ECO TIPS

Choosing the right tour operator

Eco-friendly travel

• Follow general principles of independent and guided tours.
• Provide extensive and in-depth visitor information.
• Advise travelers on avoiding impacting on sensitive ecosystems.
• Prepare travelers for encounters with native animals and plants.
• Actively participate in prevention of environmental desecration.
• Offer literature, briefings and lead by example and by taking corrective actions.
• Practice prevention of accumulated impact of tourism. Avoid areas that are ill maintained and .
• Use adequate leadership and maintain groups small enough to ensure minimum impact on destinations.

• Protest if your taxi/bus is emitting excessive smoke. Refuse to ride in such vehicles if you have an alternative.
• Car-pool whenever possible. It reduces your contribution to pollution and is economical way to travel.
• Use motor vehicles only as far as necessary. Use bicycles and walk where possible - these are better ways of enjoying the scenery and healthier too.
• Ask your driver to refrain from using the horn unnecessarily. It is rude and ruins everyone's peace.
• Keep your travel-generated trash with you for proper disposal at appropriate points along your route. Remember - trash by the roadside is an eyesore to all and bad for environment.

The Do's and Don'ts at your destination

• Limit deforestation - make no open fires and discourage others from doing so. A small careless fire can destroy an entire forest.
• Where water is heated by scarce firewood, use as little as possible.
• Burn or bury paper and natural refuse and litter and carry out all non-degradable garbage like plastic bags, foil packets, glass bottles and metal cans - these should be recycled.
• Avoid carving your Initials on trees - they hurt too. Graffiti on rock - faces are marks of your polluting tendencies, for all to scorn.
• Keep local water clean and avoid using chemical detergents in streams or springs. If no toilet facilities are available, make sure you are at least 30 meters away from water sources and bury wastes.
• Plants should be left to flourish in their native location - taking cuttings and roots is illegal in Nature reserves.

• Avoid making loud noises and playing radios or tape-recorders in wildlife areas. Remember - unnatural sounds and natural wonders do not mix.
• Avoid offering food to animals & birds - you are threatening their foraging / hunting skills and your food will probably make them sick.
• If you see anyone hunting or hurting / teasing birds or animals, report them to the authorities if you cannot stop them yourself.
• Stop people from plucking flowers or leaves. They should be left as they are - for all to enjoy.
• While taking photographs or shooting your video-camera is always encouraged, please do not disturb your subject in any way. Remember that use of flash guns, particularly close up, can disturb and annoy wild animals and nesting birds.

Learning about the place, sharing what you know

Finding the right place to stay

• Access as much literature as you can, about your destination before you depart. It is always more enjoyable if you are prepared.
• Local Nature reserve / Park officials are excellent sources of information-do not hesitate to ask questions.
• If you can, hire the services of local licensed guides. They can offer you personalized service aimed at your specific area of interest.
• If you can, take plenty of photographs, or carry a video- camera. Remember that visual images are the best way to share your experiences with your family and friends back home.
• Wherever possible, write about the place and all that you enjoyed and discovered. After all, the less ignorance around, the better it is for conservation.

• Offer site-sensitive accommodation that is not wasteful of local resources or destructive to the environment and rather is inclined to protect threatened areas, species and scenic aesthetics.
• Practice energy conservation.
• Reduce wasteful consumption and recycle waste.
• Practice fresh- water management and control sewage disposal.
• Control and diminish air emissions and pollutants.
• Monitor, control and reduce noise levels.
• Avoid or control environment - unfriendly products, such as asbestos, CFCs and toxic pesticides.
• If electricity is unavailable, use energy-efficient fuel stoves.