Anguilla Beach

Three tips for a low waste holiday

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When you take a holiday, make it a low waste holiday. It’s usually your time each year to seek a little luxury and comfort. However, some of the ways that we choose to indulge on our time off can produce a lot of harmful waste. Luckily, by making more mindful choices, it’s possible to have a relaxing break without negatively impacting the environment. In this guide, we discuss a few top tips for a low waste holiday.

Purchase items you’ll use again

In the lead up to a holiday, we tend to stock up on items that we think we’ll need. Items that actually, we may only use once. Pool inflatables, towels and beach balls are purchased for the holiday. These holiday items tend to be left behind at our destination at the end of the holiday. We don’t need them back home. Or, if we do manage to fit them into our suitcases, they arrive home only to collect dust and eventually be thrown away.

It’s a good idea to plan ahead of time when thinking about the items that you’ll need for your holiday. This way, you’ll have the chance to make well-informed decisions, and avoid impulse buys that may end up as waste. Perhaps you’ll stick to investing in items that you will use again, year after year – or, you may choose to purchase items that are made from sustainable materials, and won’t cause as much problematic waste if they are disposed of.

Similarly, you’ll want to avoid purchasing souvenirs when on holiday that are made from environmentally harmful materials, such as plastic. Usually, these small gifts get forgotten and thrown out pretty swiftly by the receiver. Not to mention, in order to transport them home in the first place, we often have to throw something else away to make room in our suitcase. If you do need to purchase a souvenir, consider shopping for ones that are more eco-friendly, in order to reduce the potential for harmful waste.

Adapt your eating habits

It’s easy to give into the temptation of convenient snacks when you’re on holiday. Unfortunately, these treats often come in the kind of plastic packaging that is harmful for the environment when thrown away – for example, crêpes in styrofoam cones, or plastic straws in your beachside cocktails. For this reason, it’s best to pack your own food into reusable containers where you can – or, stick to holiday foods that you can purchase without packaging or cutlery, such as watermelon or ice cream in edible cones.

Waste from animal products is generally more problematic for the environment than plant-based waste, so it’s good to eat vegan if you can while abroad. In fact, for many cultures, tasty plant-based dishes are a staple cuisine, and well worth a try when travelling.

Consider where you’ll stay

Staying in a fancy hotel when you’re on holiday may feel luxurious, but the reality of having our every whim taken care of is that it often produces a lot of waste. For this reason, it’s best to avoid staying anywhere that may offer small toiletries and other gifts that you don’t necessarily need. If you do choose to stay at a hotel, you can ask that these small favors be saved for other guests – similarly, you can request that your towels and bedding be changed less frequently, in order to prevent unnecessary water waste.

Ideally, to keep your waste to a minimum, you’ll want to research eco-friendly places to stay at your destination. To actually find a sustainable lodging you can search this site, Eco-tropicalresorts.com. Look on the far right where it says “SEARCH HOTELS/TOURS BY AREA”.

In conclusion

Committing to a low waste holiday is easier than it sounds, and often starts before you’ve even left home. By making small, mindful choices, your holiday can be as opulent and indulgent as you wish. And yet, while still being kind to the environment.

This is a guest post from LoveHolidays.

Hotel Akumal Caribe

Are Eco-Resorts safe? An update on the pandemic

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People are asking are eco-resorts safe? The Pandemics Impact on some of our EcoLodges has varied. Tourists are planning travel again, and I thought people might be interested in how the Lodges are doing. Some of the lodges are closed, though hopefully they will re-open once tourism gets going again. But some of the EcoLodges have been forced to shut their doors for good.

Below are a few of the Lodges that have updated us about “are eco-resorts safe?”. As I hear from more of them, I will add their responses.

