Amongst the event’s various hip hop performances, eco-friendly dance floor and dinner aboard a hybrid ferry, young environmental leaders from the United States and Canada showcased their environmental work on a regional and international platform, while also connecting them to UNEP and the global Tunza Network.

The event itself was organized by UNEP’s Regional Office for North America (UNEP RONA) and was hosted at the University of California at Berkeley.

Started in 2003, Tunza (meaning “to treat with care” in Swahili) is made up of networks of young environmentalists from across the world and is part of UNEP’s long-term strategy for engaging young people in environmental activities.

The project is designed to foster a generation of environmentally-conscious citizens and help channel their enthusiasm into positive action – even at the very highest level.

CODE Green

One of the weekend’s events included a presentation by Bonnie Nixon, founder of the CODE Green Agency, on how young people can work with governments and corporations on green issues.

“Engaging young people is crucial to tackling some of today’s most pressing environmental issues, not only in our region but around the world. This conference represents a major step in solidifying UNEP RONA’s youth outreach work,” said Amy Fraenkel, Director of UNEP RONA.

The conference was facilitated by Darian Rodriguez Heyman, current chair of the UN’s Green Tech Summit. Representing UNEP RONA was Elisabeth Guilbaud-Cox, the person responsible for bringing the Tunzana Network to fruition.

In addition to developing a strategy for the Network’s activities in the coming two years, some of the conference’s main highlights included:

• A presentation by 350.org co-founder May Boeve on ‘Using Social Networks to Organize Grassroots Campaigns’
• A campus tour around UC Berkeley that showcased sustainable initiatives, as well as some of the school’s major student-run environmental groups
• A two-hour trip aboard the Hornblower Hybrid ferry, the United States’ first hybrid ferry, which uses energy from solar, wind, grid electric, and Tier 2 diesel generators to power the vessel

“It’s important to participate in conferences like this because when you engage in a group you feel like part of a family, a network of others who have the same passion and vision for a better world,” said Marisol Becerra, one of Tunzana’s youth network advisors.

The University of California at Berkeley served not only as a picturesque venue, but also as an example of an institution that employs progressive environmental and conservation initiatives.

After the weekend’s inspiring talks, trips and tours, as well as some invaluable networking, it’s hoped that Tunzana’s young members will return hope, ready to take action on the environment in their schools and communities.

For more information, visit www.unep.org/Tunza.

According to a recent climate action analysis from the bipartisan World Resources Institute (WRI), the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) authority to aggressively reduce greenhouse gas emissions has substantial long and near term benefits.

Yet even still, the EPA faces unprecedented resistance from climate change nay-sayers who seem to want to thwart progress at every turn. Last year, EPA made final its determination that global warming pollution constitutes a public danger. Since then, several pieces of legislation have been introduced that would short circuit EPA’s authority.

Need for comprehensive legislation

If the federal government and states move aggressively, through 2016, it could successfully use existing authorities to put the country on a trajectory to meet the Obama Administration’s reduction target of “in the range of” 17 percent below 2005 levels by 2020.

But, we can do even better than that.

According to the Center for Climate Strategies, new climate and energy policies bear the potential for creating 2.5 million American jobs (while helping to curb energy costs) as well as produce around $134 billion in economic activity.

The report, based on economic impacts of climate policies developed by 16 separate and impartial states, calls for the adoption of 23 specific policy approaches, including the creation of new clean energy sources for heat and power, improved energy efficiency and industrial processes, transportation and land use improvements, agriculture and forestry conservation and expanded recycling and waste energy recovery under a national framework.

These policies have the potential to reduce pollution, are cost-effective, and improve energy, health, environment, and economic development. If every U.S. state would implement the full scale of all 23 actions, the resulting greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions would surpass national GHG targets proposed by President Obama and congressional legislation, and would reduce U.S. emissions to 27% below 1990 levels in 2020 – equal to 4.46 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (BMtCO2e).

“Several states have pioneered creation of comprehensive state climate action plans in recent years,” said Tom Peterson, President and CEO of the Center for Climate Strategies. “Our analysis provides the first clear indication of what would happen to the economy if such programs were adopted at the federal level.”

