Hilton Head Island, a coastal barrier Island located off the southeast Atlantic Coast, nestled geographically between Savannah, Georgia, and Charleston, South Carolina, was the first eco-planned resort communiy in the nation. Initially founded by Charles E. Fraser with The Sea Pines Resort, the concept of preserving the environment while providing a wonderful recreational and residential community was a novel concept in 1956, but has become the foundation for the entire Island’s development pattern today.

One of the world’s first ecotourism destinations will be forced to close its doors next year unless supporters can find a way to save it. Maho Bay Camps, a legendary U.S. Virgin Islands eco-resort whose owner helped pioneer the sustainable lodging industry in the 1970s, will find itself at the mercy of new landlords when its 36-year lease expires in July 2012. The 13.8-acre expanse of coastal forest on the island of St. John is a private inholding inside Virgin Islands National Park.

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 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.

1. Be a Proactive Shark Supporter: Be informed about shark products. Be aware of products made from shark meat, fins, cartilage and squalene, which are often cleverly hidden ingredients of these products. 2. Help Clean Up Beaches Near You: participate in the Ocean Conservancy’s International Coastal Cleanup, a worldwide volunteer event that engages the public to remove trash and debris from beaches and waterways. 3. Learn about Voluntourism: Considering voluntour-ing & wondering how? Learn from the pros!

By Stefanie Baeker, Project Mayan Encounter – There is a lot to learn and explore in Riviera Maya, if one chooses to go beyond the tourist areas. Having lived in this region for six years, I have personally gained valuable insights in terms of downsizing my life. Simplifying our lives does not mean that we have to let go of quality. Knowledge and experience gained through travel lasts for a whole life and beyond; material gains are subject to the law of impermanence.

By Ethan Gelber, whl.travel – About 190 kilometres south of Tirana, Albania, between Dhërmi and Himara (Himarë) in the hills above the coast, the small town of Vuno isn’t on most tourist radar. Not, that is, unless they’re headed two kilometres away to two of the Albanian Riviera’s most beautiful waterside retreats: the Jal and Gjipe beaches. Although not entirely devoid of tourist services – there are a few family-run restaurants and guesthouses at Jal – they are still blissfully unspoiled by mass tourism.

Virginia Beach, the most populous city in the state of Virginia, was recently featured on Mother Nature Network (MNN), highlighting the various environmental efforts by the city – from “Virginia Green Travel Month,” which was started this year by Governor Tim Kaine, to the xeriscaping garden on “Mount Trashmore.” We asked Pamela Lingle, Communications Manager of Virginia Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB) for more inside scoop on what the destination is doing to attract lovers of the environment and what’s in store for Virginia Green initiatives.

P.A.P Corp. is an eco-friendly hotel company with 4 hotels in Thessaloniki and Halkidiki and a Hotel and Restaurant Management School (HOTELIA). Active member of TIES, Clean up Greece, Legambiente, WWF, and HSPN (The Greek Society for protection of Nature), P.A.P Corp. contributes to socially and environmentally responsible tourism practices locally and internationally. The company is also an active supporter of such initiatives as the Happy Tourist project and Europe for All, to promote accessibility tourism.

From TIES EcotourismTrend YouTube subscriptions: Our favorite beach & ocean eco-videos! Seacology: Seacology’s Indonesia EcoReef project – Manado Tua Island is a towering extinct volcano fringed with picturesque reef drop-offs and capped with a rainforest at its summit. The island’s 3,200 inhabitants form a very tightly-knit community of farmers and fishermen who cling tenaciously to their Sangir cultural traditions. Large sections of Manado Tua’s coral reef have been reduced to rubble fields due to blast fishing activities that took place over a decade ago…

“Hamanasi is a Belize Eco Resort nestled in 21 acres of rare coastal forest teaming with birds, flora and orchids. Hamanasi believes in responsible, nature and cultural based ecotourism. We understand the importance of preserving our environment and indigenous communities. Hamanasi is committed to protecting our ecosystems and their biodiversity by taking continual steps to be more environmentally friendly and aware. We actively encourage all employees – the vast majority of whom come from the surrounding communities – and visitors to participate in these endeavors.”