North America – Mexico

Playa Viva is located in Juluchuca, Mexico

Playa Viva is located 45 minutes south of the Zihuatanejo/Ixtapa international airport. Here’s what they had to say:

“At Playa Viva we have been very lucky. We were closed April 1 – July 1, 2020. We opened July 1 with COVID protocols and soon had a steady stream of guests looking for a safer vacation option that allowed them to enjoy being outdoors (only one space at Playa Viva has A/C and is indoors, our boutique) as guests were seeking the luxury of being outdoors and emerged in nature. Playa Viva has a great video on YouTube that explains their vision. The video is about 4 1/2 minutes long with stunning scenery and tree houses.

Playa Viva
Playa Viva in Mexico

We took this slight lull in travel to expand Playa Viva adding 6 new amazing treehouses. These have been very popular and Playa Viva counties to offer a safer and regenerative travel experience.”
To see their listing: Eco Tropical Resorts Playa Viva or to go directly to their website: Playa Viva.

Hotel Akumal Caribe in Akumal, Mexico.

The hotel is an hours drive south of the Cancun International Airport. The report below is taken from an email with the owner, Laura Bush Wolfe.

Hotel Akumal was forced to shut down in April 2020 because of Covid-19. With new protocols established by the Mexican government, the hotel was able to partially open in June 2020.

Furthermore “It’s now been 2 years that we are operating on a light system depending on Covid cases in the area. We are now at green, meaning fully open, but use of masks in enclosed areas still enforced and our staff always wears theirs. We sanitize each room on check out, we provide the amenities that the government requires, and we still follow temperature checks on entry.”

Hotel Akumal Caribe in Mexico
Hotel Akumal Caribe in Mexico

“During these 2 years we took on a challenge that the Government invited us to participate in. The first Green Certification given by the State Government to hotels who qualify! We were asked to be one of the first hotels due to the work we had already started in recycling, composting and energy saving. It has been a very hard task for everyone; we have an outside consultant that has been our mentor and supervisor throughout this time, and we should be getting our certification very soon! The work does not stop, and we will continue to do all that we can to maintain this certification.”

Things are almost back to pre-pandemic times at the Hotel. To see their listing on our site: Hotel Akumal Caribe on Eco Tropical Resorts. To go directly to their website: Hotel Akumal Caribe.

North America – USA

Maui Eco Retreat is located in Hawaii. Quotes from Kutira, one of the owners:

“We used the time to upgrade our place. We have offer 3 rooms and 2 cottage. Each room with its own bathroom embedded in a very luxurious house. We added a spacious solarium where our guest can sit and dine.

Our motto is ‘space is luxury – luxury is space’  and of course ‘where your vacation becomes a transformation. 

We have been blessed by many visitors since Covid. Our place is surrounded by nature pure, organic practices, waterfalls, hiking trails. Perfect to heal body and mind.  We offer Yoga classes and other teachings and we preform micro weddings.

Relax at Maui Eco Retreat
Maui Eco Retreat

Right now we are focusing creating more food forests – We are teaching young and old how to live regenerative.

Personally, we are now at the age in our life where we want to enjoy our land and have more creative time.

We are the care taker of the land since we bought it in 1988. Now we get to enjoy the beauty and share our magnificent paradise for those few who find the Shangrila… the lost paradise and like to be inspired to live in harmony with nature.”

To see their listing: Maui Eco Retreat on Eco Tropical Resorts. To go directly to their lodging: Maui Eco Retreat.

Europe – United Kingdom

Bryn Elltyd Eco Guesthouse is located in Snowdonia, North Wales.

John Whitehead, the owner, had this to say:

“Here at Bryn Elltyd, a carbon neutral guesthouse, the dreaded covid has forced us, like many to look again at life choices.  We have converted our end of 6 bed guesthouse to a flat and the business has become a very green holiday let.  The Good to Go   government covid safety  certificate help a little but  bookings are slow. It has given us time to do hospital covid volunteering, slow down  and enjoy our stunning Snowdonia landscapes.    As a engineer it also has given time to increase Electric car capacity. We  have had points since 2013, 100% successful charges all on green electric.  Free time also  allows work on   refining the insulation. Always a challenge 700ft up mountain in 1883 slate mine managers house.  