Fighting a public danger

“The WRI study shows that we have tools that can start us on the road to achieving significant greenhouse gas reductions but still more needs to be done,” said Joe Mendelson, global warming policy director for the National Wildlife Federation (NWF) . “EPA action can take us significantly down the path of averting the climate crisis but we will need aggressive climate and energy legislation to ultimately end our addiction to fossil fuels.”

The policy director takes specific aim at one of the planet’s worst lobbying sector against climate change legislation: Big Oil.

“Of course Big Oil doesn’t want to be held accountable for their pollution and will dig into their wallets and mobilize their army of lobbyists to fight EPA at every turn,” continued Mendelson. “WRI has made it acutely clear why we’ll fight tooth and nail against Big Oil backed challenges in Congress to EPA action.”

Part of Alaska Air Group’s “Greener Skies” project at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (Sea-Tac), the flight test was focused on using satellite-based guidance technology (Required Navigation Performance, or RNP) to fly more efficient landing procedures that will reduce environmental impacts.

The airline, in cooperation with the Port of Seattle, Boeing and other airlines serving Sea-Tac, is seeking Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approval for the procedures, which could ultimately be used by all properly equipped carriers at Sea-Tac.

Representatives from Alaska, Boeing, the FAA and the Port of Seattle observed the level of flight path precision and fuel consumption on eight landing approaches in a Boeing 737-700. With a landing weight similar to a typical passenger flight, the shorter and more efficient approaches reduced carbon emissions and saved 400 pounds of fuel per approach.

Alaska Airlines estimates the new procedures at Sea-Tac will cut fuel consumption by 2.1 million gallons annually and reduce carbon emissions by 22,000 metric tons, the equivalent of taking 4,100 cars off the road every year.

They will also reduce overflight noise for an estimated 750,000 people living below the affected flight corridor.

“Sea-Tac is the ideal location to pursue this cutting-edge project,” said Ben Minicucci, Alaska’s chief operating officer. “Seattle has the highest percentage of advanced RNP-equipped planes in the nation, and — working with the FAA — Alaska Airlines, Boeing and the Port of Seattle are committed to making ‘Greener Skies’ a reality as soon as possible. Ultimately this project could serve as a blueprint for next-generation aviation technology throughout the country.”

Typically, commercial aircraft follow a lengthy approach pattern and series of stair-step descents before landing. Using RNP technology and a continuous descent, also called an optimized profile descent (OPD), aircraft can descend from cruise altitude to an airport runway along a shorter, more direct flight path at low power.

Planning and testing of the procedures will continue through the remainder of the year and will be integrated into Alaska Airlines and sister carrier Horizon Air’s commercial operations at Sea-Tac pending FAA approval.

For more info, visit http://www.alaskaair.com.

For most host locales, hosting the World Cup games is considered a “golden opportunity” – a spotlight cast on the region from every corner of the world.

The very nature of the games develop a blossoming interest in the destination as, well just that: a destination to experience well after the games take place. Critical to maintaining momentum of interest in the destination after the Games, is achieving unprecedented levels of exposure by the leaders of the travel trade from across the world.

“2010 is a year of immense importance for South Africa,” said Mr. Jabu Babuza, chairman of South African Tourism. “Following six years of commitment and significant investment by all South Africans towards delivery of a successful 2010 FIFA World Cup – the best World Cup ever in the opinion of FIFA and the millions of people who took part across the nation and the world – South Africa has proven how truly alive with possibility this nation is.”

But for South Africa,” he continued, “success in 2010 is about more than the Games. It is about the legacy, which the Games leave behind.”

Building on momentum

For the first time in the history of South Africa as a tourism destination, over 350 of the world’s travel trade decision makers will be visiting South Africa this coming October as delegates of the nation’s most important mega-FAM trip – The Travel Corporation’s (TTC) 2010 International Sales Conference.

TTC, one of the world’s largest privately-owned travel and tourism companies, is composed of a number of leading global touring cruising and hotel brands including Contiki, Trafalgar, Uniworld, Insight, and Bendan Vacations. Africa travel specialization includes Lionworld Travel, African Travel, Creative Holidays, and New Horizons. Within South Africa, TTC proudly leads such award-winning properties as Bushmans Kloof, The Twelve Apostles Hotel, and The Oyster Box.

In addition, the company own over 80% of Cullinan Holdings with leading South African brands like Thompsons, Hylton Ross Touring, and Pentravel, as well as being the largest shareholder in Wilderness Safaris.

