By Ayako Ezaki (The International Ecotourism Society)

For volcano enthusiasts, and travelers interested in geology and natural history, Hawai`i is a unique destination offering one-of-a-kind encounters with Kīlauea, one of the world’s most active volcanoes, and Mauna Loa, the world’s most massive volcano. I was fortunate to get to know one of the most reputable local ecotour providers, VolcanoDiscovery Hawai`i, and to experience the Big Island differently: with an incredible amount of education and an eye-opening insights into the culture and history of the island.

Maliau Basin is one of the world’s finest remaining wilderness areas. It encompasses over 390 square kilometres of pristine rainforest in the south-central part of Sabah, Borneo, in Malaysia. The rainforest is so dense that less than 50 percent of it has ever been explored. Today, the Maliau is awaiting UNESCO World Heritage Site status, which would help with conservation efforts.

Farmstead Chef, co-authored by Lisa Kivirist and John Ivanko, captures the movement back into the kitchen, and gardens. Whether to savor the flavor of fresh, unprocessed foods, to reduce the number of miles some foods are shipped from farm field to plate, or just save some money by eating seasonally and locally, millions of people are hitting the farmers’ markets, supporting restaurants that feature locally sourced ingredients or growing their own food in their backyards, rooftops or community gardens.

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 is on track to obtain Manitoba’s northernmost LEED Gold certification. The CNSC reduces both the high cost of operating in the North and reliance on outside services and utilities.

On July 29, 2012, The Squaxin Island Tribe will host the Paddle to Squaxin 24th Annual Canoe Journey, an inter-tribal celebration of Pacific Northwest canoe culture and tradition. More than 100 canoes will land at the Port of Olympia, in Washington state, with thousands of people joining together to welcome each arrival. For centuries, Pacific Northwest tribal people navigated the waterways in intricately carved dugout canoes. The Salish Sea, the Strait of Juan de Fuca and the Strait of Georgia in Canada, were the central force that connected canoe cultures for inter-tribal communication and trade.

EcoCamp Patagonia is located at the very tip of South America, in the heart of Torres del Paine National Park in Chile, with a unique view of the majestic granite towers. The region’s first fully sustainable accommodation south of the Amazon and the first of its kind in the Patagonian wilderness, EcoCamp offers upscale camping in geodesic domes inspired by the region’s ancient nomadic inhabitants. Guests enjoy guided treks and wildlife excursions by day and Chilean food and wine at night.

Global Vision International (GVI) runs responsible volunteering programs in over 40 countries around the world, and is one of the largest and most respected volunteer abroad organisations in the world. Guided by a unique commitment to volunteers and partners, GVI run almost all of their own operations. This unique ground up approach to volunteer travel allows GVI to run sustainable long-term projects that volunteers can join and contribute on for short periods of time, from two weeks to two years.

Ali Dempsey

Global Basecamps and Maasai Wanderings strive to make education easily accessible and free to the Maasai children of Ilkurot, with the hope that educated Maasai will be better equipped to aid in retaining their ancient culture. In addition to providing valuable educational opportunities to children, Ilkurot Nursery School also supports teachers and cooks by offering employment, and promotes additional cultural tourism throughout the village.

By Marcela Torres

Co-management of protected areas by the State and local communities is one of the best ways to guarantee that tourism will provide economic and social benefits to many people who would otherwise be marginalized, and at the same time that it ensures protection of the environment on which these communities rely on for their income. An excellent example is the Soncor Sector of Los Flamencos National Reserve, in the Atacama Desert of the Antofagasta Region, in northern Chile.

By Kim Lisagor

Earlier this year, writer Colleen Wainwright celebrated her 50th birthday by raising $50,000 for WriteGirl, a nonprofit organization that empowers teenage girls by mentoring them in creative writing. In exchange for my contribution, I was given an opportunity to commission a poem by a WriteGirl author that honors the world’s endangered places and calls upon travelers to care for them. WriteGirl author Yamuna Haroutunian rose to the challenge with a poem that manages to be mournful, beautiful and hopeful at the same time.