Bryn Elltyd Eco Guesthouse
Bryn Elltyd Eco Guesthouse

We have done better than most and are fortunate to have endured lockdown in a stunning area with open access to mountains.  Looking forward to greeting guests and  if asked, sharing  our sustainable story of how  a two person business can / has used only renewable energy since 2013.”
To see their listing: Eco Tropical Resorts Bryn Elltyd Eco Guesthouse, or go directly to their website: Bryn Elltyd Eco Guesthouse.

Africa – Tanzania

Mambo ViewPoint Eco Lodge in Tanzania.

Dagmara had this to share:

“We are open and operating, we actually never stopped, we did a tremendous effort to keep our doors open, not without many sacrifices, including from our amazing staff!

We have never had any Covid cases reported in the area, as you might know we are very remotely located.

Mambo ViewPoint Eco Lodge
Mambo ViewPoint Eco Lodge

Our restaurant and all rooms are daily cleaned, using antibacterial products, we can serve private meals on request in the cottages if people don’t want to share a meal with others. But it has never been requested by anyone till now ?”.

To see their listing: Mambo ViewPoint Eco Lodge on Eco Tropical Resorts. Or go directly to their website: Mambo ViewPoint Eco Lodge.

Sustainable and Renewable energy

Sustainable and Renewable Energy

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What’s the Difference between Sustainable and Renewable Energy?

Some people use sustainable and renewable Energy interchangeably. But there’s actually a difference. Sustainable energy comes from sources that don’t need to be renewed. Think solar and wind, which are 2 sources that are endless. Renewable Energy isn’t endless but can be renewed with certain actions. Think of crops or biomatter. Below I will try to inform you about these types of energy. And why it’s so important they replace traditional energy sources like petroleum and coal for the future of our planet.

Sustainable and Renewable Energy Pros and Cons

I was researching the positives and negatives of both sustainable and renewable energy. The problem is that many places, from local governments to private companies don’t see the difference between the two. In their discussions they lump them together. As I mentioned above, sustainable energy is one that can keep going indefinitely on its own. Whereas renewable energy needs to be created on an ongoing basis. In the pros and cons of sustainable and renewable energy I am talking about both.
Pros
1. Don’t produce fossil fuel greenhouse emissions.
2. Cleaner air and water.
3. Reduces dependence on imported fuels for most countries.
4. Diversifies our energy supply.
5. Creates economic development and jobs.
6. This type of energy will never run out (as opposed to fossil fuels, etc.).
7. Zero carbon emissions.
8. Conserves natural resources.
9. Don’t contribute to global warming.
10. This type of energy is generally less expensive.
11. Give us a way forward from polluting non renewable energies.
Cons
1. Higher capital costs/up front costs.
2. Can be unreliable (for example: solar panels won’t produce energy on cloudy days and wind energy falls on calm days).
3. Energy storage can be a challenge and expensive. Thankfully, future technology may/can change this.
4. It is impacted by environmental conditions. Wind turbines work best in large open areas with consistent wind.
5. Manufacturing, transport and installation can create a carbon footprint.
6. Wind energy can be dangerous to some wildlife, especially birds and bats.
7. Mining has to occur to generate the metals and other products, such as batteries, needed to build wind and solar farms. This often occurs in developing countries without strong environmental standards.
7. Geographic limitations. As an example, a desert would have difficulty using hydropower.

Petroleum and Coal as Sources of Energy

The main reason that I view old energy sources such as oil, gas, coal, etc. as negative is that they are polluting our planet. Another thing they do is contribute to global warming. Gas as a form of energy is finite, once it’s gone, it’s gone. Oil takes at least 50 million years to form and is not sustainable or renewable. Another thing to take into consideration is that it pollutes. It also contributes to global warming. When gasoline evaporates it gives off carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, particulate matter, and unburned hydrocarbons. And when gas burns it produces carbon monoxide. These are bad for the environment.

And whether we want to admit it or not, petroleum contributes to wars and nasty politics. Power is a heady thing and those who want or have these negative sources of energy will fight for it. In the immortal words of John Lennon in Imagine: “Nothing to kill or die for.. Imagine all the people living life in peace”.