Joining the A-List

The 2010 conference will take the form of an incentive trip for over 350 of the company’s top business leaders and vital decision makers for destinations seeking to compete and win on the global tourism stage.

The conference will act as an extended, extensive exposure of South Africa through the keyhole of Cape Town and the Western Cape.

In addition to business discussion and debate with some of the world’s most powerful business thinkers and sellers in the travel and tourism sector, delegates will have several opportunities to see, taste, touch, hear, and feel Destination South Africa.

What the future may hold

The aftermath of the 2010 World Cup (and all its preparation) is an opportunity to develop a platform for a strong, sustainable future for Destination South Africa.

In order for that to happen, the nation’s tourism sector is challenged with establishing its home as inspiring, inviting and truly magnificent; a major contender amongst tourist destinations around the world.

The games may be over, but the challenges, and FUN, have only just begun.

Photo courtesy of jaunehibiscus.wordpress.com.

For the past 6 years, Boston-based Relief Riders International’s (RRI) humanitarian efforts in the Rajasthani desert have helped over 10,000 children – approximately 63% of the 16,000 villagers in the region.

Featured in magazines including Outside, Forbes, National Geographic Adventure, and The Oprah Magazine, Relief Riders International is an award-winning travel company whose trips combine adventure travel and humanitarian aid. Relief rides are organized with the help of in-country medical staff, teams of riders, and paying volunteer participants who ride rare Marwari horses through the Rajasthan desert to reach isolated rural villages.

According to RRI founder and executive director, Alexander Souri, in a country where UNICEF reports 42% of families live below the international poverty line and 48 percent of children are malnourished, the number is significant.

“Living a world away makes it hard to understand how badly needed basic medical care is and how dramatic the impact can be from a few school supplies,” stated Souri. “Riders with us see the situation up close and personal – it manifests itself in ways far beyond the gift at hand.”

Souri points out that too often young children in communities such as the ones he and the Relief Riders visit are directed into agricultural work.

“Only 59 percent of boys and 49 percent of girls make it to secondary school education,” said Souri. School supplies such as notebooks, drawing pads, pencils, crayons, and sports equipment provide a simple and direct way to keep children interested in school.

Although less quantifiable, Souri affirms that equally as important is the creative and heartwarming social exchange that results between children and relief ride participants.

“For most of these children, Relief Riders are their first experience with foreigners, and the excitement and curiosity they express during these meetings is inspiring.”

While relief efforts have assisted communities as a whole, Souri points out that hundreds of miles from urban service centers, RRI delivers basic de-worming medication to help rural children strengthen their immunity against parasites, which they are susceptible to as a result of compromised nutrition and drinking water.

“Aiding children is at the heart of RRI’s mission,” said Souri. “The highlight of our relief trips is the excitement and gratitude we see on their faces whenever we visit their schools. Relief riders all agree that their experiences with these village children are unforgettably rewarding.”

For more information, visit www.reliefridersinternational.com.

But even more substantial is its affinity to sustainability: the spa resort garnered EarthCheck Silver Certification, which recognizes the hotel’s outstanding sustainability initiatives.

EarthCheck is a program used by travel and tourism institutions around the world to validate and illustrate carbon claims and environmental programs, and is the largest environmental benchmarking, certification and management system in the industry.

Raising environmnental awareness

The 144-room and bungalows resort is also home to the Moorea Dolphin Center, which donates a substantial portion of its proceeds to marine wildlife research and research grants; and the Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Center, serving as a hospital to ill and injured turtles from surrounding islands.

The clinic is managed by the non-profit foundation, Te Mana o Te Moana, for which Richard H. Bailey, the resort’s owner, is a founding member.

The resort is also a member of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (UICN), as well as the international “Reef Check” program, a voluntary-based research organization which observes local marine growth and educates the public for a better understanding of coral biology.

Appreciation for natural beauty

The overwater bungalows, majestically floating over the ocean, enjoy hugely improved direct access to the water with the creation of a sea-level platform and ladder, as well as an outdoor shower.

The bungalow terrace extensions are shaded by a thatched gazebo furnished with a table and chairs for outside entertainment and also feature a solarium area with lounge chairs for sun bathing.  Each of the 17 Garden Bungalows features private Infinity plunge pools, and a flight of steps and a beachside outdoor shower have been added for convenient beach access.

