Out with a local fishermen in Sarteneja, Belize. Photo courtesy of Travel Off the Radar

“For a long time most of the villagers have made a living from fishing… they have always fished the entire coast of Belize…even those who don’t take part in the traditional lifestyle still make their income from the sea. With their close relationship to the reefs, Sartenejans quickly notice changes to the reef and fish,” says the narrator on an informative video put out by the Sarteneja Alliance for Conservation and Development (SACD).

The Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System is impressive, covering 560 miles from Cancun to Honduras. In Belize, where the reef stretches for a remarkable 186 miles, Blue Ventures has taken a creative and effective approach to conservation.

Beginning in January of 2010, Blue Ventures, already in its eighth year of operation, began its project with the Belizean community of Sarteneja, the SACD and other organizations to understand the impact the local coastal communities have on the nearby reef.

Fishing and marine environments provide a huge source of income and nourishment for nearby residents, and while some are tempted to take extreme conservation measures, SACD clarifies in a video on the Blue Ventures website, “In this community, when people hear the word conservation, they think, ‘no fishing,’ that’s not what SACD wants. Conservation can allow fishing to continue but there are always better ways to do it, there are best practices to ensure the sustainable use of these natural resources.”

Manatee Rehab at Wildtracks Photo courtesy of Travel Off the Radar

For six weeks, volunteers with the Belize project are able to conduct research with Blue Ventures and their partner organization, the SACD. The mission behind the research is to eventually develop a sustainable environmental management plan for the region that not only increases the quality of life for the residents of Sarteneja, but also increases and sustains a healthy level of marine biodiversity.

Depending on schedules, volunteers undergo 7 – 15 days of their science training program, learning techniques of monitoring and identifying species. If you have not received your PADI certification, courses for PADI Advanced Open Water certification are given within two weeks of arrival.

Sign up for a spot on one of the five trips they have coming up in May, June, August, September, or November. Blue Ventures also has training and volunteer programs for their research sites in Malaysia and Madagascar. If you aren’t sure which would be the best fit for you, read about each one on their website.

About Off The Radar

By connecting passionate travelers with unusual travel opportunities, Off the Radar and Xola Consulting support adventure travel companies who provide guests with a genuine, personal experience; who believe in sustainable, environmentally sensitive travel and incorporate the local people and traditions of the destinations where they operate.

Editor’s Note: Special thanks to our friends at The Travel Word, who introduced us to this article.

By Mary Kuhner

Celebrating 35 years of research and education at the edge of the Arctic, the Churchill Northern Studies Centre (CNSC) recently cut the tape on its state-of-the-art 27,000 square-foot facility. In keeping with its mission to understand and sustain the North and to live sustainably on the fragile tundra, the new building – with arching wooden interior ribs – has been aptly dubbed “the upside down ark” by locals. On track to obtain Manitoba’s northernmost LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold certification, the CNSC reduces both the high cost of operating in the North and reliance on outside services and utilities.

Green Construction: Creative and Responsible Solutions

Executive Director Michael Goodyear touts the Centre’s design process and self-sustaining features:

“Although LEED-certified construction provided us with a framework for decision making, we tried to stay away from ‘chasing’ a particular level of certification. Not all energy-efficient technologies are appropriate, practical or cost effective in northern settings like Churchill. On the other hand, because we are essentially ‘off the grid’ except for hydro-electric power, creative and responsible solutions are required – especially when managing water and sewer. The Centre’s water comes from a nearby lake and the sewage is treated on site using bio-filters and below-ground filter beds. This technology is very useful to us but wouldn’t be cost-effective for residential areas in the South with access to centralized municipal infrastructure. The CNSC, however, pays 10 cents per gallon to have our waste trucked to the nearest sewage treatment facility. The more we can treat on site, the better. In the end, we will likely achieve the high end of ‘gold’ certification.”

To minimize waste production and fresh water consumption, the new Centre’s ultra-low water use systems feature waterless composting toilets as well as a variety of low-flow water fixtures. With each person currently averaging 18 gallons of water per day – less than 25 percent of the amount used by a typical consumer – gallonage has already been reduced by 45 percent and is soon slated to drop even further. Mr. Goodyear notes that one of the technologies getting the most attention is the potential for grey-water recycling. Upon final code approval, “all waste water from the sinks and showers will be treated and used to flush the toilets.”

The Centre’s bio-filtration system uses bacteria to break down wastewater for release into an underground filtration bed. (Photo Credit: CNSC)

Smart Energy Choices

In a region where long days of midnight sun are offset by longer days of minimal light, the structure incorporates maximum use of available solar energy: ninety percent of the interior is exposed to natural light. This passive solar collector not only lets in light, but it retains heat through a super-insulated R40 building envelope and triple-glazed windows.

Daylight streaming through the central atrium supplements energy-efficient lighting and a South-facing exterior solar wall pre-heats ventilation air. Saving energy cost through heat recovery is also a high priority. Enermodal Engineering’s lead mechanical engineer Richard Lay designed the CNSC ventilation and plumbing systems to conserve energy with heat exchangers: 80 percent of the energy in heated air is recovered. In addition, heat is recovered from shower drain greywater to pre-heat cold water going to the water heater.