In Conclusion

We need to use sustainable and renewable energy for the health of our planet and future generations. Global warming is already a big problem. I’m seeing the effects in the small town I live in outside of Tucson, Arizona. Things like colder winters and hotter summers. Also the monsoon season that used to be regular as clockwork, according to old timers, is no longer dependable. I hope you will join me in promoting sustainability via sustainable and renewable energy use.

Ecolodge in Dominica

What makes a Sustainable Ecolodge?

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What makes a Sustainable Ecolodge

There are 5 Parts of what makes a Sustainable Ecolodge, as there are 5 parts to our Online Eco Rating. The parts include energy, water, recycling and waste, land and nature conservation, and community. These 5 areas are able to be measured, that adds credibility and verification for a lodge.

In 2015 a branch of the United Nations: The Department of Economic and Social Affairs Sustainable Development came up with 17 sustainable goals. Their mission statement is: “A blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all people and the world by 2030”. Because the UN’s goals are all encompassing, it would be impossible to include them all in what makes a sustainable lodge. Therefore, I’ve narrowed it down to the 5 areas in the online eco rating that I think are most important to what makes a sustainable ecolodge. Therefore I will wrote about each of these next.

This sign shows the basics of Sustainability

Energy and it’s Conservation

Energy uses up resources. Conservation of energy involves using renewable energy that doesn’t use up resources. Sustainable energy includes but is not limited to solar, wind, hydro, tidal, geothermal, and biomass. When an ecolodge uses one of these renewable energies, that helps them rate as sustainable. Most of the eco lodges on our Directory use one or more of these. In fact, many lodges are located where there is no power grid, so must use alternative energy. Preserving energy helps us from polluting the earth

Water

Clean water is a limited resource for our planet. Lodges can conserve water several different ways: Harvested rain water from roofs or stormwater, reclaimed wastewater, and graywater. Parts of the world have an over-abundance of water, whereas other areas have a lack. Therefore, careful use of water is important. Many ecolodges use reclaimed graywater to water their plants. If an ecolodge is in an area of water abundance, then educational items should be made available for guests. We are part of the whole.

Recycling and Waste

I’m sure you’ve heard the phrase: Reduce-Reuse-Recycle. This catch phrase is important to help us keep this in mind when getting rid of waste. Recycling and disposing of waste responsibly helps us keep from polluting the environment. It is an important part of what makes a sustainable lodge. Recycling is using waste materials and converting them into usable new materials. Where I live in the U.S., in Arizona, we have recycle and waste bins. So that makes it convenient and easy. In 3rd world countries recycling may not be available. During my time in Mexico, recycling was not available. But I noticed that people were very good at re-using things and adapting other things for use. An example of this was my van. The latch had broken on one of my windows and we were far away from a dealership to get spare parts. The person who fixed it used different screws and waste metal to create something that worked. It may not have looked great, but it worked and kept the waste metal out of the trash.

Most of the sustainable lodges on this directory are not close to recycling facilities. As an alternative, lodges can leave information out for guests about re-using items. Some examples of immediate recycling are having guests refill water bottles and putting food waste into a compost bin for the garden. Another is recycling of graywater. Many of our lodges have recycle bins available for use by guests. And some of them have helped local villages to recycle and reduce waste.

Lodges can separate waste into usable materials such as food waste and yard clippings for use in compost.

Land and Nature Conservation

An ecolodge should have little to no impact on the environment, unless it’s positive. That’s a big part of what makes an Ecolodge Sustainable. Some lodges make sure that part of the land remains in its natural state. This natural state insures the local fauna and flora can thrive, as well as letting guests enjoy the natural landscape.

Community

Hiring people in the local community helps lodges benefit the local people. Information and training in sustainable ways also benefits the communities. Some lodges sell local handicrafts to visitors as another means of helping locals gain by the presence of a lodge. By involving nearby communities it helps them understand and participate in preservation of natural and cultural resources. When someone is living at a subsistence level, there’s not much room to think about conservation when taking care of basic needs is so difficult. When lodges or people offer alternatives, then change is possible.