The heart of the hotel has been transformed with the creation of two new Infinity pools between the newly landscaped restaurant terrace and the main beach. Overlooking the picturesque blue waters of the South Pacific, the new resort pool is located at the top of the main beach, measures 3,875 square feet and boasts spectacular views of the lagoon and ocean as water cascades down from a smaller Infinity pool built above.

In addition to a swim-up bar where guests can enjoy a tropical cocktail, a landscaped outdoor terrace has been created as an extension of the Fare Hana restaurant where guests can dine on exquisite cuisine overlooking one of the most picturesque settings in the world.

For more information, visit www.moorea.intercontinental.com.

The Innovation Award recognizes individuals and organizations that demonstrate leadership in innovative actions to effectively promote sustainable tourism and bring tangible benefits to communities and conservation.

The Award winners – one individual and one organization – will be honored for their best practices and innovative actions, judged based on one example of an innovative project, product, or program developed in the previous year that supports the goal of uniting communities, conservation, and sustainable travel.

Nominations are being accepted now for the 2010 TIES Innovation Awards. Nominations must be received no later than Midnight Monday, August 2, 2010 US Pacific Daylight Time.

The winning two finalists will be honored at the Ecotourism and Sustainable Tourism Conference, being held from September 8-10, 2010, Portland, Oregon, USA. The Innovation Award Presentation Ceremony will be held annually during the ESTC, to be hosted by TIES and ESTC sponsors.

For more information, visit http://www.ecotourism.org/innovation-awards.

KAYAK.com/explore is an interactive, map-based search tool that shows flight prices from almost any origin to destinations around the world. The prices shown are fares that were found by KAYAK users in the previous 48 hours. Travelers can see where in the world they might be able to fly for how much by selecting a price range, and they can also filter by activities and average daily temperature.

Since its introduction in May, KAYAK.com/explore has quickly become one of the site’s most popular search tools.

“Our explore feature is an innovative and fun new way to think about travel planning,” said KAYAK Chief Architect, Bill O’Donnell. “KAYAK.com users who’ve tried explore have responded very positively, but it’s even more compelling on the iPad’s touch screen.”

KAYAK Mobile is a leading travel application available on the iPhone, Android, BlackBerry and iPad platforms. The application is installed on over 2 million unique devices, and KAYAK Mobile for the iPad has 150,000 downloads since its debut in April. The new version of KAYAK Mobile for the iPad also includes the ability to search for multi-city flights.

“This data confirms something we’ve long suspected,” says Alison Presley, manager of Travelocity’s Travel for Good® program. “Our eco-friendly hotels care deeply about the entire experience they provide and that attention to detail translates into an awesome stay overall.”

Happy customers

Online, customers can rate its hotels on a scale of 1-5 smiley faces. When the company studied the reviews for green hotels, a fascinating trend emerged. Consumers gave 83 percent of non-green hotels three smiley faces or more–but they gave a whopping 94 percent of green hotels three smiley faces or more.

Travelocity currently lists over 2,000 hotels in its Green Hotel Directory, and is currently the only major online travel company that flags green hotels site-wide with an eco-friendly tag. In an effort to prevent “greenwashing”, they do not accept “self-certified” hotels into the directory – instead the company works with an elite group of certification programs to ensure that each hotel in its program is making significant strides in sustainability.

For the It’s Good to Be Green sale, travelers can save up to 30 percent on more than 160 eco-friendly hotels around the world that have an average rating of 3.5 smiley faces or higher.

Ongoing green

Travelocity doesn’t just promote eco-friendly products–the company is also working hard to reduce its own footprint and to promote sustainability within the travel industry. The company’s sustainability efforts start at home with its LEED-certified Silver headquarters. And to date, Travelocity and its customers have helped The Conservation Fund plant more than 24,000 trees across five national wildlife refuges that will trap an estimated 25,400 metric tons of CO2 over the life of those forests.

The company is also a founding member of the Tourism Sustainability Council, which is working toward a more sustainable future for the industry.

The parks are each visited by thousands of tourists each year hoping to spot Africa’s ‘Big Five’ – lion, elephant, buffalo, leopard and rhino – but the research shows that urgent efforts are needed to secure the future of the parks and their role in tourism.

Scientists from the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) and Cambridge University created an index of change in population abundance for a multitude of species in 78 protected areas throughout Africa.

