Sustainable Travel International launches a social media campaign that empowers visitors to play a role in monitoring and conserving the Mesoamerican Reef by sharing photos of the coral, pollution, and marine life they see while exploring the reef

COZUMEL, MEXICO (October 17, 2019) – The nonprofit Sustainable Travel International is launching its #SupportNEMO social media campaign to fight a mysterious coral disease that is ravaging the Mesoamerican Reef. The campaign takes an innovative, citizen-powered approach to reef conservation by engaging divers, snorkelers, and other visitors in monitoring the disease by sharing photos of what they see while exploring the reef. 

The #SupportNEMO campaign is the first phase of Sustainable Travel International’s larger NEMO (Natural Environment Marine Observers) program which aims to reduce human impacts on the Mesoamerican Reef and empower visitors to more actively protect it by:

1. Raising community awareness about the reef and how to conserve it  
2. Collecting monitoring data for marine scientists on reef health and threats;
3. Informing and funding response expeditions to eradicate threats and keep the reef healthy

The “White Syndrome” Coral Disease

The Mesoamerican Reef is the world’s second largest reef system, stretching over 600 miles (1000+ kilometers) from Mexico to Honduras. Every year, more than 16 million people visit the Mesoamerican Reef, many of whom participate in reef-based activities such as diving and snorkeling. While tourism to the reef provides valuable economic benefits and supports nearly 2 million livelihoods, it also creates harmful impacts, such as pollution and physical damage, that endanger the fragile ecosystem. 

In June 2018, scientists discovered a coral disease outbreak, known locally as “Síndrome Blanco” (White Syndrome) that is killing over 20 coral species and spreading rapidly across the Mesoamerican Reef.  In just a matter of weeks, the disease can destroy entire coral structures, some of which took hundreds of years to grow. While the cause of the outbreak is still unknown, scientists believe that it may be due to poor water quality and that it is the same as the Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease (SCTLD) that has affected over half of the Florida Reef Tract and spread to the Caribbean. 

“The Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease (SCTLD) spreads incredibly fast and has a very high mortality rate. For the more than 20 coral species afflicted by this disease, the amount of coral lost in the first six months of the outbreak alone, is equivalent to the amount that was lost over the previous 40 years,” said Dr. Lorenzo Alvarez-Filip, Principal Researcher at the Biodiversity and Reef Conservation (BARCO) Lab at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM). “We need all the support we can get to monitor this disease in order to minimize further damage.”

How to Participate in the #SupportNEMO Campaign

The #SupportNEMO campaign offers divers, snorkelers, and other visitors to the Mesoamerican Reef a way to collect monitoring data that will help scientists protect the reef. While on the reef, individuals are asked to keep an eye out for coral that may be infected with the disease by looking for colonies that have white bands, spots, or lesions. Guidance on how to spot the disease is available here.

To participate, visitors should post their photos of the reef to Instagram using the #SupportNEMO hashtag and include the location (GPS coordinates or dive site) and date the photo was taken. In addition to posting photos of the coral disease, visitors are also encouraged to share photos of marine pollution, as well as any wildlife they see. 

Photos contributed to the #SupportNEMO campaign will be analyzed by the NEMO Reef Response Team, a collaborative response taskforce comprised of marine scientists and conservationists from CONANP (Mexican Marine Park Authority), Healthy Reefs Initiative, and BARCO LAB. The photos will help scientists to better understand the disease and track where it’s spreading so that they can develop and test treatments, reduce pollution, identify ways to prevent the disease from spreading, and begin restoration efforts. 

$40K in 40 Days to Expand NEMO and Transform Conservation

In tandem with the #SupportNEMO campaign, Sustainable Travel International is launching an ambitious crowdfunding campaign with a goal of raising $40K in 40 days – the length of time it can take an entire coral colony to be killed by the disease. The campaign will enable people all across the globe to support the expansion of the NEMO Program by making a donation at http://bit.ly/40days4reef. Funds raised will be used to:

• Develop a NEMO citizen-science web application so that anyone can easily submit their photos and scientists can map and analyze data 
• Educate local communities about reef conservation and get more people involved in NEMO
• Fund expeditions by the Response Team to fight the disease and keep the reef healthy

For more information about the campaigns or the NEMO program as a whole, please contact kaitlynb@sustainabletravel.org or visit SupportNEMO.com or sustainabletravel.org.