Years ago, I was lucky enough to visit Jem Winston in Dominica. He runs 3 Rivers Dominica and Rosalie Forest Eco Lodge. I saw first hand the dedication and work it takes to create and run an eco-lodge. His 2 lodges are fine examples of what makes a sustainable ecolodge.

In conclusion, maybe the most important part of what makes a sustainable ecolodge is the warm and caring people that own, create and run them. It takes a special kind of person to go to the extremes it takes to make an eco lodge. My hat is off to them.

Ecohelpline

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Ecohelpline is celebrating it’s 5th year this month. It has been a lot of fun for me working with Jem Winston of 3 Rivers Dominica and Rosalie Forest Eco Lodge who I had the pleasure of spending 2 weeks with in Dominica at his eco lodge. This really helped me see first hand all the fun and difficulties of running an eco lodge. My other partner is Hemant Thite of Biogas Helpline and it was actually his idea to begin with. Thank you, Hemant! It was a great idea and the 3 of us from such different backgrounds have found a common focus that pleases us all.

The website Ecohelpline is no longer live. You can contact jem(@)rosalieforest for more information about it. On this site we offer an Online Eco Rating here .

Eco and Community Tourism in a Post Coronavirus World

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With the arrival of the Coronavirus pandemic in our lives, the concept of tourism is changing. Therefore we need to address tourism in a post Coronavirus World.
Most countries still have some form of travel restrictions in place. And it seems that at least some of those restrictions, and probably some new ones, may be with us for a very long time to come. 
Humans have an instinctive desire to travel and take holidays. But with long distance travel becoming more and more complicated and expensive, tourism is bound to change. Community tourism and Staycation breaks are set to become the face of tourism in the future. People will look to more local solutions, without the need to traverse the planet.

Changes to tourism in a Post Coronavirus World

These changes can in fact be a very good development for tourism as a whole. But it is absolutely essential that such programmes are introduced carefully. We need to ensure that there are financial benefits for hosts and hoteliers, without damaging community ways of life. We also need to retain and even enhance different culture. This can be done by sharing their unique beliefs and traditions with others. The beauty of good eco and community tourism in a post Coronavirus world is that once a few basic principles are understood, it is simple and replicable almost anywhere. Care needs to be taken because if introduced without the inclusion of all stakeholders, then immense damage can be inflicted on communities and cultures around the world.

Who we are

As a multi award winning eco lodge, we are proud to have been involved in community tourism for 20 years. We have received global recognition for our work. For almost 20 years, 3 Rivers & Rosalie forest eco lodge have been at the forefront. The eco lodges offer successful examples, training and advice on the introduction of fascinating community tourism projects around the world. Our goal has always been to respect cultures and create exciting and interesting activities for visitors. The aim is creating authentic experiences for visitors, and much needed income to individuals and communities.

International Organizations we have worked with

Many of our past projects have included close partnerships with many international organisations. Some examples are eco-tropicalresorts.com, packforapurpose.com, responsibletravel.com, ecohelpline.org, and many more.

What we offer

We offer onsite and on location courses and ecotourism consultancy services. With our new world in mind, we are now excited to be offering special, individually designed online classes and consultancy for a post Coronavirus world. The courses are designed to suit your particular requirements, on establishing community tourism projects. These courses are built to suit the hotels’, hotel staff, host’s, and visitors’ needs, all in one.
These new online courses are offered in partnership and collaboration with www.eco-tropicalresorts.com.

Contact us to organize a tailor made course that will work for you, and lead to the long term sustainability of your tourism product.
You are also welcome to contact us free of charge, if you have a few simple specific questions that you would like answered.
If the industry moves with both the coronavirus and climate changing times, we will successfully navigate through these challenging times. For more information contact us via this website, or visit the 3 Rivers eco lodge founder’s website on www.jemwinston.com .

Looking forward to a new climate and community conscious post Coronavirus world.

