping the other nights, eating meals prepared on a propane stove and doing activities centered on canoeing, hiking and fishing need plant only three trees.

Lest all of this sound a bit taxing and contrary to the purpose of a vacation, fear not. No conservation group is saying it isn't important to recharge one's batteries and experience life outside the normal routine. But by protecting the environment at the same time, they point to the added pleasure of knowing generations to come will be able to enjoy the same experience.

Mieke H. Bomann is a staff writer for The American News Service.