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Media Contact:

Kaitlyn Brajcich

Sustainable Travel International

kaitlynb@sustainabletravel.org

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About Sustainable Travel International

Sustainable Travel International is a non-profit organization dedicated to protecting and conserving our planet’s most vulnerable destinations. We are transforming tourism’s impact on nature and people by working alongside local communities, engaging travelers and businesses in responsible practices, and strengthening destination management. Through our work, we aim to safeguard nature, combat climate change, and empower communities to preserve the integrity of destinations around the globe. To learn more visit www.sustainabletravel.org

About Healthy Reefs for Healthy People Initiative

Healthy Reefs for Healthy People Initiative (HRI) is a globally unique international collaborative program of coral reef-focused research, management and conservation organizations dedicated to safeguarding the Mesoamerican Reef. Our vision is to improve our scientific understanding of the functioning of the MAR, and enhance its health through management interventions. HRI has engaged over 70 key marine conservation, government, and private sector institutions, coordinating the latest scientific information into management efforts, thereby improving the collective success of all of these important conservation programs. Through our proven and effective use of the media, we are creating a more informed, powerful and dynamic stakeholder base for reef conservation in the MAR. http://www.healthyreefs.org/

About BARCO LAB

BARC LAB is a dynamic group with passionate interest in ecology and biodiversity conservation. We focus on three main areas of research: (1) describing on-going ecological shifts on reef ecosystems resulting from environmental and climate change, (2) investigating the role of ecological processes such as herbivory and coral recruitment on ecosystem dynamics, and (3) understanding the consequences of reef degradation to biodiversity and humans. We believe that one of the greatest challenges of today is biodiversity and ecosystem conservation and we are increasingly interested in providing fundamental ecological insights while producing policy-relevant science. www.barcolab.org

About CONANP

The Mexican National Protected Area Commission (CONANP) works to conserve the natural heritage of Mexico and the ecological processes of 182 Natural Protected Areas (ANP), bringing together conservation goals with goals to protect the well-being of local populations and visitors to these areas. Throughout 19 years of operation, CONANP has driven multiple conservation initiatives and strengthened the sustainable management of the biodiversity found in ANP’s. www.gob.mx/conanp

TCS Will Offset Carbon Emissions for All Trips Booked from 2019 Onward and Give Back to Destinations Around the World

SEATTLE, WA (August 14, 2019) — Award-winning luxury tour operator TCS World Travel today announces its new philanthropy strategy centered around two key pillars: sustainability and community building. The company’s main focus will be to offset its carbon footprint through a partnership with Sustainable Travel International and to make charitable contributions to the places it travels to most.

“At TCS World Travel, we make it a priority to leave a positive impact on the destinations we visit and enrich the lives of those who live there,” said TCS World Travel President Shelley Cline. “We’re committed to traveling responsibly and reducing our environmental footprint, as well as to ensuring we are helping the communities in these important destinations.”

Sustainability

To help with the carbon footprint that results from flying, TCS World Travel will offset carbon emissions for 2019 and all future trips. TCS has partnered with Sustainable Travel International,      a global non-profit organization with 15 years of experience developing successful carbon offset programs for the travel industry. Sustainable Travel International has calculated the carbon footprint of all TCS jet trips in 2019 and will purchase highly vetted carbon offsets equivalent to that amount.

The carbon offset contributions will support two carbon reduction projects in two of the destinations most frequented on TCS expeditions: Peru and Cambodia. In addition to mitigating climate change impacts, these projects enhance sustainability by protecting native ecosystems and benefiting local communities.