Much more than a physical plant, “the ark” is home to researchers and students working in the biological, physical and social sciences as well as visitors drawn to Churchill’s natural and historical treasures. It is one of the few settlements in the world where the great arctic bears and beluga whales can be encountered in the wild in addition to rare birds and a wide variety of plant communities.

Positioned in the auroral zone, Churchill is one of three top locales to view the northern lights. The area also features diverse first-nation cultures and historical sites ranging from the 18th-Century Fort Prince of Wales to the 20th Century Churchill Rocket Range, the location of the Centre.

Glue-laminated wood columns and supports shape the “Upside-Down Ark.” (Photo Credit: Penn-Co)

From Cold War Relics to Modern Research Centre

In true Churchill recycling style, old became new again in 1985 when the CNSC purchased several buildings on the mothballed Cold War site from the National Research Council of Canada – ironically, a spot once considered for nuclear weapons testing. The Operations Building, which formerly housed upper atmospheric scientists, evolved to accommodate a wide variety of residents.

Originally designed as a multi-purpose structure with barracks – complete with a rodent-seeking “house weasel” named Wally – the Centre became increasingly inadequate to meet the 21st Century needs and expectations of its users. With climate change bringing greater numbers of researchers to the region, as well as eco-tourists eager to learn about sustaining northern species, “the increased expense of operating a poorly insulated, energy-inefficient facility was becoming prohibitive,” according to Mr. Goodyear.

He further said that when funding became available for a purpose-built research and education facility, the CNSC Board was able to demonstrate its commitment to users and to the surrounding environment. Using an integrated design process, Board members, staff and clients developed an environmentally focused plan in collaboration with project managers, architects, and engineers from Integrated Design, Prairie Architects, Enermodal Engineering and Penn-Co Construction.

Given the potential for -40 degree cold, 100 km/h winds and danger from wandering polar bears, the quality of the CNSC’s indoor environment is significant. Foresighted planning has created a self-contained living module that incorporates a wish list of amenities from users seeking greater comfort and elbow room. Dormitories and rooms accommodate 88; and 12,000 square feet of space house scientific laboratories, a commercial kitchen, and administrative offices.

Researchers now share their specialties in classrooms instead of a common area, and when programs are going full tilt, residents and guests can mingle in the 100-seat cafeteria instead of eating in shifts. Fitness facilities and an outdoor deck have been added to help stave off cabin fever between excursions in addition to an aurora dome for exploring northern skies.

Now that the new facility is in place, the former Centre in the historic Operations Building will be recycled for a second time. “There are plans to extend its useful life by 25 years through modest renovation,” Mr. Goodyear explained. “It will house many of the service functions (maintenance and contract research) of the CNSC. These areas will require less energy in some cases and will allow for many of the mechanical systems to be located away from the residential and teaching functions of the new building.”

What will become of Wally? “He’ll probably still have run of the old building, but he’ll have to find creative ways of getting into the new one!”

The use of wood helps warm the lounge and solar atrium spaces. (Photo Credit: Prairie Architects Inc.)

South Carolina’s Salt Marshes: Living Landscapes and Important Habitats

Salt marshes are the dominant natural feature of Beaufort County, South Carolina. A salt marsh is an environment in the upper coastal intertidal zone between land and salt water or brackish water, and is dominated by dense stands of salt-tolerant plants such as herbs, grasses, or low shrubs that are essential in trapping and binding sediments. In addition to supporting terrestrial animals such as migrating birds, salt marshes play a large role in the aquatic food web and the exporting of nutrients to coastal waters, as well as providing coastal protection.

According to SCDNR (South Carolina Department of Natural Resources), South Carolina has more marsh acreage than any other Atlantic coast state (344,500 acres of salt marsh). Because salt marshes in South Carolina are influenced by the twice daily rise and fall of tides, they are subject to rapid changes in salinity, temperature and water depth. Salt marshes rank among the most productive ecosystems on earth, serving as a source of nourishment for many species. In spring and summer, marshes are lush green, highly productive and grow in height. In late fall, the green Spartina (cordgrass) begins to turn brown as leaves die and decomposition begins. Water, waves, wind and storms dislodge and break up decaying leaves, and transport them to mud flats and other locations around the marsh. Fishes, crabs, and shrimps live in salt marshes where stems, leaves, and roots provide food and shelter from predators. The young of many species, such as the blue crab, white shrimp and spot tail bass utilize the salt marsh as a nursery.

To best experience and learn about the marshes is to see them from an egret‘s-eye view – from the water!

Beaufort Kayak Tours: More Than Just a Paddle!

Kayaking not only puts you close to the water surface, but also allows you to get into small channels and creeks where other vessels cannot go. The close views and quiet sound of wind through the Spartina grass will be an experience not soon forgotten.

“Each day on the water is different and unique, and brings its own set of surprises,” says David and Kim, owners of Beaufort Kayak Tours. “A dolphin breaking the water’s surface for a breath, a skimmer parting the creek with its bill, an osprey catching a fish, millions of fiddler crabs waving their claws at each other; all of this and more awaits them on each tour.”

