Green Travel Notebook

Should Zoos & Aquariums Educate Customers?

Humphead Wrasse in Aquarium

There are many tourist organisations that rely on unique environmental locations or endangered species to make money either for profit or to support ongoing work. However whether these organisations have a responsibility to educate their customers about the environmental side of their operation is another question. A lot of people, whether on holiday or in their home town, visit zoos or aquariums to see a range of exotic creatures up close but the majority of people end up leaving without any further knowledge than what they had at the start of the visit. Often there is little information provided by zoos and aquariums about the species they house, the threats the creature is facing or whether it is endangered or vulnerable.

It can always be argued that the general public is only looking for entertainment and they don’t want to know about more these issues. Organisations that do see education as part of their role often focus their efforts towards children and there is little or no effort put into educating adult customers. However increasing the awareness of the general public about biodiversity and the actions required to protect a species helps support the work being done by organisations such as the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the World Wildlife Fund. However is it only these organisations that have a responsibility for increasing awareness or do tourism organisations have a role to play as well?

This question applies to any vulnerable or endangered species used in tourism. While different organisations categorise endangered species in different ways, there is general agreement about species most under threat. The IUCN manages one of the most well know databases of species which categorises species as being of least concern through near threatened, vulnerable, endangered and extinct (more information about criteria can be found on the IUCN website).

The Humphead Wrasse is an example of why education is required. There are a number of public aquariums that house this large fish which is classified as endangered with a decreasing population. The fish is slow to reproduce which makes any threats to its population even more serious. The main threats facing the Humphead Wrasse is damage to coral reefs and being hunted as a gourmet delicacy in Asia. Educating the general public about the importance of sustainable seafood and sustainable fishing is one aspect of protecting this species but this is often not mentioned by aquariums that have these fish.

So next time you are visiting a zoo or aquarium have a look at the information provided about the different species on show and whether you find yourself more educated at the end of your visit. Providing feedback to the organisation is the best way of encouraging them to increase the information they have available.

3 Ways Public Transport is Getting Greener

Travel involves transport and with the high level of level of carbon emissions generated by public transport means that travel has a big impact on the environment. However this is not going unnoticed and individuals, companies and governments are implementing ways to reduce the environmental impact, and particularly carbon emissions, of different transport options. Here are three ways that the environmental impact of public transport is being reduced:

1. Public Transport Companies Going Green
Public transport providers are recognizing their environmental impact and the need to introduce more sustainable business practices if they are going to stay competitive. More and more airlines have introduced carbon offsetting programs which travelers can choose when they purchase tickets. Eurostar has a campaign which addresses a number of environmental issues including carbon emissions. The decision to introduce more sustainable options not only helps the environment but also puts the company in a competitive position for growing consumer awareness of environmental issues.

2. Consumers Making Different Choices
Every company is driven to provide what their customers want and with more publicity on environmental issues the general public is becoming more aware of transport choices. People are starting to acknowledge that using public transport to get to work is more environmentally friendly than driving their individual vehicles. Although change is slow, more and more indicators suggest that the public are considering environmental factors in their purchasing such as buying carbon offsets when flying, using public transport more often and considering more environmentally friendly hybrid car models.

3. Developers Considering Transport in New Developments
While councils and other government departments have long been involved in detailed transport planning, there is now greater consideration to giving the local population greater travel options such as providing better footpaths and cycling lanes in urban areas. The consideration of transport options is also being taken on board by property developers who are now more likely to consider transport access and availability as part of their initial planning of a new development. Some councils, such as the Workingham Borough Council in the United Kingdom, have rules developers must follow in an effort to ensure better transport in the area.

Although the public transport industry as a whole has a long way to go in adopting sustainable practices there are clear indications that the ‘greening’ of public transport is becoming a higher priority. The combined effort of individuals, companies and governments is vital to reducing carbon emissions from transportation.

How Travellers Can Stop Using Plastic Water Bottles

Travellers from developed countries are used to turning on the tap to get clean drinking water. However there are many countries around the world where the water system does not provide potable (drinkable) water. While water maybe readily available for washing or bathing, drinking it can cause serious illness. The most common alternative in countries where tap water is not safe to drink is bottled water which is cheap and readily available. Unfortunately the number of plastic water bottles used generates a huge amount of waste and are a common form of pollution. Although some bottles are recycled, many end up slowly degrading in landfills or being burnt which can cause toxic fumes. Here are four ways you can reduce your impact on the environment and avoid using plastic water bottles next time you’re travelling.

1. Refill your bottles: In some countries it is possible to refill water bottles with purified water without the need to buy an additional bottle. This not only reduces the number of plastic bottles you use but can also work out much cheaper. Your hotel or local taxi driver should be able to point you in the right direction.

2. Boil rather than buy water: Boiling water is the safest way to make water safe to drink as it kills all common water borne pathogens. If you have the facilities to boil water when you’re travelling you can reduce your need for bottled water. Make sure you boil the water vigorously for 1 minute and allow it to cool to room temperature. A pinch of salt per litre will improve the taste

3. Choose a hotel with a water purification system: Larger hotels often install their own purification or desalination system making the water from the hotel taps safe to drink. If you’re staying in one of these places, ask whether the hotel water is drinkable and what they are doing to reduce the use of plastic water bottles. Some small hotels have large water coolers guests can refill their water bottles from.

4. Carry your own water filter: There are now a range of portable water filters on the market that can easily be taken with you when travelling. These come in range of sizes depending on your needs and are great for people intending to get off the beaten track where drinkable water may not be available at all.

So the next time you’re travelling check out these great options for getting drinkable water without using plastic water bottles. If you do have to buy water in plastic bottles, make sure you keep these separate from other rubbish. Some bottles can be recycled and people in parts of Thailand and China earn extra money by taking bottles to recycling firms. The least you can do is make it easier by keeping recyclables separate from other waste.

Should Zoos & Aquariums Educate Customers?

3 Ways Public Transport is Getting Greener

How Travellers Can Stop Using Plastic Water Bottles

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