Madre de Dios Program: In Peru, TCS will contribute funds to this community-based project in the Peruvian Amazon that was created to protect approximately 740,000 acres of biodiverse and natural resource-rich primary rainforest. The project was also designed to safeguard the social and ecological heritage in the region through sustainable Brazil nut harvesting.

TCS’ 2019 contribution will support the protection of almost 600 acres of the project and offset 1,600 metric tons of CO2.

Water Filter Program: In Cambodia, TCS will support the Water Filter Program, which works to reduce carbon emissions by providing sustainable access to clean drinking water in rural households in Cambodia through the donation of ceramic water purifiers. This program reduces the depletion of natural resources by offering an alternative to decontamination through boiling, which uses firewood or charcoal as fuel and releases carbon into the atmosphere in the process.

The contributions from TCS will support the distribution of almost 16,000 ceramic water purifiers in addition to protecting 22 acres of forest, creating four jobs, and offsetting 3,547 metric tons of CO2.

Community Building

Through this pillar, TCS World Travel focuses on human connection among guests, employees and communities around the world. The company aims to improve the lives of people in the destinations it visits most through charitable contributions to the following organizations:

Ujenzi Charitable Trust: TCS has donated over $1.1 million to the Ujenzi Charitable Trust over the past 19 years, supporting accessible health solutions for the poor and vulnerable across more than 22 countries including Tanzania and India. Recognizing the impact that women have on the health of their families and communities, the organization invests in maternal and child projects that lead to healthier pregnancies, babies, and communities.

Contributions from TCS have supported the development of two important projects: an ultra-low-cost method to stop postpartum hemorrhaging and an ultra-low-cost breathing machine that supports newborns and children with breathing difficulties, both of which have saved countless lives and have the capacity to help millions more.

Gorilla Doctors: TCS also supports the work of The Gorilla Doctors, an organization in Rwanda dedicated to conserving wild mountain and eastern lowland gorillas through life-saving veterinary care in the wild. As the health of the gorillas is linked to that of the entire ecosystem, the Gorilla Doctors not only care for the gorillas in the field, but further protect them by supporting health programs for people living and working in and around gorilla habitat.

TCS’ donations enable regular visits by their veterinary staff to local schools to educate primary and secondary school students on conservation, hygiene and health. They also support regular training for park staff and members of park-related cooperatives on the importance and practice of good hygiene.

Currency Donations: On all trips, TCS provides guests with local currency at each destination for convenience when purchasing local souvenirs. Upon departure, they collect all leftover money to donate to carefully-vetted community projects in the area.

Annual Employee Volunteer Days

To ensure its employees feel a sense of connection and have the opportunity to give back, TCS World Travel sponsors two employee volunteer days per year where staff have the opportunity to work on projects that impact the immediate Seattle area. One day has a focus on community building and the other has a focus on sustainability, echoing TCS’ two key pillars.

For more information on TCS World Travel’s philanthropy strategy and partnership with Sustainable Travel International, please visit https://www.tcsworldtravel.com/about/philanthropy.

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About TCS World Travel

TCS World Travel leads the industry in private jet journeys with the experience and knowledge built from developing hundreds of trips for 25 years. The company excels at providing unparalleled local access and exclusive activities tailored to any travel style. Circle the globe or take a dive deep into a region on a luxury private jet expedition or embark on a luxury custom journey created especially for you to any destination in the world. For more information, visit www.tcsworldtravel.com or find TCS World Travel on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

About Sustainable Travel International

Sustainable Travel International is a non-profit organization dedicated to protecting and conserving our planet’s most vulnerable destinations. We are transforming tourism’s impact on nature and people by working alongside local communities, engaging travelers and businesses in responsible practices, and strengthening destination management. Through our work, we aim to safeguard nature, combat climate change, and empower communities to preserve the integrity of destinations around the globe. For more information, visit www.sustainabletravel.org or contact Kaitlyn Brajcich at kaitlynb@sustainabletravel.org.

 

Media Contacts

TCS World Travel

Kimi Ozawa / Elizabeth Maxim Melgoza / Ilana Dreiman

Murphy O’Brien, Inc.