Three things that are key to Beaufort Kayak Tours are:

• All tours are guided by the owners, who are certified Master Naturalists and City of Beaufort History Tour Guides.
• They always paddle with the tidal current so that the trips are accessible to everyone.
• They teach guests something about the local environment and unique area on every trip.

Something not to be missed during your visit to South Carolina is Beaufort Kayak Tour’s Hunting Island trip, where you can learn about salt marsh organisms and their lifestyle, paddle through the beautiful palm-tree studded lagoon where movies such as “Forest Gump” were filmed, take an interpretive beach walk to learn about ocean creatures and barrier island geology, and perhaps even have a swim in the inlet. Your Beaufort Kayak Tour will include all necessary equipment, including a new Wilderness Systems kayak, Werner paddle, and a PFD (personal flotation device).

If you’re attending the upcoming Ecotourism and Sustainable Tourism Conference (ESTC), Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, this September, you can join one of the pre- and post- conference tours offered by Beaufort Kayak Tours (Thursday, September 22nd, 2011), the special Hunting Island kayak tour focusing on the Salt Marsh Ecology and Barrier Island Geology.

Photos by Beaufort Kayak Tours owners David and Kim

Sea Turtle Conservation in South Carolina

Loggerheads are the most commonly found sea turtles that nest in the southeastern United States, and, in 1988, were deemed the official state reptile of South Carolina. They can be found in South Carolina’s near shore waters between April and November or nesting on the beaches between May and October. These enormous reptiles—adult Loggerheads can weigh 300 pounds and reach four feet in length—take 25 to 30 years to mature and reproduce. Consequently, sea turtle conservation is critical in areas where commercial fishing, pollution, and beachfront development pose a threat to their natural habitat.

In South Carolina, sea turtles are protected by state and federal law, primarily by the United States Endangered Species Act of 1973. They are also protected by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), and are listed as endangered by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN). In conjunction with state and federal protection, you can do your part in assisting with sea turtle conservation by reporting dead or injured sea turtles to 1-800-922-5431.

Additionally, you can utilize these simple tips, provided by South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR):

• Never disturb a sea turtle crawling to or from the ocean.
• Once a sea turtle has begun nesting, observe her only from a distance.
• Turn out all lights visible from the beach, dusk to dawn, from May through October.
• Fill in holes on the beach at the end of each day as adults and hatchlings can become trapped.
• Do not leave beach chairs, tents, etc. on the beach overnight.

Hilton Head Island Sea Turtle Protection Project

Hilton Head Island’s Sea Turtle Protection Project by Coastal Discovery Museum officially began in 1985 with the intention of monitoring and protecting sea turtle nests laid on Hilton Head Island through protection efforts regulated by the SCDNR. In recent years, the project has been fortunate to see a steady increase in sea turtle nesting activity on Hilton Head Island. Additionally, this past summer, they had a record nesting year with 239 nests! It is the staff’s hope that the increase in nesting is a result of protection efforts that began in the early 1980s, and that they will continue to see high nesting numbers in subsequent years.

Loggerhead returning to sea (Photo by Cory Tressler)

Unfortunately, the Hilton Head Island Sea Turtle Protection Project does not offer volunteer opportunities locally. However, throughout the state of South Carolina, there are other sea turtle protection programs, many of which are volunteer-based. If you are interested in finding out more about sea turtles in South Carolina, please visit: SCDNR Marine Turtle Conservation Program.

Meet Hilton Head Island Sea Turtle Expert: Amy Tressler

Amy Tressler, Curator of Education at the Coastal Discovery Museum, is the Project Manager for the Hilton Head Island Sea Turtle Protection Project and has been working for this local conservation project for the past twelve years. Mrs. Tressler is a certified teacher and has earned a Bachelor of Science in Wildlife Management from The Ohio State University and a Masters in Elementary Education from the University of South Carolina. Mrs. Tressler has worked as the Curator of Education at the Coastal Discovery Museum for the past three years.

One of the field sessions at this year’s Ecotourism and Sustainable Tourism Conference (ESTC) gives attendees the opportunity to learn about the beach renourishment initiatives and the Hilton Head Island Sea Turtle Protection Project. Amy will lead the field session along with Sarah Skigen, Natural Resources Associate, Town of Hilton Head Island.

>> Learn more about the ESTC 2011 Field Sessions
>> Learn more about the ESTC 2011 Host Destination
>> Register for the ESTC 2011

By Jason Wire

Aysén is Chile’s third-largest region, about the size of Tennessee, and the most sparsely populated. It’s among the most remote and undisturbed areas of Patagonia, and could be changed forever by the largest hydroelectric project in the history of Chile. This is not just another forest. This is the largest river in Chile. These are among the most powerful rapids on the planet. These are the wildest and most pristine rivers within the wildest and most pristine area left on earth.

If the five proposed dams are built along the Baker and Pascua rivers, about 15,000 acres of these Patagonian lands will be underwater, gone. A 400-foot-wide swath will be cut across 1,500 miles – equal to the west coast of the United States. The 200-foot-tall transmission lines will bisect 64 communities and 14 protected areas. Once in place, the transmission lines will provide incentive to build even more dams to produce greater energy at lower cost.

