Kiwi Curated
5 Destinations Where Conservation is Key
by Darren DunneResponsible tourism continues to gain popularity. In certain countries, it’s borne out of necessity, as the realities of climate change leave their mark. Scores of resorts have placed themselves at the forefront of this effort, focusing on sustainability and reducing their carbon footprint. Herein, five destinations where hotels are making a difference in their local environment.
5 Destinations Where Conservation is Key
The peaceful Seychelles is one of the world’s smallest island nations and they find themselves at the precipice of climate change. Rising ocean levels have eroded the pristine coastline — one of the country’s main attractions — while offshore, a gradual increase in sea temperature is laying waste to coral reefs.
Banyan Tree Seychelles has earned “Leading Green Resort” honors at the 2015 World Travel Awards for their stellar efforts. The resort has set up a fund whereby guests make a voluntary contribution for each night spent at the resort. This money is funneled toward various conservation efforts around the island. One such initiative is a project to rehabilitate injured turtles before they are released back into the wild.
5 Destinations Where Conservation is Key
The Galapagos Islands have been a center for conservation since Charles Darwin cited it as inspiration for his life’s work, The Origin of Species. The islands are home to a staggering array of endemic species, with 97.5% of the land area declared a national park. One of the major issues facing the islands is the footprint of a growing human population, and it’s an issue Royal Palm Hotel Galapagos is tackling head on.
For starters, the presence of a large organic garden provides most of the fruit and vegetable needs for the hotel. A rainwater collection system is greatly reducing the hotel’s reliance on deliveries of fresh water. Future plans include the addition of a second water collector that will completely eliminate the need for water deliveries.
5 Destinations Where Conservation is Key
In 2007, UNESCO bestowed Global Geopark status on Langkawi, confirming it as a site of great scientific importance. The region is made up of 99 islands, containing a broad swathe of geodiversity and biodiversity. Despite its status, Langkawi has faced a number of environmental problems, losing over 49% of its land to agriculture, urbanization and roads. This loss was further compounded by the introduction of invasive species, pollution and overpopulation.
Guests at The St. Regis Langkawi can take part in the hotel’s “Make a Green Choice” program, an initiative that provides rewards for choosing to conserve natural resources in their guest room. Property-wide, there’s a focus on recycling, organic waste composting, and a carbon-offset program that is constantly seeking out ways to reduce the hotel’s carbon footprint.
5 Destinations Where Conservation is Key
With steady loss of the Amazon Rainforest, Brazil’s struggle with conservation has become a global issue. Each year, an area the size of a small country is cleared, totaling more than 20% of the rainforest so far. The situation is particularly dire in Atlantic Brazil, where nearly 93% of the forest has been cleared. Public opinion on the issue has slowly been turning, with the rate of deforestation declining each year since 2005. One of the pleasant side effects of this has been the rise in eco-friendly resorts along the coast, including Tivoli Ecoresort Praia do Forte.
The resort is located along Brazil’s northern coast, and is blessed with immaculate beaches and reefs to explore. They emphasize reducing, reusing, and carefully managing waste to help preserve the delicate local eco-system. Old towels and sheets are used as cleaning cloths, magnetic keycards turn off electrical appliances when guest leave their rooms, and all paper is recycled.
5 Destinations Where Conservation is Key
Boracay Island is an area that’s seen unprecedented development in the last few years after it earned “World’s Best Beach” honors several times at the World Travel Awards. This led to the local government spearheading The Boracay Initiative, a sustainable tourism development aimed at preserving and restoring the eco-balance of the local environment. One prominent tactic is to educate Boracay’s tourism and hospitality stakeholders on their role in conservation, but at Shangri-La’s Boracay Resort & Spa this role was central to its existence from day one.
The resort sits within one of the island’s peaceful nature reserves and contains a number of prominent ways for guests to educate themselves on the local environment. An onsite Eco Centre puts local flora and fauna in the fore, while a few meters from the resort’s private beachfront there’s a Marine Sanctuary Restoration Project. Here, artificial reefs are lowered into the sea to spur the re-growth of sea life and coral reefs.
The peaceful Seychelles is one of the world’s smallest island nations and they find themselves at the precipice of climate change. Rising ocean levels have eroded the pristine coastline — one of the country’s main attractions — while offshore, a gradual increase in sea temperature is laying waste to coral reefs.
Banyan Tree Seychelles has earned “Leading Green Resort” honors at the 2015 World Travel Awards for their stellar efforts. The resort has set up a fund whereby guests make a voluntary contribution for each night spent at the resort. This money is funneled toward various conservation efforts around the island. One such initiative is a project to rehabilitate injured turtles before they are released back into the wild.
The Galapagos Islands have been a center for conservation since Charles Darwin cited it as inspiration for his life’s work, The Origin of Species. The islands are home to a staggering array of endemic species, with 97.5% of the land area declared a national park. One of the major issues facing the islands is the footprint of a growing human population, and it’s an issue Royal Palm Hotel Galapagos is tackling head on.
For starters, the presence of a large organic garden provides most of the fruit and vegetable needs for the hotel. A rainwater collection system is greatly reducing the hotel’s reliance on deliveries of fresh water. Future plans include the addition of a second water collector that will completely eliminate the need for water deliveries.
In 2007, UNESCO bestowed Global Geopark status on Langkawi, confirming it as a site of great scientific importance. The region is made up of 99 islands, containing a broad swathe of geodiversity and biodiversity. Despite its status, Langkawi has faced a number of environmental problems, losing over 49% of its land to agriculture, urbanization and roads. This loss was further compounded by the introduction of invasive species, pollution and overpopulation.
Guests at The St. Regis Langkawi can take part in the hotel’s “Make a Green Choice” program, an initiative that provides rewards for choosing to conserve natural resources in their guest room. Property-wide, there’s a focus on recycling, organic waste composting, and a carbon-offset program that is constantly seeking out ways to reduce the hotel’s carbon footprint.
With steady loss of the Amazon Rainforest, Brazil’s struggle with conservation has become a global issue. Each year, an area the size of a small country is cleared, totaling more than 20% of the rainforest so far. The situation is particularly dire in Atlantic Brazil, where nearly 93% of the forest has been cleared. Public opinion on the issue has slowly been turning, with the rate of deforestation declining each year since 2005. One of the pleasant side effects of this has been the rise in eco-friendly resorts along the coast, including Tivoli Ecoresort Praia do Forte.
The resort is located along Brazil’s northern coast, and is blessed with immaculate beaches and reefs to explore. They emphasize reducing, reusing, and carefully managing waste to help preserve the delicate local eco-system. Old towels and sheets are used as cleaning cloths, magnetic keycards turn off electrical appliances when guest leave their rooms, and all paper is recycled.
Boracay Island is an area that’s seen unprecedented development in the last few years after it earned “World’s Best Beach” honors several times at the World Travel Awards. This led to the local government spearheading The Boracay Initiative, a sustainable tourism development aimed at preserving and restoring the eco-balance of the local environment. One prominent tactic is to educate Boracay’s tourism and hospitality stakeholders on their role in conservation, but at Shangri-La’s Boracay Resort & Spa this role was central to its existence from day one.
The resort sits within one of the island’s peaceful nature reserves and contains a number of prominent ways for guests to educate themselves on the local environment. An onsite Eco Centre puts local flora and fauna in the fore, while a few meters from the resort’s private beachfront there’s a Marine Sanctuary Restoration Project. Here, artificial reefs are lowered into the sea to spur the re-growth of sea life and coral reefs.