(310) 453-2539

TCSWorldTravel@murphyobrien.com

The new partnership will harness the power of tourism to conserve the world’s second largest reef system

CANCUN (25 June, 2019) – Today, Mexico’s National Protected Area Commission (CONANP) entered into a strategic partnership with Sustainable Travel International, a global non-profit organization dedicated to conserving the planet’s most vulnerable destinations. The partnership was formalized at the Sustainable and Social Tourism Summit in Cancun. Through this partnership, Sustainable Travel International and CONANP aim to transform reef conservation in the Mexican Caribbean by engaging tourists and local communities in monitoring, protecting, and creating awareness about the Mesoamerican Reef.

The Mesoamerican Reef is the world’s second largest reef system, stretching 600 miles along the coasts of Mexico, Belize, Guatemala and Honduras. This immense and biodiverse ecosystem sustains the region’s tourism industry by attracting visitors, creating jobs, and protecting coastal areas from storms. Every year, more than 12 million people travel to Mexico’s Caribbean coast, many of whom participate in reef-based activities such as diving and snorkeling. In turn, the reef supports the livelihoods of nearly 2 million people and generates $6.2 billion in annual economic returns.

While tourism provides valuable economic benefits, it also places added pressure on the Mesoamerican Reef – an ecosystem that is already in a fragile state due to climate change, unsustainable fishing, and pollution. According to the 2018 Healthy Reefs report card, over half of the reef is in poor or critical condition. In June 2018, scientists discovered a rapidly spreading coral disease outbreak, known as “Síndrome Blanco,” that is killing over 20 coral species on the reef. Approximately 30% of affected coral species have already died, some of which took hundreds of years to grow.

The new partnership between CONANP and Sustainable Travel International seeks to protect the reef’s 900+ marine species from these devastating impacts and ensure the prosperity of communities that depend on the reef. Through this collaboration, Sustainable Travel International and CONANP will devise practical and innovative solutions that harness the power of Mexico’s booming tourism industry as a vehicle for reef conservation.

One such solution that is currently being piloted in the region is Sustainable Travel International’s Natural Environment Marine Observers (NEMO) program. NEMO is a citizen-science program that empowers visitors to contribute to the conservation of the Mesoamerican Reef by:

• Raising awareness about the reef and how to conserve it;
• Collecting monitoring data for marine scientists on reef health and threats; and
• Funding reef conservation expeditions by a response team comprised of CONANP, Healthy Reefs Initiative, and BARCO LAB, to eradicate threats and keep the reef healthy.

Through the NEMO program, the partnership aims to reduce human impacts on the reef and ensure long-term economic opportunity for the millions of local people who depend on it. In addition to using monitoring data to take actions that reduce contamination, eradicate coral disease, and restore ecosystem balance, the partnership will prioritize ground-up education for the many young people who will shape the future of Caribbean tourism.

“Conserving a marine destination as expansive and biodiverse as the Mesoamerican Reef is no small task. We realized that there is a tremendous untapped opportunity to engage the people who are out exploring these places in protecting them,” says Paloma Zapata, CEO of Sustainable Travel International. “Through this partnership with CONANP, that’s exactly what we aspire to do – link tourism and conservation to chart a new course for the Mesoamerican Reef.”

For more information or media inquiries about this partnership or the NEMO program, contact kaitlynb@sustainabletravel.org or visit SupportNEMO.com.

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Media Contact:

Kaitlyn Brajcich

Sustainable Travel International

kaitlynb@sustainabletravel.org

About Sustainable Travel International

Sustainable Travel International is a non-profit organization dedicated to protecting and conserving our planet’s most vulnerable destinations. We are transforming tourism’s impact on nature and people by working alongside local communities, engaging travelers and businesses in responsible practices, and strengthening destination management. Through our work, we aim to safeguard nature, combat climate change, empower communities, and tackle overtourism to preserve the integrity of destinations around the globe. To learn more visit www.sustainabletravel.org

Media Contact: kaitlynb@sustainabletravel.org

About CONANP

 The Mexican National Protected Area Commission (CONANP) works to conserve the natural heritage of Mexico and the ecological processes of 182 Natural Protected Areas (ANP), bringing together conservation goals with goals to protect the well-being of local populations and visitors to these areas.