Mr. Jem Winston
Founder and Managing Director,
3 Rivers Eco Lodge, Dominica

Batwa pygmies in Uganda

Adventure in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

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Gorilla Habituation Adventure in Bwindi Impenetrable National park

Estimated reading time: 5 minutes

Table of contents

Start your adventure in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park with gorilla habituation. The Uganda Wildlife Authority introduced the mountain gorillas’ habituation experience in January 2014. The habituation adventure will cost each person $1500.

Gorilla habituation is a process where the wild mountain gorillas are trained to get used to people. This process can take 2 to 3 years. During this time, the researchers visit an identified wild gorilla group on a daily basis. Researchers learn more about the individual gorillas as well as the way they behave during this period.

Gorilla Habituation Experience

With gorilla habituation, clients will get to spend more time with the mountain gorillas compared to regular gorilla trekking. Gorilla trekking can take three quarters of the day just getting to and from the gorillas but actual time with them is only one hour. Clients get to spend 4 hours with the gorilla habituation experience.

Clients experiencing this adventure in Bwindi Impenetrable Park will be moving with the researchers as they habituate the gorillas. You may also visit semi habituated mountain gorillas during this adventure. The semi habituated gorillas are not as predictable. They can decide to hide and behave in a manner that is not predictable. Researchers can stop the experience at any time if they feel it is harming the semi habituated gorillas.

When Mountain Gorillas are habituated

With time, these mountain gorillas get used to the researchers and each individual gorilla is given a name. Once the researchers are very sure that these gorillas can be habituated, they introduce a mock exercise where a few people start visiting. These small visiting groups can include scientists and journalists. Once such a gorilla family has passed the mock exercise, it is opened for visitation by paying clients.

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park has around 12 habituated gorilla families. The named groups are Habinyanja, Mubare, and Rushegura found in the Buhoma sector. As well as Bitakura, Oruzongo and the Kyaguriro found in the Ruhija sector. And Nshonji, Mishaya, Busingye, Bweza, Kahungye found in the Rushaga sector, and the Nkuringo group found in the south. At the moment, 8 gorilla permits are available for purchase from the Uganda Wildlife Authority.  All these sectors are located in the southern part of the park.

Batwa Cultural Visit in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Bwindi forest is home to a beautiful diversity of fauna and Flora, including some exotic plants and rare and endangered animals. The forest was also home to the Batwa pygmies, the original dwellers of the ancient forest and known as the keepers of the forest. The Batwa lived in  harmony with the forest and survived by hunting small game using bows and the arrows, as well as gathering plants for food and medicinal purposes.

Adventure in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Batwa pygmies in trouble

In 1922, the lives of the Batwa people changed forever when the Bwindi forest became a national park and a world Heritage site. This was done in order to protect the endangered mountain gorillas living within in it’s boundaries. The Batwa pygmies were evicted from the park and became conservation refugees in a world that was very unfamiliar to them. Their skills and the means of subsistence were not so useful in this modern environment and they began to suffer.

In 2001, when the Batwa tribe was on the edge of extinction, the American medical missionaries Dr Scott and Carol Kellermanns came to their rescue. They bought land and established programs to help improve the conditions and the lives of the Batwa. This also included the building of a school, hospital and housing. The Kellermanns also developed water and sanitation projects and found ways that the Batwa pygmies could generate an income and sustain themselves.

Batwa Development Program

These projects are now managed and operated by the Batwa Development Program. The program works closely with the Batwa community to ensure that their indigenous rights are respected. Also that they benefit from the forest being a national park as well as a tourist attraction.

Batwa Cultural Experience

The Batwa cultural experience was created by the displaced Batwa pygmies. It’s goal is to educate Batwa children and to share their amazing heritage and traditions with the world. A day spent with the Batwa gives you a chance to enjoy many different things. This includes hiking in the forest with the people of the forest.

