Research the main environmental and conservation issues in your country of destination. It may, for example, be useful to know that the country has been through a heat wave. You are then more likely to be sensitive to your water consumption. Knowing that a certain species is in danger may prompt you to visit a nature reserve where that animal can be found. Your visit would contribute to supporting that species.
Oneworld.net provides updates on human rights and conservation issues worldwide. It also lists volunteering opportunties.
Foreign hosts and people in the hospitality industry may appreciate a gift representing something from your culture. Lightweight but meaningful and personal tokens may include postcards bought in your own country, photos of wildlife back home and favourite recipes.
While many ecotourists wouldn't dream of buying anything made from ivory, they may see nothing wrong in buying a coral necklace or a jar of caviar. It's difficult for a layperson to keep up with what's endangered and what's not. The World Wildlife Fund has simplified the task with their Souvenir Action Alert. The following may be less well-known mistakes than buying crocodile skin bags and ivory statues:
- Coral is an important part of a reef's structure. It's not just an inert lump of jewelry;
- Certain species of caviar are near extinction, so it's important to know what you're eating and where it comes from. Beluga caviar is out;
- Some species of cacti are strictly controlled as well.
According Popular Mechanics, the sun provides enough energy to power everything on earth 1500 times over; It's just a question of learning how to direct that energy. All of these items can run on photovoltaic, fume-free cells and are available in manysporting good stores:
- radios
- flashlights
- camp lanterns
- reading lamps
- small solar ovens
These items usually come equipped with a back up source of power, such as batteries, for cloudy days.
Many stores, including Patagonia, Modern Outpost and Mountain Equipment Co-op sell some solar powered items.
Besides the fact that digital pictures are often better quality, can be previewed instantly and are easy to send via e-mail, their production is less dependent on harmful chemicals than conventional photo finishing is.
You also save lots of money by eating out in the park rather than in the restaurant; If you buy unwrapped fruits, vegetables and nuts, there is almost no litter left behind.
Fear of contracting West Nile Virus provides even more incentive to buy powerful insect repellents. During the last few decades, DEET was marketed as the most effective ingredient in mosquito repellents. However, prolonged exposure to DEET may be harmful to a child's developing brain. Products containing lemon eucalyptus have been proven to work for about four hours, without any danger to human health.
Considering that it takes about 66,000 gallons of water to produce one newspaper, recycling should be an obligation, not an option. You can use pictures and captions from your brochures in the letters that you send home. This way you deliver the details of your trips without having to spend on new postcards and you save some paper. You can also make montages to slip into a photo album.
You can have the wipes without the harsh chemicals by making your own. Cut a roll of quilted paper towel (from recycled material) in two and place one half in a snug fitting spill-proof tupperware container. Mix together equal parts of vinegar and water and pour enough over the towlettes to saturate them.
Gel made from the thick leaves of the aloe vera plant has been used for centuries to treat cuts, burns and dry skin conditions such as eczema. Some studies suggest that it has mild antiseptic and anti inflammatory properties. Just remember, a bottle of fresh gel will need to stay cold, so you'll need to have access to a fridge or cooler while you're traveling. Otherwise, you can opt for aloe vera based creams, but they are generally diluted with other products.
Baking soda is remarkably versatile. Mixed with water it makes a paste that can be used to whiten your teeth, polish pots and pans and scrub your sneakers clean. A handful poured into the bath can soothe insect bites and poison ivy rashes.
There have been reports of birds and marine life ingesting or being strangled by stray plastic bags. Carry a cloth bag for shopping so you won't need to take plastic ones from stores. The production of paper bags is more energy-intensive, but plastic bags take longer to break down. Health food outlets often favour hemp bags because hemp is stronger than cotton but doesn't depend on pesticides for optimal growth.
According to a World Bank Report, municipalities in developing countries have to spend up to 50 percent of their budget to cope with waste management, which also explains why some waste is not even collected. Here are some tips to cutting the clutter when traveling, and helping to limit the waste management costs in developing countries:
- Don’t clutter your suitcase - or foreign garbage cans- with disposable razors. Buy rechargeable razors that only require new blades.
- Before you toss the empty shampoo bottle, remind yourself that the locals have enough of their own plastic waste to manage. Some types of plastic can take almost a century to break down.
- Place liquids, like shampoo and shower gel, in small, leak-proof bottles made for traveling. If you take only what you need, you won’t have to worry about lugging things back home. You’ll return with lightweight travel containers that you’ll want to reuse.
While you don't need to look for the most expensive items, you'll save money and the environment if you buy good-quality sturdy bags with plenty of trips left in them. When choosing a bag, keep the following in mind:
- You need a frame if you'll be carrying heavier loads
- Front loading panels make things more accessible, but zippers can also let rain in
- When you pull on a seam, the stitching should be barely discernible
- Hip belts help center the weight of a heavier load