Natural Protected Areas are marine and land environments that host a great variety of living beings. Throughout 19 years of operation, CONANP has driven multiple conservation initiatives and strengthened the sustainable management of the biodiversity found in ANP’s.

“Tu Mejor Huella para el Paine” is a collaborative conservation campaign that aims to bring together the national and international community to restore the Base Torres trail in Torres del Paine National Park.

Torres del Paine, Magallanes, Chile (August 22, 2018) – A large-scale national and international conservation campaign was recently launched to support the long-term health of Chile’s Torres del Paine National Park. A UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and declared as the 8th wonder of the world in 2013, Torres del Paine National Park is one of the most renowned destinations in Chile and Latin America. The park’s rugged Patagonian landscape featuring turquoise lakes, massive glaciers, and jutting peaks, draws visitors from all over the world. Over 260,000 travelers visited the park last year – a figure that is expected to rise by 10% annually.

The campaign, titled Tu Mejor Huella para el Paine (Your Best Footprint for Paine), aims to restore the iconic Base Torres trail, which leads to the impressive natural wonder that is the park’s centerpiece – the trio of granite spires or “Towers of Paine.” Three organizations are partnering together to promote this campaign and implement the restoration project – the Chilean National Forest Corporation (CONAF), the Torres del Paine Legacy Fund and AMA Torres del Paine.

The most popular of Torres del Paine’s trekking routes, the Base Torres trail can receive 1,000 hikers in a single day. As a result, many stretches of the trail are seriously eroded and in need of repair. The harsh Patagonian weather, characterized by frequent rain and strong winds that can reach up to 100 km/h, has only exacerbated these impacts, as have the steep grades and poor initial alignment resulting from the animals, not hikers, that first blazed the path.

In 2015, Shuswap Trail Alliance, a company specializing in the construction of sustainable trails, conducted an on-site diagnostic to evaluate trail conditions. The findings corroborated what most already knew: the Base Torres trail is in a state of serious degradation, posing a safety concern for hikers and diminishing the visitor experience while also impacting sensitive surrounding ecosystems. CONAF realizes that addressing this problem has become an urgent priority, “This campaign seeks to restore the main trail to Base Torres, which today is in a state of severe disrepair, not only due to its frequent use, but to climatic factors as well. That’s why CONAF lends its support to this initiative,” says Mauricio Vejar, CONAF Magallanes’ Regional Director.

The Tu Mejor Huella para el Paine campaign was conceived to address this challenge and build awareness in Chile around the importance of trail stewardship and national parks. The restored and newly constructed trail system will follow sustainable trail design and construction principles to ensure trail longevity, minimize environmental impacts, as well as the need for continual maintenance. The goal is to enhance the visitor experience and safety while connecting people to nature in an engaging, responsible way. This multi-stakeholder public-private initiative is a means to mobilize and unite numerous stakeholders around environmental stewardship. “This campaign will start the conversation about the role of trails and national parks by working together on one of our most iconic–one of which all Chileans should be proud,” says Mauricio Kusanovic, President of AMA Torres del Paine.

A non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing sustainability within the region, The Torres del Paine Legacy Fund is evidence to the positive environmental impact that collective stewardship efforts can create. “In the last few years, we’ve witnessed how shared stakeholder commitment can translate into tangible conservation actions that further the sustainability of the park. Tu Mejor Huella para el Paine is a prime example of this. We hope that as a result of this campaign, more visitors, citizens, and businesses from all over Chile and around the world become more involved in protecting our planet’s natural assets, particularly one as important as Torres del Paine,” says Emily Green, Legacy Fund Director.

