STS - The Mountain Hut of Grovelsjon, Sweden
We started to source-separate waste as early as
1993, a very symbolic action because the community’s refuse
collection wasn’t completely organized. We were even reported
for recycling too much paper! The fact is that the contractor
was paid less for our garbage. …
Today the contractor is very grateful to the diligence
we showed. Now he’s taking care of all recycling and has
also improved his work environment. We, on the other hand, have
become experts in recycling and a dialogue partner to the community.
It has contributed so that the community has become really good
at source-separation.
Fjällhästen AB, Lapland, Sweden
Fjällhästen AB offer horseback riding
excursions in Lapland. A certain percentage from each package
tour they sell goes to a project for saving the Arctic fox. The
company operates near Arctic fox habitat – although the
animal has become almost extinct in northern Scandinavia. Fjällhästen
staff discuss the problems regarding the Arctic fox with their
guests and in this way help to spread information on this endangered
species. They also take care to avoid sensitive areas during their
horseback trips. The guests are impressed and proud of being able
to be part of the Arctic fox project.
Lapplandsafari, Lapland, Sweden
Lapplandsafari (WWF Award Winner), a Sami company,
also supports the project and both these operations are listed
on the official Arctic Fox Project website – responsibility
towards nature and good-will marketing for the companies as well.
Rid I Jorm, Sweden
Rid I Jorm, Sweden, is active in a project to
save the gyrfalcon in the area. A portion of the price that the
guests are paying goes straight to the project. In return, we
receive information about what is happening, the actions which
are taken and quite a lot of marketing. Our guests think that
it’s very exiting to hear about what’s going on and
are satisfied to know that they are contributing to the rescue
work.
If you are not educated in nature conservation
you can start to co-operate with someone who is. It’s also
good to complement with different education and courses. For instance,
we are co-operating with a school that includes its course on
Mountain Ecology with us and from which we have learned a lot.
Much of the information such as inventories of species of vegetation
can be found at forestry companies and authorities.
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Because of the fact that we are located in a national
park and have to apply for sanction for our business, it’s
important to us to have close and good cooperation with nature
conservators, owners of reindeers and authorities. It leads to
the possibilities of exchanging information and experiences with
all participants. For instance the nature conservators participate
in our tour riding once a year to see how we act in nature.
We, on the other hand report to them what’s
happening in the area. Our cooperation has been working out very
well. By showing that we handle things well, we achieved an expanded
sanction for our business in the national park.
Mountain Quest Adventure Company
Mountain Quest Adventure Company of Alberta outlines
their policy for sustainability. “Our agenda is to have
everyone leave with a higher environmental conscience”.
- We follow ecotourism guidelines.
- We use local suppliers as much as possible for lunches, transportation
and other supplies.
- We use local guides and support people as much as possible
- We educate people about the park’s mission and mandate,
and the importance of properly managing these special areas.
- We work with researchers and, on occasion, park employees,
to help with program delivery and design.
- We go to places that are away from the high human use.
Isle of Mull Wildlife Expeditions, Scotland
David Woodhouse is a founding member of an organization
called Holiday Mull of which his business is also a member. The
aim of the organization is to bring businesses together to market
Mull as a tourism destination. ... Through Holiday Mull, David
and others in the group have initiated a visitor tree-planting
scheme. Planting will take place during the busy Easter season
and will give visitors the opportunity to plant a native tree
on Mull.
Quoted from Greening Scottish Tourism: Ten Best
Practice Case Studies
Canadian Mountain Holidays
“taking the time to understand our business;
looking at commercial tourism operators as positive contributions
to the park, rather than negatives...looking for opportunities
to work together...most of this occurs through regular meetings
during the off-season, and regular meetings on-site with Parks
staff during the season.”
Kluane National Park/Vuntut National Park (Yukon)
“The most important collaborations are
formal meetings with affected operators. The guidelines and issues
discussed at these meetings are directly related to fulfilling
our mandate to protect the resource. These meetings are used to
explain the rationale and process behind the resource protection
measures...you must be prepared to identify and stand by your
bottom line, and you must be prepared to change if/where possible.”
Nahanni River Adventures (Northwest Territories)
“The Nahanni River Outfitters Association
relations have ‘developed’ in a spirit of trust and
open communications. Small number of members (4 – 5) meet
yearly and communicate by phone and email during the season with
Nahanni National Park.”
Uncommon Journeys, Yukon
“...As active members of the Wilderness
Association of the Yukon we have been vocal supporters of efforts
to protect the Yukon’s precious landscape and fauna. In
fact twice a year we submit trip reports to the Department of
Renewable Resources to help provide data used in determining the
carrying capacity of the areas in which we travel.
It is our hope that our efforts will ensure that
in time, your grandchildren will be able to visit the Yukon and
feel the same awe that you do; as you experience this pristine
wilderness with us for the first time.”
Lapplandsafari: Traditional Sami Cultural Camp
…we went collecting useful information in
the area, such as measuring old edifices, taking photographs,
visiting museums and talking to old people and relatives to obtain
as much information and knowledge as possible. It was also important
to find somewhere where the camp could fit into nature and with
the right conditions – a spring, fishing grounds and hunting
grounds – exactly as Sami were thinking 100 years ago.
The perfect place was located in a nature reserve.
We thought it would be a bit tricky because of all the strict
rules about construction work and commercial business in protected
areas. But we had no problem with that, thanks to all the excellent
information we had found. We had, without knowing it, taken into
account all the aspects that are required for a sustainable tourism
project – the ecological, the social/cultural and the economic
effects and benefits. The authorities considered the project favourable
to the nature reserve.
Ecomertours Nord-Sud Inc., Québec
Adventure Travel and Ecotourism Best Practices
Tour 2000, The Economic Planning Group of Canada on behalf of
The Canadian Tourism Commission, July, 2000
Our naturalist is a certified biologist who is
still continuing with her reading and research, which is necessary
so that she can have an in-depth knowledge of the fauna and flora
of each of the sites we visit and of the history of these places.
She attends the training program of the Marine Mammal Active Observation
Network, offered at the beginning of the season. As well, our
biologist trains the hospitality employees in biology for when
they accompany the passengers on their day excursions.
Polar Sea Adventures, Pond Inlet, Nunavut
Because we use the land as part of our business
we have a vested interest. We exercise self-regulation regarding
wildlife viewing – careful not to harass wildlife. Show
our clients how fragile the Arctic is – places where footprints
remain from one year to the next. Licensed operators can play
a vital role in exposing bad practices and therefore aid appropriate
agencies in enforcement of regulations.
Working with Parks
Mingan National Park reports their operators provide “real
involvement and support to the preservation mandate of the park
(e.g. operators report wrong-doing from visitors.)”
Algonquin Outfitters: “We also cooperate with park management
in enforcement activities – sharing information, providing
canoes for ‘undercover’ work, etc.”
Missinaibi Headwaters: “We are the eyes and ears on the
river, alerting park management to infringements of the park operating
plan. These come from logging encroachments, garbage etc.”
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