There are a lot of numbers involved in this discussion. But the most telling evidence is seen in pictures like these twelve scenes below, courtesy of iLCP (The International League of Conservation Photographers), taken for their RAVE campaign to show just what will be lost forever if the dams are built.

1. The site of the headwaters of the Rio Pascua where 3 dams are proposed. Before the rapids, the river widens, framing a lake with a view of Mt. Krueger and the Genelas (Twin) peaks in the distance. A tiny tributary winds its way toward the Kreuger range and the main stem of the river. Photo: Bridget Besaw/ iLCP

2. Juan Jose Soto, age 4, playing in the icy glacial waters of Lake O’Higgins. The dams will flood the entire area, and the spot where Juan is playing will be lost. Photo: Bridget Besaw/ iLCP

3. These flamingos native to the Chilean Aysén region are among the many species threatened by the dams’ impending presence. Photo: Jeff Foott/ iLCP

4. The last remaining Gaucho, Erasmus Betancur ‘Beta’ Casanova, and his family herd the sheep and cattle that feed the staff at what was once one of the largest ranches in Chilean Patagonia. It’s now becoming the new Patagonia National Park, the creation of which involves removing fences and most of the animals from the property to allow these grasslands to heal. With an influx of tourists and employees of the dam, Beta’s waning future seems clear. Photo: Bridget Besaw/ iLCP

5. At these headwaters of Rio Pascua, lanky Cohiue trees hang over the gorge. Photo: Jack Dykinga/ iLCP

6. Here in the tiny town of Tortel, residents can cut the remaining cypress forest for fire wood, or as seen here, they can collect the plentiful, renewable resource of drift wood from the many beaches just a short boat ride away. Most people spend at least 1 day a week making the trip to a beach by boat, harvesting wood to heat and cook with. This isn’t a way of life “born necessarily of ‘eco-awareness’ but just the simple fact that their families have lived and tended small subsistence farms here for generations.” Photo: Bridget Besaw/ iLCP

7. Looking out between Lake Colonia and Cachet One, where glacial melting will rapidly increase if the area receives more water from the dam’s flooding. Photo: Daniel Beltra / iLCP

8. One of five dams will be built here, where the Rio Baker splits through and feeds the rocky valley into the horizon. Photo: Jeff Foott/ iLCP

9. Peter Hartmann, activist leader, standing above massive rapids. “The biggest problem is that [the project] implies destroying everything, taking everything out of the region without leaving much behind…These projects are immense, on a scale that is absolutely unmanageable for this region. They’re unmanageable because this region is very fragile, ecologically, geologically as well as culturally. For example, in the area where they want to build the HidroAysén mega-project, there are as many people living there as the company is going to need to build the dams. So imagine what that means – practically doubling the area’s population.” Photo: Bridget Besaw/ iLCP

10. Aysen’s Lake General Carrera possesses a blueness matched only by the sky reflecting above. Photo: Daniel Beltra / iLCP

11. 500 people live around the port and town of Tortel, Chile, at the delta of the Baker River, downriver of where the proposed HydroAysen dams would be. Such a huge development will bring a large, rapid influx of new people, threatening the slow and peaceful way of life they maintain. There is little fishing in these waters, and boats are mostly used for transporting goods. Photo: Bridget Besaw/ iLCP

12. The sun sets over Aysén, taking one last glimpse before nightfall. Photo: Jeff Foott/ iLCP

The expedition team included Pulitzer Prize winner and National Geographic photographer Jack Dykinga, two-time World Press winner and Prince’s Rainforest Project Award winner Daniel Beltra, award-winning filmmaker and photographer Jeff Foott, award-winning photographer Bridget Besaw, and Emmy-winning videographer Edgar Boyles.

About the Author: Jason Wire

Having freshly graduated from Vanderbilt University with his B.A. in English and Communication Studies, Jason Wire is currently spending a year teaching English to Spanish highschoolers in La Linea de La Concepcion, Spain. See more of Jason’s articles here.

Related Article

It’s a Sad Day in Patagonia: Chilean Government Approves Mega-Hydropower Project
By Kim Lisagor – Despite a grassroots opposition effort that had spread across the globe in recent years, the Chilean government finally caved to corporate pressure and approved a $7 billion dollar hydropower project that will destroy one of the world’s most pristine places. The Aysén region’s last two free-flowing rivers – rivers so pure you can drink the water without consequence – will be dammed to create up to 2.75 gigawatts of electricity.

Barra De Potosi is a small coastal village at the mouth of a lagoon, part of a complex and interdependent system of lagoons, which runs along the coast of the Municipio de Petatlan. The lagoon network regulates the lives of both human and animal lives and has a balanced ecosystem that has kept its people gainfully employed and its environment protected.

Barra de Potosi beach

A Mega-Development Threat

The people of Barra de Potosi are now confronted by a development project that they believe will destroy the existing ecosystem, in spite of Mexican laws protecting the environment, and in contradiction with industry trends that seem to point toward interests in sustainability and ecotourism.