According to Alejandra Vial, Cerveza Austral’s CRO, one of the companies supporting this initiative, “Patagonia is part of our brand’s DNA, not only because our origins are in Punta Arenas, but also because for over 120 years, we have seen and been a part of the area’s tourism development.” For Austral, the best way to support the region is to contribute to these kind of initiatives that allow visitors to continue to responsibly enjoy the wonders of Torres del Paine.

Restoring the Base Torres trail is not a simple task, which is why the campaign is looking to the national and international community for widespread support. The rebuild of the circuit comprises a 30km round trip journey and is estimated to cost about USD $1.2 million. “The Government and CONAF do a great job maintaining our trails, but the challenge here is huge and as a civil society, we can all help through small actions of giving. Today, we are already working next to CONAF and Torres del Paine Legacy Fund on this challenge, so we invite individuals, businesses, and organizations to join in the care of the 8th Wonder of the World,” Kusanovic concludes.

To learn more or make a donation to the campaign, please visit www.tumejorhuella.com. Or if you’re an international tourism business and would like to support the campaign, please contact emily@supporttdp.org. Just $650 CLP or $1 USD helps rebuild one square meter of trail.

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About NGO AMA Torres del Paine

An environmental non-profit organization that operates in Torres del Paine National Park and whose mission is to conserve the natural and cultural resources of the area by supporting conservation, scientific investigation, and environmental education. www.amatorresdelpaine.org

Corporación Nacional Forestal, CONAF

An autonomous institution of the Chilean government under the Ministry of Agriculture charged with administering the state’s forest policy, driving development of the sector, combatting forest fires, and administering the country’s protected áreas. www.conaf.cl

Torres del Paine Legacy Fund

A non-profit initiative dedicated to preserving, supporting, and celebrating Torres del Paine and its surrounding communities. The Torres del Paine Legacy Fund works with the public and private sectors, fellow NGOs, visitors and residents to fund and implement local sustainability projects that advance a more sustainable future for the province of Ultima Esperanza. supporttdp.org

Vail, Colorado (July 20, 2018) – Today, Vail announced their certification as a sustainable mountain resort destination. Vail is the first destination in the world to be certified to the Mountain IDEAL sustainable destination standard. Additionally, Vail’s adherence to the Global Sustainable Tourism Council’s (GSTC) destination criteria makes it the first Certified Sustainable Destination in the United States certified by a GSTC-Accredited certifying body, Green Destinations. The conditional certification is the result of a multi-year partnership between the Town of Vail, Walking Mountains Science Center, Sustainable Travel International, Vail Resorts, The U.S. Forest Service, and others. It marks the culmination of 56 years of leadership by the Vail community in progressive environmental conservation policies and programs.

“Recognizing that mountain destinations are acutely threatened by climate change, waning freshwater resources, and seasonal tourism peaks, Vail has made important strides in balancing the needs of its delicate ecosystem with the wants of travelers and the local community,” said Geoff Bolan, CEO of Sustainable Travel International.

Like many mountain resort destinations, Vail’s economy is highly dependent on tourism. While the town is home to just under 5,500 local residents, it welcomes 2.8 million guests annually. Since the ski area’s founding in 1962, and the Town’s founding in 1966, Vail has focused on balancing tourism growth with local environmental and community needs.

It has taken many years to work towards the sustainable destination certification, which builds upon Vail’s long history of environmental conservation. Notable past achievements include the protection of open space being written into the Town Charter of 1966, the creation of the Vail Nature Center and Preserve in the 1970’s, and the creation of the 1% Real Estate Transfer Tax (RETT) in the 1980’s which improves parks and open space for recreation opportunities and further supports environmentally sustainable practices. More recent achievements include its proactive approach to restoring the water quality of Gore Creek and Vail Resort’s ambitious commitment to a zero net operating footprint by 2030.

“Over the years, the Town of Vail and community partners have taken steps to embed sustainability into the destination’s operations and throughout the entire visitor experience,” said Kristen Bertuglia, Environmental Sustainability Manager for the Town of Vail. “As a result, tourism development in Vail happens in a manner that protects nature, improves residents’ well-being, and preserves cultural heritage.”

