: ''"We stand now where two roads diverge. But unlike the roads in Robert Frost's familiar poem, they are not equally fair. The road we have long been traveling is deceptively easy, a smooth superhighway on which we progress with great speed, but at its end lies disaster. The other fork of the road ? the one less traveled by ? offers our last, our only chance to reach a destination that assures the preservation of the earth."'' <small> -- Rachel Carson, from ''Silent Spring'' </small>

'''Ecotourism''' involves visiting natural areas with the objectives of learning, studying, or participating in activities that do not bring negative effects to the environment, whilst protecting and empowering the local community socially and economically. It's an increasingly popular approach to travel, as concerns about human impact on the world have grown in recent decades.

Environmental issues

By encouraging travellers to behave in an environmentally responsible way, EcoTour operators offer information on how travellers can minimize their impact on the ecosystem and contribute to the protection of fragile ecosystems. They may offer travellers the opportunity to participate in conservation or preservation projects. An important element of this type of project is education. The goal is that through participation, eco travellers will return home with increased awareness and concern for environmental issues and therefore continue to behave in an environmentally conscious way. h ello guys its the 2/3/09

Social issues

By involving the local community in aspects of planning, decision-making, ecotourism empowers individuals.

EcoTours may educate travellers through leaflets, interpretation and advice from tour operators or guides about the culture, customs and etiquette of locals. This may prevent conflict between locals and travellers that might have been caused through misunderstanding or ignorance.

Economic issues

By employing local people whenever possible and paying fair wages, ecotourism seeks to prevent exploitation. This benefits the local economy by preventing leakages of the revenue acquired through tourism.

Many Ecotour operators are involved in working on initiatives and projects with the local community such as training and education programs.

Example

A prizewinning example of ecotourism is the Ban Nalan trail

A place where you can find information and reviews on eco travel and ecotourism is also [http://www.ecotrotters.com EcoTrotters], which is a non commercial portal for eco hotel, lodging and places for reviews and advice.

Visit the [http://www.ecotourdirectory.com/ecotourism/ Ecotourism Resource Centre] for articles, research & discussion.

Also, for booking only eco hotels you can refer to [http://www.greenicious.com Greenicious]

CO<small><sub>2</sub></small> emissions

Travelling, or transport in general, is one of the biggest sources of global carbon emissions (27% of global CO<sub>2</sub> in 2005), the cause of [http://www.oxfam.org.uk/get_involved/campaign/climate_change/index.html climate change].

By choosing a different mode of transport, you can minimise your CO<sub>2</sub> emissions. According to a Union of Concerned Scientists [http://ucsusa.org/gettingtheregreener analysis], coaches and trains are almost always less environmentally damaging than planes or cars, but the amount of emissions created when people travel varies depending on how far they are traveling and how many people are going.

The Union of Concerned Scientists developed a set of tips for travelers based on the analysis:

--Motor coaches often are the greenest option. A couple traveling on a motor coach will generate nearly 50 percent less global warming pollution than they would driving a fuel-efficient hybrid car.

--Big SUVs and first-class flights generally pollute the most. A passenger occupying a first-class seat is responsible for twice as much carbon dioxide pollution as one in a standard coach seat. To shrink a vacation carbon footprint, travelers should avoid these options.

--For couples and solo travelers, a nonstop coach flight almost always beats an average car. Air travel is often assumed to be the worst option for vacation travel, but auto pollution can add up, especially when vacationers drive long distances or travel with few passengers. If traveling alone or with one other person, vacationers are usually better off flying direct in coach than getting behind the wheel. This is especially true for trips of more than 500 miles.

--If vacationers do not own a fuel-efficient vehicle, they should consider renting one for longer trips. A large, inefficient SUV emits nearly four times the global warming pollution of a highly efficient hybrid such as a Toyota Prius. If hybrids are not available, travelers should consider an efficient conventional car, which will cut pollution and fuel costs. Many car rental agencies now offer both efficient conventional vehicles and low-polluting hybrids.

--Vacationers should schedule their trip wisely. Sitting in traffic eats up gas, which means more global warming pollution. Altering vacation schedules to avoid peak travel periods can save consumers time and money?and cut pollution.