Fonatur, a branch of the Ministry of Tourism, and its subsidiary Fonatur Operadora SA de CV are planning a mega project in the area of Petatlan that includes Barra de Potosi. The proposed development would include construction of a cruise ship pier in the bay, as well as the expansion of an existing installation in the bay of Zihuatanejo. The official document published in the Gazetta Official refers to a concession in the bay of Potosi covering 1,500 hectares and an almost 8,000 square meter pier. Indicating the intention to go ahead with these plans, developers a few miles south of Barra de Potosi have recently built a road that will block the natural flow of water from one of the rivers that feeds the lagoon.

Residents of Barra de Potosi and neighboring communities have tried to obtain detailed information about this development project, but have only received evasive answers. The people have stood up in protest, for example in Zihuatanejo and Petatlan, to convince civil servants as well as representatives of Fonatur and its subsidiaries that this project goes against all national environmental laws. It would also annihilate the unique biodiversity of this region in a just few years, while depriving the population of its traditional means of existence.

Local fisherman hard at work near the mangroves

An Irreplaceable Ecosystem

The Potosi lagoon and those interconnected with it, together with long stretches of adjoining beaches are home to over 200 species of birds, endangered butterflies, rare mammals and reptiles, nesting sea turtles, coral reefs, breeding whales and many species of threatened plants.

Preliminary studies by biologists from the Independent University Metropolitan (UAM) indicate that within the ecosystems of Barra de Potosí there are hundreds of species of flora and fauna, of which 46 are endangered or at risk according to the official Mexican regulation NOM-059. For example of the seven surviving species of sea turtles in the world, the leatherback, olive ridley and hawksbill all nest on the beaches of Barra. The Laguna de Potosí contains 450 hectares of mangrove swamps and three threatened species of manglar: botoncillo, black, red and white listed in NOM-059.

Other species threatened by extinction are the rare Tamandua anteater, the puma jaguarundi, the jaguar or Panthera onca, Mexican white tail deer, boa constrictor, iguana and American crocodile. Over two hundred species of birds—including twenty two on the NOM-059 list- have been sighted by UAM scientists including roseate spoonbills, painted buntings, trogans, white and brown pelicans and woodstorks. The nearby islands of Los Moros are rookeries for brown boobies, tropicbirds and magnificent frigates, to name a few. The waters off the beach form part of the migration route for humpbacked whales, bottlenose and tropical dolphins, among other endangered species.

Over 200 species of birds have been sighted here in the pristine Potosi lagoon, and in the surrounding ecosystem.

Barra de Potosi’s Youth: Ideas to Sustain the Community

Some of the local youth, well educated sons and grand sons of fishermen, have been working on developing an economic plan that would help preserve their way of life along with the precious natural environment. These future leaders of the community have been working on an ecotourism project alongside academics from various national universities. They believe very strongly that this project is not only an economically and environmentally sound venture, but also acts as a line of defense against predatory mega-tourism enterprises which often ally with short sighted government agencies.

The youth’s efforts in this grassroots ecotourism project are strongly supported by the great majority of the population, which has seen the unfortunate results of devastating mega-tourism projects in Huatulco, Cancun, nearby Ixtapa, and elsewhere in Mexico. A defense fund has been created and an environmental lawyer has been hired to help on the legal front, while an informational campaign has been launched with the aim of enlisting help from the general public as well as from international organizations.

A young protester at a public march

How You Can Help

This fight against a huge government institution out of touch with its own public policies is proving to be a difficult one, and the people of Barra de Potosi can use all the help they can get. Consider offering your support of this community by participating in one of these easy ways:

1. Send an e-mail to Mexican decision-makers. See here for a sample template, and instructions for how to address your letter.
2. Spread the word on Facebook! Join the Barra de Potosi “Causes” page.
3. Post a message of support on the Save Barra de Potosi guestbook page here.
4. Use your voice! Tell popular Cruise Lines that you don’t want them in Barra de Potosi, and let them know that Barra residents have international support. See more information here on how and where to send an e-mail or letter to cruise lines.
5. Inform yourself and others about this important issue.
6. Spread the word! Share this link with your friends and colleagues!

Let the decision makers know that the small town of Barra de Potosi is not alone in its fight against over development, destruction of an irreplaceable ecosystem, and disregard of an entire community.

All photos courtesy: Ali Zerriffi, 2011

This article was first published by Much Better Adventures in December 2010, as part of the #8 issue of the Much Better Adventures Magazine.
>> View original article here: Wilderness Alaska: The last frontier for adventure, or gold mine?

Katrina from Alaska Ultra Sport introduces us to the wild wonders of the Alaskan wilderness, and exposes the numerous threats to these areas from mining. Perhaps a good adventure can help save the day?

“When I first came to Alaska in 1996 I fell in love with this huge wild place. I moved to Alaska permanently from Germany in 2002 and have since guided people from all over the world into Alaska’s vast wilderness on multi-day hiking, rafting and kayaking trips.”

Alaska is one of those rare places in the world where true wilderness can still be found. Adventure and exploration in Alaska, paddling down rivers and hiking through remote mountain ranges, is all still possible without seeing another soul. Alaska is one fifth the size of the entire United States, and it contains two thirds of the land protected in the US national park system.