The index revealed an average decline of almost 60 per cent in the population abundance of 69 key species including lion, wildebeest, giraffe, buffalo and zebra between 1970 and 2005 in the national parks visited by millions of tourists each year. There is great variation by region with populations increasing in southern Africa, declining by more than half in East Africa and 85 percent declines in West Africa. The massive declines in West Africa are likely due to the lack of financial and personnel resources, high rates of habitat degradation and the growing bushmeat trade.

Despite the severe losses, the rate of decline has slowed over time, indicating that management of the areas has been gradually improving – but more support is needed.

Study leader and ZSL researcher Ian Craigie said: “Although the results indicate that African national parks have generally failed to maintain their populations of large mammals, the situation outside the parks is almost undoubtedly worse. Many species like rhino are practically extinct outside national parks.”

“The results are far worse than we imagined, but the increasing population trends in southern Africa provide hope and demonstrate that protected areas can be very effective for conserving large mammals if properly resourced,’’ said Jonathan Baillie, Director of ZSL Conservation Programs.

Unique in many ways, h2hotel is located within 10 miles of 100 wineries and just a little more than an hour’s drive from San Francisco.

From old to new

From the very beginning, the project’s developers had sustainability in mind. The hotel was built on the site of a former Chevron station.

Circe Sher, marketing director for h2hotel, says some of the soil had to be removed from the site.

The new building features an undulating living roof that takes up about 75 percent of the rooftop area.

“It has an aesthetic quality, filters water, and provides insulation,” said Sher.

The roof adds green space to the property, minimizes the heat island effect and also provides a habitat for local birds, bees and butterflies. Water captured from the roof is stored in cisterns in the basement. That water is then used for a “Spoonfall” water sculpture located in the entry courtyard.

The sculpture is made from thousands of espresso spoons.

The façade of the building features local Forest Stewardship Council certified redwood slat screens, which function as shading devices, and Corten steel railings on private balconies. Bike racks are also made from Corten steel. The steel rusts easily, providing a weathered look.

At the rear of the property is an outdoor swimming pool that is heated using a solar thermal system. Photovoltaic panels on the roof supply a portion of the hotel’s electricity. The hotel is located adjacent to Foss Creek where a 3,000-square-foot meadow is located.

Hotel personnel are working to help to restore the creek by planting native plants with the assistance of Riverkeepers and Trout Unlimited. The proceeds from the sale of stainless steel water bottles at the hotel benefit creek restoration efforts.

Sustainable from the inside, out

Inside h2hotel, as much reclaimed and sustainable materials and products as possible were used.

“A lot of our furniture is made from reclaimed wood,” Sher says.

Bed frames and cabinetry are made from reclaimed woods such as American elm, acacia, and black walnut. Guestrooms feature bamboo flooring. Concrete flooring is used in public areas on the first floor. It includes fly ash as an ingredient.

The meeting room floor consists of reclaimed gym floor from a gym in Portland, Ore. All textiles, including chemical-free, fair trade Peace Industry wool felt rugs and 100 percent organic cotton linens, are loomed from all-natural fibers. All paints used have no volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Custom made water (h2O) bars serving purified sparkling and still water are located on each floor for guests to fill glass water carafes offered in the rooms. Plastic water bottles are not offered to guests.

Low-flow, dual flush toilets help conserve water and a key card-based guestroom energy management system and variable refrigerant volume air-conditioning system help to reduce energy costs. Natural bath amenities are offered to guests and green cleaners are used by housekeepers. In the hotel’s Spoonbar restaurant, local items are emphasized. The restaurant even has a “farm to glass” cocktail program.

In addition to the Spoonfall sculpture mentioned earlier, other art is prevalent throughout the property. “All of the art has an environmental emphasis,” Sher says. Curated by Svea Lin Vezzone of Oakland, California-based Swarm Gallery, h2hotel’s art program highlights original art from Bay Area artists. The hotel’s fireplace is made of bound copper Steinway piano wires illuminated by flame. Oakland art fabricator Leonidas Kyriakopoulos created it. A photographic study of a California live oak printed on glass by Sonoma State University professor Stephen Galloway unfolds into 8-foot sections, one on each floor.

Getting around

The moderately priced hotel is bicyclist friendly. King beds in guestrooms split into two twin beds. “Part of the reason we opted for the two beds is for the number of bike groups that we have coming through Healdsburg and they often request two beds in a room,” Sher says. “At h2hotel we have loaner bikes designed by Rob Forbes and we also have a bike room with secure bike storage where you can also tune your bike.”