“Alongside the tremendous leadership displayed by our community, Vail Resorts is well on our way to carry out our ambitious Commitment to Zero by 2030,” said Doug Lovell, chief operating officer for Vail Mountain. “We look forward to working alongside our fellow sustainability leaders to achieve both our company and community goals and are proud of the accomplishments that we’ve achieved so far through our partnership, including this prestigious certification.”

The Path To Becoming The First Sustainable Mountain Resort Destination In The World

In advance of the 2015 FIS Alpine World Ski Championships held in Vail and Beaver Creek, the Town of Vail set out to achieve a lofty sustainability milestone: becoming the first destination in the United States to be certified to the GSTC destination standard. To achieve this, a multi-year partnership was established between the Town of Vail, Walking Mountains Science Center, and Sustainable Travel International.

The first step included launching Actively Green, a sustainability training and certification program for local businesses designed by Sustainable Travel International and run by Walking Mountains Science Center. To date, over 216 businesses have participated in the trainings and 57 businesses have been certified. In 2018, the Actively Green standard achieved “GSTC-Recognized” status.

The collaborative partnership also led to the development of the Mountain IDEAL destination standard. This standard has also achieved “GSTC-Recognized” status, meaning that the specific guidelines within the Mountain IDEAL standard used to implement sustainability at the destination are considered equivalent to a global standard.

“It was evident while working with Vail early on that traditional sustainable destination certifications were not completely viable for a mountain resort with large scale winter operations and a seasonal influx of both tourists and employees. While there were many positive elements and the groundwork existed, we realized we needed to use the GSTC Criteria to develop a new standard that would be better suited for not only Vail, but other mountain resort destinations in the future,” explained Kim Langmaid, Founder and Vice-President at Walking Mountains Science Center and Vail Town Council Member.

“The Mountain IDEAL standard supports mountain resort communities in advancing a sustainable development agenda. The standard addresses challenges faced in most mountain resort destinations including: managing impacts from overtourism, managing recreation on public lands, protecting vast watersheds and preserving scenic views, developing year-round employment and affordable housing, and embracing the unique mountain cultural heritage,” said Bobby Chappell, Senior Director of Standards and Monitoring at Sustainable Travel International.

Vail will continue to monitor and improve sustainability practices to maintain their Mountain IDEAL destination standard and their actions will continue to evolve and improve over time.

In July 2017, Green Destinations conducted an onsite assessment of Vail. Through a rigorous process, Green Destinations auditors reviewed documentation, interviewed key stakeholders, and completed a thorough evaluation of Vail’s overall approach to sustainable destination management. Following a months-long certification process, Vail was officially certified to the Mountain IDEAL standard in December 2017 making it the first sustainable mountain resort destination in the world. Vail is also recognized as the first Certified Sustainable Destination in the United States because Green Destinations is a fully GSTC-Accredited Certification Body.

“We’ve recognized for a long time that Vail is a global leader in sustainable mountain tourism. This certification is a much-deserved testament to our community’s achievements. We hope it encourages other destinations to adopt the Mountain IDEAL standard and leads to increased collaboration around sustainability in mountain resort destinations,” said Langmaid.

For additional information or media inquiries, please contact kaitlynb@sustainabletravel.org.

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Media Contact:

Kaitlyn Brajcich

Sustainable Travel International

kaitlynb@sustainabletravel.org

 

About Sustainable Travel International

Sustainable Travel International is a non-profit organization working to improve the lives of people around the world and the environments they rely upon. By leveraging the power of tourism and providing business and government leaders with the guidance, policies and solutions they need, we aim to ensure that the communities they’re engaged in thrive and their environments are healthy for future generations. Sustainable Travel International has been at the forefront of sustainable destination management and sustainable tourism standard development for over 15 years. www.sustainabletravel.org

Media Contact: Kaitlyn Brajcich, Communications Manager, kaitlynb@sustainabletravel.org

 

About Town of Vail

Under blue skies more than 300 days each year, Vail is an extraordinary mountain resort destination. Vail is where outdoor pursuits meet village sophistication. Offering more than 5,280 acres of developed ski and snowboard terrain including seven legendary Back Bowls in winter, and flourishing summer recreation complemented by unparalleled arts and events, the options for year-round adventure are endless. Coupled with the vision inherent in the spirit of Vail’s founders, and a modern day commitment to excellence in all aspects of guest service and operations, Vail is a mountain destination like nothing on earth. Visit Vail.com for more information.