Healthy populations of bears, moose, caribous, wolves and fish, salmon in particular, can be found here. Yet even at the beginning of the 21st century harsh climate and topography has kept Alaska’s population under a million. Half of them live just on the edge of the wilderness in Alaska’s largest city: Anchorage. Many remote villages are not connected by a road system. People in remote villages and towns live a subsistence lifestyle.

Glacier walking in Alaska National Park

Over 1,5 Million tourists (that’s 1.5 tourists per resident) come to Alaska every year to experience this last frontier and the wildlife, mountains, rivers and glaciers. These wild lands and untouched places we experience today could be gone in the future. Ongoing and proposed mining projects supported by multi national companies are threatening wildlife, fish, water quality, air quality, and a way of life.

The state of Alaska has never shut down a mine despite of multiple violations of permits by some of the mining operations. Alaska has no law to protect water quality. Alaska’s mining projects are remote and far away from the road system and most people have never heard of them. As you will see, the impact of them on the incredible Alaskan wilderness is very real.

Donlin Creek Gold Mine is a mining prospect near the famous Iditarod Trail – home of the worlds’ longest winter Ultra race – 350 or 1100 miles unsupported across the ice and snow of Alaska, from Knik, just north of Anchorage, to McGrath, then on to Nome. So far the mine has been in its exploration phase. Open pit mining could last for 25 years leaving toxic waste in the remote roadless area not far from the Kuskokwim River. They have been looking into building pipelines to power the mines, which would change the Iditarod Trail forever, as this recent report suggests. Check out this video of the epic video of Iditarod Ultra:

Meanwhile Northern Dynasty Minerals is currently proposing to build North Americas largest copper and gold mine. “The Pebble Project” contains the world’s largest finds of gold and copper. In contrast Bristol Bay and its streams produce the world’s largest wild salmon run. Sockeye Salmon creates hundreds of jobs and income for commercial fishermen, fishing lodges and food for Alaskans.

Lake Clark National Park and Katmai National Park, two of Alaska’s premier wilderness parks, are also in close proximity of the proposed mine site, and Illiamna Lake is one of the major spawning grounds for the Sockeye Salmon of Bristol Bay. The toxic brew from the mine would be held back by a dam as tall as the Seattle space needle. This is one of North America’s most active earthquake zones. Alaska’s volcanoes are part of the Ring of Fire. Earthquakes are measured in Alaska every day. A major earthquake and a brake of the dam could destroy the salmon runs forever.

The remote Red Dog Mine, located in a remote arctic region near Kotzebue, has been polluting Alaska’s water and soil since the late 1980’s, as this report shows. Red Dog is the world’s largest source for zinc and a significant source of lead. Over the years the mine has violated its federal water pollution discharge permit several times resulting in lawsuits and federal fines.

Pac Rim Coal and Barrick Gold who are funded by two Texas millionaires are proposing a strip mine on another salmon producing stream in Alaska. The combined lease is about sixty thousand acres of riverfront, wetlands and coastal land on the Chuitna River which runs into Cook Inlet. The estimated one billion metric tons of sub-bituminous coal would be stripped, crushed and shipped to Asia.

This mine could be the first Alaskan project to permanently remove several miles of healthy salmon spawning habitat. According to fisheries biologists this mine could destroy Alaskan salmon resources forever. The Chuitna coal mine would be the largest in Alaska and the first large-scale mining operation in Alaska to be permitted to mine directly through a productive salmon stream.

Another poster child for how Alaska’s Arctic is threatened by oil and gas projects is the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, a 19 Million Acres reserve, managed under US Fish & Wildlife. The 130.000 animal strong Porcupine Caribou heard migrates through this area every year to their calving grounds on the coastal plains. We visit this remote area on our wilderness river rafting on the Kongakut and Hulahula rivers.

Female caribous need those coastal areas for calving to be safe from predators. Canada has already protected the Canadian side of the refuge permanently, and the US Fish & Wildlife is currently considering designating part of the refuge as permanent wilderness, but is facing great opposition from Alaska lawmakers, no doubt under pressure from oil and gas consortia. Environmental groups have been promoting more protection for the refuge for many years.

As you can see, there are numerous serious threats to the Alaskan Wilderness. By guiding people to these wild and remote untouched places we can show them what we still have today in Alaska, and how special the wilderness is. Like many places in the world, it is through tourism that we can prove we have something worth protecting for our future generations, and give a counter argument to the mining interests. I hope we can make a difference, one person at the time.

Alaska Ultra Sport is a very small wilderness guiding company, a husband and wife team offering custom designed small group guided trips throughout Alaska for 2-6 people and leading tours into road-less remote areas (such as Katmai National Park Gates of the Arctic National Park and the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge) by raft, kayak and backpacking.

More about Much Better Adventures

Much Better Adventures are searching for the world’s local, sustainable and harder to find travel choices for adventure seekers, collecting them in one place. This is a community you can’t buy your way into – those that meet the criteria are offered free membership, so travelers can get in direct contact. Their mission? A wide, fair and independent collection to quench your thirst for adventure, while supporting not-for-profit, community and innovative ecotourism projects who often cannot afford to appear on mainstream travel resources.