The bright, open lobby features an all-in-one “Receptobar” where guests check in, receive concierge services, and enjoy daytime coffee bar and evening wine bar. The Receptobar is also a mini-bar stocking station and entertainment counter with complimentary DVDs, games and outdoor supplies available to all guests.

For more, visit h2hotel online.

Dedicated Hyatt meeting planners can help source products with 100 percent recycled content where possible, find local suppliers, and maximize efforts to reduce waste to create a meeting experience that exceeds expectations and helps the environment at the same time.

For new meetings booked by December 30, 2010, and held by March 31, 2011 at full-service Hyatt hotels and resorts in the United States and Canada, groups participating in the Meet and Be Green program will be eligible for a 3 percent rebate on qualifying charges on the master bill.

Power of people

Meet and Be Green is one of the latest additions to Great Happens, Hyatt’s ongoing campaign to emphasize the power and importance of in-person meetings.

“We created Meet and Be Green as a way to reward businesses for helping reduce the environmental impact that can result from meetings,” said Jack Horne, vice president of sales for Hyatt Hotels & Resorts—North America. “By seeing how simple it can be to plan and participate in a green meeting, we are hoping to make green meetings a must-have for all businesses preparing and planning meetings.”

Planners and meeting attendees pledge to take these 10 steps to “go green” during their meeting:

• Recycle during the meeting;
• Use products with 100 percent recycled content;
• Print materials locally;
• Minimize shipping;
• Rather than setting materials at every seat, place meeting materials, such as handouts, notepads, pens, etc., in a central location so attendees can take as needed;
• Maintain room temperatures at an appropriate level;
• Eliminate disposable water bottles;
• Minimize use of other disposable products such as plates, cups, napkins, and utensils;
• Select locally grown seasonal foods when planning the menu; and
• Plan ahead for the meeting to make it easier and more economical to keep the meeting green.

Meet and Be Green is one part of Hyatt’s larger pledge to conserve energy, minimize waste and create responsible, sustainable corporate practices to care for the Earth and guests. By empowering guests to do the same, Hyatt and its planners can help minimize the environmental impact of meetings.

Full details of the program and promotion are available at www.hyattmeetings.com.

In addition to the launch of Meet and Be Green, Hyatt recently announced the rollout of new seasonal banquet menus. These menu selections are updated quarterly and provide food and beverage enhancements for meetings and events that feature items from local and regional farmers, fishermen and cheese makers.

The conference – co-sponsored by Gap Adventures and the non-profit Planeterra Foundation – is North America’s largest and only conference focusing on sustainability in the tourism industry and will assemble more than 500 business leaders, tourism professionals and community stakeholders to discuss practical ideas and solutions to sustainability challenges facing the sector today.

The conference’s ultimate goal: reinforcing the role of tourism in building a more sustainable future for the travel industry.

“We love changing people’s lives through travel and I believe ESTC is a perfect forum to help us advance that goal,” Poon Tip, the conference’s keynote speaker, said. “We’ve proven time and again through initiatives like our voluntourism projects that sustainability and travel needn’t be mutually exclusive. Smart travel that respects local ecosystems, economies and communities not only provides a more exciting experience for our travellers, it’s simply the right thing to do.”

For the first time, ESTC will also be joining forces with the Planeterra Foundation to provide opportunities for conference delegates to roll up their sleeves for the local community. Delegates will have a chance to volunteer at Portland-area landmarks such as the Tualatin National Wildlife Refuge and the Columbia Springs Environmental Education Center, in an effort to highlight the increasing importance and relevance of voluntourism.

“These practical sessions in the field will give delegates an opportunity to participate in a hands-on voluntourism experience and gain an understanding of how giving back to the people and places they visit provides a richer traveller experience.” said Planeterra director Richard G. Edwards.

The funding enables nonprofit organizations to provide support for more than 45 species across the globe—from protecting the critically endangered Sumatran rhino in Indonesia, to tracking northern jaguars in the foothills of Mexico, to studying the threats of the endangered green sea turtle.