Media Contact: Suzanne Silverthorne, Director of Communications SSilverthorn@vailgov.com

 

About Walking Mountains Science Center

Walking Mountains Science Center is a 501(c)3 non-profit based in Avon, CO and their mission is to awaken a sense of wonder and inspire environmental stewardship and sustainability through natural science education. Their sustainability department provides the Eagle County community education and coaching through their Energy Smart, Actively Green, Eco Schools and Zero Waste programs. Most recently Walking Mountains facilitated the creation of the Climate Action Plan for the Eagle County Community and is supporting the Town of Vail through the ongoing Sustainable Destination project. www.walkingmountains.org

Media Contact: Paul Abling, Director of Marketing & Communications paul@walkingmountains.org

 

About Green Destinations

Green Destinations is a non-profit organization of experts and destination ambassadors working in 80 countries. Green Destinations supports the world’s largest community of local, regional and country destination managers and stakeholders, enhancing destination sustainability, market visibility, and tourism quality. Green Destinations developed a complete, affordable and easy-to-use Assessment & Certification program that fits the needs of both small and larger destinations. It is operated through an online Assessment & Reporting platform based upon the GSTC-Recognized Green Destinations Standard and the GD Database with data from 2000 destinations. The GD platform helps destinations to improve sustainability management and performance, and it facilitates the validation of pre-certification benchmark awards (Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum) for various standards (QualityCoast, Mountain IDEAL and national standards) and strategic development progress, also in relation to the UN Sustainable Development Goals. greendestinations.org

 

 

 

 

 

SEATTLE, WA – Southern Explorations, specializing in custom small-group trips and itineraries to Latin America, introduces a new carbon offsetting option for guests, delivered in partnership with Sustainable Travel International.  

Protecting the environment is central to Southern Explorations’ approach to adventure travel. They want to connect people and places while also contributing to the long-term health of the planet and protecting the beautiful places they visit. Knowing that tourism is a significant contributor to climate change means action must be taken. Their team of Latin America travel experts provide guests every opportunity to ensure their travel experience is as sustainable as possible.

In partnership with Sustainable Travel International – a non-profit conservation and development organization with over 10 years of experience in carbon offsetting – Southern Explorations is providing guests with the option to offset the carbon produced on their adventure, from both in-country activities and international flights.

“We value our team’s ability to create exceptional travel experiences while delivering a positive impact for the destination,” says Justin Laycob, Founder & CEO, Southern Explorations. “We have always supported leading sustainability organizations in the destinations we explore and we are excited about this newest partnership with Sustainable Travel International, helping us to further our comprehensive approach to sustainability with a forward-looking carbon offset program.”

Proceeds from Southern Explorations’ carbon offsetting initiative will support rotating projects throughout Latin America beginning with the Asorpar Reforestation Project in Colombia.

This project is a community-based emission reduction project that focuses on the restoration of degraded areas and reforestation in the Orinoquia and Andean regions of the country. Twenty native tree species have already been planted in the 3,128-acre pilot area, leading to the return of 117 secondary plant species and a multitude of animals. The project also provides benefits to local communities, including alternative livelihood creation and positive health impacts. For more details on this project, visit our website: https://www.southernexplorations.com/southern-explorations-carbon-offsetting.

Southern Explorations’ expert team will assist adventuresome travelers in offsetting their travel carbon footprint as they create and customize their next Latin America travel experience.

Media Contact:

Eric Bartanen

ericb@southernexplorations.com