>> View original article on The Travel Word Blog.

The rhinoceros is critically endangered! Approximately 200 years ago, at the turn of the 19th century, there were an estimated one million rhinos. By 1970, the count was about 70,000. Today, there are fewer than 24,000 remaining in the wild. If there is no change in our appreciation of this magnificent animal – if we do not take action to stop poaching and support the protection of our rhinos – the five surviving species (white rhino, black rhino, Indian rhino, Sumatran rhino and Javan rhino) will become extinct in the wild in our lifetime.

The critically endangered Javan rhino is also known as the lesser one-horned rhino. It is probably the rarest large mammal in the world; no more than 60 are thought to survive in the wild (in Ujung Kulon National Park in Java and Cat Tien National Park in Vietnam) and there are none in captivity.

Fortunately there are organisations like Save the Rhino and awareness-raising efforts like the one I am leading now working hard to draw the crisis to the attention of more people.

Deadly Myths

In Southeast and East Asia, superstitions about rhinoceros horn have people believing it to be a ‘remedy’ for various ailments, such as fever and pain. There is, however, no scientific evidence supporting this. Rhino horn has absolutely no medicinal effects on humans.

And yet cultural myths surrounding rhino horn persist and are why rhinos are slaughtered illegally. These deadly myths are why wild rhinoceros populations in Africa and Asia are at risk of extinction. The high and unrelenting demand for rhino horn has pushed its price to US$59,000 per kilogram, making it far more expensive than even gold.

Dwindling Numbers

2010 was a very bad year for poaching in South Africa, which is home to 90% of the world’s wild rhino population. Figures released by WWF (the world’s leading conservation organisation) that the number of rhinos shot dead in South Africa increased by 173% in 2010, a 15-year high across the continent. At a time when the rhinoceros is need of protection, South Africa is losing more than 20 per month. Conservationists warn that, at the present rate, the number of killings will outstrip new births.

It is not just the African rhinoceros populations that are suffering. Listed on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as critically endangered, the Sumatran Rhino faces an extremely high risk of extinction in the immediate future; it may not live to see the end of the next decade.

This mother and baby are southern white rhinos, which in the late 19th century were considered extinct, are part of a very small population in the Umfolozi-Hluhluwe region in Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa. The northern white rhino sub-species is critically endangered; in mid-2006, only four were reported in the wild in Garamba National Park, DRC.

Big 4 Safaris in 2035?

Right now, a lucky few of us are able to travel to Africa and Asia to see rhinoceros in the wild. But in 2035, will our grown children and grandchildren still see wild rhinos? Will the Big Five have been reduced to a Big Four?

I am trying to make a difference and make people aware of the terrible plight of the world’s rhino population. The Facebook page – Save the Rhino, see my Horn is a great place to show your support. All I ask is that you please just spread the word and ask your friends and family to please ‘like’ this Facebook page. By showing your support, the more people we can get on board, the more pressure we can put on governments to do all they can to STOP this. To stop it today, before it is too late.

SEEtheWILD – Protect Endangered Wildlife Through Conservation Travel

SEEtheWILD offers meaningful adventure vacations that help protect endangered species across the globe. After three years of successful conservation tourism projects focused on protecting sea turtles through SEETurtles.org, Dr. Wallace J. Nichols and Brad Nahill formed SEEtheWILD to support a wider variety of destinations and endangered species. Since 2008, SEE Turtles has generated more than $200,000 for local turtle conservation programs in Costa Rica, Baja Mexico and Trinidad.

SEEtheWild currently offers various adventures featuring opportunities to view and help protect Wild Cats, Bears, Birds, Turtles, Sharks, and Whales. SEEtheWILD and SEE Turtles are non-profit projects of the Ocean Foundation.

Interview with Brad Nahill, Co-Founder & Director

What makes SEEtheWILD unique?

SEEtheWILD is the world’s first wildlife conservation travel website. It’s the only place travelers can go to find wildlife tours and volunteer expeditions that have been evaluated by conservationists and contribute directly towards the protection of wild animals. For every trip booked through the site, at least 5 percent of the trip cost will go towards local conservation organizations, which is five times higher than the standard set by organizations like 1% For the Planet.

Tell us about what you aim to achieve through SEEtheWILD.

Our primary goal is to increase the amount of funding from tourism that goes to wildlife conservation efforts. Nature tourism generates billions of dollars for companies and governments around the world while species go extinct and non-profits struggle for funding. We also want to encourage travelers to become ambassadors for conservation when they return home by using their voice, buying habits, and spare time to advocate and volunteer for animals.

How do you think wildlife conservation travel benefits the traveler?

Seeing a wild animal in its natural habitat can be one of the most inspiring experiences in life. Hearing the shrill call of the elephant or watching an enormous whale glide by inspire emotions that no zoo or aquarium can recreate. This type of travel can help to assure travelers that their favorite animals will be there the next time they visit and that their grandchildren can have the same opportunity. Wildlife conservation travel also aims to educate people on the threats that animals face and empowers them to contribute towards ending those threats.

How are the SEEtheWILD operators selected?