“As part of Disney’s longstanding commitment to the environment, the work supported through the Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund is more important today than ever in helping preserve our planet’s most precious resources,” said Dr. Beth Stevens, senior vice president, Environmental Affairs, The Walt Disney Company. “We are proud to support these organizations that are truly making a difference around the world to aid in the protection of wildlife and the natural environments they depend on to flourish.”

Over the past decade, the DWCF—through support from The Walt Disney Company and Disney Guests—has provided more than $15 million in grants for the study of wildlife, protection of habitats, land management plans, community conservation and education. Along with a focus on support for species and habitat conservation science, the DWCF encourages programs that engage local residents and benefit both human and animal communities.

2010 Recipients:

Wildlife Trust: Black Lion Tamarin Conservation through Research and Community Involvement – Wildlife Trust teaches communities about sustainable development alternatives, including tree nurseries and handicrafts, to protect the black lion tamarins living in Brazil’s Atlantic Forest.

Northern Jaguar Project: Northern Jaguar Feline Photo Project – In an effort to reduce jaguar mortality and build conservation alliances with rural landowners, Northern Jaguar Project works directly with local ranch owners in Mexico to monitor and protect the species.

Save the Elephants : Elephants and Bees – Save the Elephants minimizes human-wildlife conflict by studying and researching innovative strategies to reduce crop-raiding. By using beehives as a deterrent, community crops are left un-touched and families have a new source of income through honey production.

University of Hawaii: Conserving the Green Sea Turtle in Hawaii - This program advances the understanding of the impact of pollution on endangered green sea turtles.  Through further research, conservationists are able to work more effectively with local communities and governments to protect the turtles.

International Rhino Foundation: Sumatran Rhino Conservation – The Sumatran rhino is considered the most endangered rhino species with numbers declining more than 70 percent in the past two decades. International Rhino Foundation is protecting the species through research and outreach programs in local communities.

To date the DWCF has donated more than $1 million to primate conservation efforts, more than $900,000 to protect cats worldwide, more than $850,000 to elephant conservation, more than $850,000 to study and save sea turtles, and more than $625,000 to rhino conservation efforts.

Since 1998, the DWCF has also awarded more than $575,000 in Rapid Response funds to assist with more than 120 environmental and animal emergencies. In the past year, the DWCF has provided more than $125,000 to support efforts worldwide including veterinary care and vaccinations for animals in the wake of the 7.0 magnitude earthquake in Haiti and rehabilitation efforts for the thousands of sea turtles affected by the winter cold snap in Florida.

In 2009 additional support was provided through Disney’s Friends for Change: Project Green in which 100 percent of iTunes proceeds of the inspiring program anthem “Send it On” were directed to environmental charities through the DWCF.

For more information, visit http://www.disney.com/conservation.

Vail Resorts Echo encompasses environmental stewardship, charitable giving and community engagement.

“We are thrilled to launch the new Echo website,” says Rob Katz, chairman and chief executive officer for Vail Resorts. “The new site provides a wealth of information on Vail Resorts’ goals and ideals of our entire corporate stewardship effort for our stakeholders. Making the Echo information accessible to everyone online helps support our goal that Vail Resorts Echo will continue to reverberate positively in the places where we live, work and play for generations to come.”

VailResortsEcho.com gives employees and guests a place to learn about Vail Resort’s charitable and operational programs that help the environment and build stronger communities, including important nonprofit partnerships and the company’s commitment to these initiatives. Some highlights include:

• The company’s focus on healthy forests and clean water through its partnership with the U.S. Forest Service and the National Forest Foundation on the Hayman Restoration Partnership, the state’s largest forest restoration project, and one of the largest public-private partnerships of its kind in the country.
• Target 10%: The Company’s program that aims to significantly reduce energy consumption with a stated goal of a 10 percent reduction by the end of 2010.
• Vail Resorts partnership with the National Forest Foundation, the nonprofit arm of the U.S. Forest Service, that has raised $1.7 million since the program’s inception in 2006 for local conservation projects.
• Important information for nonprofits interested in learning more about the Vail Resorts grant process.
• Pictures, video and stories about the company’s employees and their dedication to volunteering. In the last year, Vail Resorts employees donated more than 2,000 collective hours.

VR Echo will continue to engage employees as part of the company’s corporate stewardship efforts. A special section dedicated to employees only, The Employee Echo Center, will help the company better engage employees to be a part of Vail Resorts’ corporate stewardship efforts.

