WWF Travel and Conservation
- Date: 28 May 2009
The WWF Travel Program has taken curious travelers on wildlife-viewing expeditions throughout the world since 1983. Travelers choose WWF for its variety of tours, for its stellar guides and because a portion of their registration cost is contributed to WWF’s conservation fund, among other reasons. But did you know that the WWF Travel Program runs its tours and its program with conservation and carbon footprint issues in mind?
We put good environmental practices to use in ways that travelers may not think of:
The right partners: We work with tour operators that share WWF’s environmental mission. As a result, we’re collaborating with some of the top U.S.-based leaders in tourism conservation.
Guide training: WWF helps train some guides on our tours, emphasizing both WWF’s work in that region and how tourism, when done properly, can be vital to that region flourishing. We encourage them to talk about carbon footprints on tour.
Small ship, smaller footprint: Our voyages are on small ships only. Aside from the wholeheartedly better travel experience they provide vs. large cruise ships, they have a smaller footprint and are run in an eco-sensitive manner.
Quality time: On our tours, you spend time in one destination, especially on our long-haul trips, rather than hop from country to country. By focusing on one place, you decrease flying time and you get to know that region better. And when you are intimately familiar with a place—and its people and wildlife—you understand why it’s so important to save.
Carbon offsets: Our travel partner, Natural Habitat Adventures, is the world’s first carbon neutral travel company. That means it offsets 100% of the greenhouse gas emissions its trips, its office and all operations associated with running its business. We are working with our other tour operators as well to make all WWF tours carbon neutral in the future. In addition, we encourage travelers to consider offsetting their travel emissions when participating on a WWF tour.
Sustainable marketing: Our brochures are printed on recycled content paper made from sustainably sourced trees. The ink is soy based. We also have increased our electronic marketing through our website, special emails and e-newsletters.