We developed a list of criteria that we use to determine which tour operators truly support wildlife conservation, including strong financial support, carbon reduction, emphasis on local businesses and guides, and low impact lodging. Every operator listed on SEEtheWILD.org has gone through a comprehensive application process. We started with five US-based operators and non-profits who have demonstrated industry leading practices: Earthwatch Institute, Wildland Adventures, Maple Leaf Adventures, Reefs to Rockies, and Geographic Expeditions. Eventually we will expand to include operators and non-profits based outside of the US. You can learn more about our partnerships with travel organizations here.

How are the ‘benefiting organizations’ – or the conservation projects to which 5% of the tour price is donated – selected?

All of the benefiting organizations are connected with specific wildlife tours or volunteer programs. These organizations must be conducting conservation work on the focus species of the tour in the destination. In many cases, we work with our operator partners to support organizations that they trust. Where there aren’t any current established relationships, we search out the most effective local organizations with the help of our colleagues in the conservation community.

>> For more information and to receive regular updates, follow SEEtheWILD on Facebook and Twitter.

Brad Nahill has worked in sea turtle conservation and ecotourism for over 10 years. While living in Costa Rica, he worked with four sea turtle nesting beaches and worked with or consulted for several ecotourism companies, including EcoTeach and Costa Rican Adventures. He helped to found the EcoTeach Foundation and worked with Rare on a project building community-based ecotourism enterprises in World Heritage sites. As co-founder of SEE Turtles and SEEtheWILD, he leads marketing efforts, including working with tour operators, giving educational presentations, fundraising,and developing promotional materials.

Just because you are going on a family vacation doesn’t mean that learning should take a break too. Ecotourism is full of what educators call teachable moments or, more definitively, unplanned opportunities to explain a concept that has unintentionally captured a child’s interest.

Photo: Greenloons

Whether it is touring the rainforests of the Amazon, observing blue footed boobies throughout the Galapagos Islands, or understanding the water issues that surround the Okavango Delta in Botswana, ecotourism is a vacation experience that provides boundless opportunities to teach younger generations about the fragility of ecosystems and the significance of heritage.

Who among us has not witnessed the common occurrence while visiting the local zoo, going hiking through the wilderness, or even watching a local artistic exhibit of younger children looking with absolute wonder and amazement at the spectacle of music, art, flora or fauna? There is delight followed by an onslaught of illuminating questions about people and the natural world.

Photo: Greenloons

These teachable moments mark milestones for a child’s personal growth and development. And, the value system that is at the core of ecotourism can be a positive influence on all age groups, not just the very young.

Specifically, children can benefit from an ecotourism vacation because the experience offers an opportunity for:

• Instruction about indigenous wildlife – ecotours are not only small group tours that allow for up-close-and-personal views of nature, but ones that are generally led by a naturalist that have been trained to understand plants, birds, insects and animals of the region and their relationships to ecosystems, thereby bringing education alive.
• Increased awareness about environmental degradation – an important component of ecotourism is to inform tourists about ways to minimize waste, soil erosion, air and water pollution so as not to disturb the environment – lessons that no doubt will stay with children.
• Involvement with conservation efforts – whether it’s helping to record sea turtle activity in Greece or understand the destructive role of invasive plant species in the wilderness, ecotourism allows for deep knowledge of the fragility of the natural world.
• Focus on the depletion of natural resources – whether its learning about how an eco-lodge harnessed solar or wind power for their operations or how countries are implementing renewable bio-energy to power engines, ecotourism teaches how the impact of tourism is affecting sustainable land development, public transportation choices, and how other countries are using low-carbon technologies today.
• Exposure to cultural experiences – from tasting new foods to learning phrases in a foreign language, ecotourism interprets cultural traditions and experiences that provide long-lasting impressions about the world.
• Inspiration for a life’s passion – while snorkeling through a coral reef or observing animals in their natural habitat in Africa, ecotourism sparks the imagination to dream about a career or even find a solution to an environmental problem

Ecotourism even offers opportunities to incorporate your family vacation with your child’s science, social studies, foreign language, even art and music lesson plans. One of the most helpful and free resources available now is on the Rainforest Alliance site, which offers a Kindergarten – 8th Grade curriculum guide.

One example lesson plan for a Kindergarten student is entitled Biodiversity which challenges children to think about the diversity of local flora and fauna in local forests versus tropical forests as they classify insect and tree species, while the 8th Grade lesson plan entitled Guatemala’s Changing Forest has children learning about the Maya Biosphere Reserve by analyzing maps and determining recent changes in forest cover.

Dedication to the cause of the environment and its preservation can have a long-lasting impact on the way our younger generations feel more connected to ecosystems as well as view social involvement and economic success. Not only will children establish a deeper, longer-lasting connection with the region they are visiting during an ecotour, they will learn more about how they can make a more positive impact on the world.

Irene Lane is the founder & president of Greenloons, a company dedicated to providing nature enthusiasts and wildlife conservationists worldwide with trusted information about responsible, sustainable, and certified ecotourism travel vacations and volunteer conservation efforts both in the U.S. and internationally. For more information, see: Greenloons.com.