The Batwa guide will provide you with a chance to see how they used to live and hunt in the traditional manner. The Batwa guide will teach you how to use a bow and arrow, to hunt as they used to do. You will also visit a traditional Batwa home and learn from the women how to prepare and cook, as well as serve a meal. Talk to a medicine man and learn about the properties of medicinal forest flora. You also get to hear the ancient legends and the traditional songs. For more about Uganda’s Parks and Wildlife.

Submitted by Green World Safaris. To go directly to their website visit: Tours in Uganda, Rwanda and Democratic Republic of the Congo with Green World Safaris.

Wild Cat Monitoring Program prey

Wild Cat Monitoring Program and Saladero Eco Lodge

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Saladero Eco Lodge and the Wild Cat Monitoring Program

Saladero Eco Lodge has worked directly with Osa Conservation since 2014 on their  Wild Cat Monitoring program is located in southwestern Costa Rica. This area is one of the last areas in Central America that can still sustain big cats.

The lodge helps by purchasing and placing camera traps around their property. The cameras monitor the cats and the animals considered prey that support the survival of the large cats. As part of the Wild Cat Monitoring Program the Lodge collects information on the footprints, as well as photographs/videos. This information is sent to Osa Conservation every three months for input into their Program.

The Wild Cat Monitoring Program includes other lodges, private property owners and other organizations. Therefore The Wild Cat Program can obtain a much better idea of the wild animal population and also the general health of the primary rain forests.

There is an abundance of food sources for the large cats. The cats are the top predators, so this would be an indication of a healthy ecosystem. Certainly this is the hope of the Program.

In February 2018 over 240 cameras were put in position to try to figure out how many jaguars are left in the area. The area includes the Osa peninsula, Corcovado National Park, Los Mogos area, Piedras Blancas National Park, as well as the Golfito Reserve. In June 2018  all of the cameras will be collected. Hopefully the information collected will give a better idea of how many Jaguars are left.

Submitted by Saladero Eco Lodge

Our online eco rating exam explained

What difference does an Online Eco Rating Exam make?

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In this day and age every time you turn around there is another “eco” lodge popping up. As “ecotourism” is moving more mainstream, more hotels will try to ride on the sustainable bandwagon. In some ways this is wonderful. It’s really good that hotels are wising up and trying to improve their best practices. I applaud that and it’s good for business.

But what about those places that will pretend they are “eco” when really they are doing the minimum. We have even created a word for this problem that is cropping up: “Greenwashing”. It seems clear that we need some way to differentiate between hotels that are committed to sustainability and those that just use if for publicity purposes.

Our online eco rating exam explained

One way to insure that a place really is sustainable is to get certified by someplace like Green Globe, http://greenglobe.com/. They send someone out to do a hands on rating. The only problem with their rating is that it is expensive to have someone travel out to a lodge, etc. and personally evaluate them. Last time I checked it cost the lodges around $1000 (US) to become certified. For many lodges, this keeps them from joining. By definition, it’s the smaller lodges that are more “eco”. Should they be penalized because they can’t afford the fee?

The next best alternative is to have some kind of check and answer system that doesn’t need a hands on visit. I’ve tried to develop just that with the “Online Eco Rating Exam”, https://www.eco-tropicalresorts.com/ecorating/. It’s a way for lodges to respond to a series of questions and come up with a score that shows exactly how “eco” they are based out of a total of 5. In order for a lodge to get a perfect score, they have to have Policies and Procedures as well as a way of monitoring their consumption of water and energy and send it for authentication. The online rating covers energy, water, recycling and waste, community, and land and nature conservation.

There is no charge to members to take the Online Eco Rating Exam and it is a way for them to prove that they are not “greenwashing”. The Exam is always being improved on as new things come to light or as many people express their opinion.

Right now I’m grappling with water issues. Should lodging that is in a wet area of the world be penalized for not using water saving techniques? I’m leaning towards yes because water is a global issue and I see “eco” lodges as ways to open up people’s eyes to conservation in all its aspects. Please feel free to share your opinion by answering here or contacting me directly at lise @ eco-tropicalresorts.com.

In summary, an Online Eco Rating can make a big difference, especially for small establishments. It helps add credibility to hotels.