The new site gives employees a place to learn about the nonprofits that are important to them, and share stories and view pictures of employees truly making a difference. In addition to the information that the company is sharing with guests and community partners, the Employee Echo Center section will help employees in each of the company’s locations find opportunities to volunteer in community activities and provide feedback on the Echo program.

For more, visit Vail Resorts online.

Keep Juba Green is part of a UN commitment to plant one million trees across Southern Sudan in 2010 and 2011, being jointly implemented by the Ministry of Housing, Physical Planning and Environment, the Directorate of Forestry of Central Equatoria State and UNEP.

Supported by the UK Department of International Development (DFID) and the Government of Italy, the campaign aims to engage community groups, schools and organizations in the planting of 23 different tree species in an effort to draw attention to the need for reforestation and improved forest management in South Sudan.

Southern Sudan is estimated to have lost 40 percent of its forests since Sudan gained independence in 1956. A 2007 UNEP Post-Conflict Assessment of Sudan found that deforestation was principally driven by energy needs, for firewood and charcoal, as well as land clearing to meet agricultural and local construction needs.

The Vice President of Southern Sudan, Riek Machar, planted the campaign’s first tree, a mango seedling, and urged others to get involved in working for a more sustainable future.

UNEP’s Sudan Program Manager, Robin Bovey, said the tree planting effort would not be possible without the government’s determination to encourage the wise use of natural resources.

“There’s still a vast amount of work to do to ensure development in the south proceeds in an environmentally sensitive and sustainable way which will in turn ensure livelihoods and public health in the years to come,” Mr Bovey said.

Two decades of devastating civil war ended in January 2005 when a Comprehensive Peace Agreement was signed between the Sudanese central government in Khartoum and the Sudan People’s Liberation Army in the South.

As it focuses on recovery and development, the country faces key environmental challenges such as land degradation, deforestation and the impacts of climate change. Adequate management and rehabilitation of natural resources are fundamental prerequisites to peacebuilding in Sudan.

Through its Disasters and Conflicts Program, UNEP’s activities in Sudan focus on addressing the links between environmental pressures and conflict through capacity-building and more effective natural resource management, primarily water and forestry, to help build community resilience, address poverty issues and support peacebuilding.

With UNEP’s support, the Ministry of Environment completed the South Sudan Environmental Policy 2010 as well as the 2010 South Sudan Environment Act which will be reviewed during a UNEP-sponsored stakeholder workshop in August.

RLK and Company, operators of Timberline Lodge are being recognized for their strengths in the areas of environmental conservation, cultural heritage, historic preservation, and economic development.

STEP is the world’s first comprehensive, global sustainable tourism eco-certification program offered by a non-profit organization, which is aligned with the minimum baseline Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria (GSTC). STEP addresses the major environmental, socio-cultural and economic issues facing the tourism industry and the planet at large, including global climate change, biodiversity preservation, water and waste management, economic development, and social issues.

“STEP is becoming ‘the gold standard’ in sustainable tourism certification in the travel and tourism industry because of its regimented and thorough criteria,” explained Brian T. Mullis, CEO of Sustainable Travel International. “As more industry leaders like Timberline Lodge embrace sustainability, we are hoping that it has a multiplier effect, raising the bar for other hoteliers and ski resorts who also aspire to engage in best practices.”

“Timberline Lodge has a historical commitment to the environment and the community,” said Jeff Kohnstamm, President of RLK and Company. We particularly recognize that we are operating within a cherished natural landscape that is valued for its scenic, historic, recreational, cultural, and economic characteristics. This eco-certification is a real achievement, and it is a rallying point for us. The Sustainable Travel International’s STEP program has provided us with a framework for sustainability that’s aligned with our existing values and business operations, but it has also prompted us to drive our commitments toward these things even deeper. It is helping us with decision making that is rooted in our concern for environmental and social responsibility. It is a work in progress, and it involves a process of continual improvement geared towards a very comprehensive view of sustainability.”

RLK and Company, now in its 55th year of operating Timberline Lodge, is dedicated to providing quality recreation within the capabilities of the ecosystem. In addition to providing genuine quality and hospitality, their overall operational goal is to provide for future generations a continued preservation and enhancement of the National Historic Landmark lodge, as well as the year around recreational offerings at Timberline. RLK and Company believes that ultimately it is the American people who will benefit most by an economically and environmentally sustainable Timberline Lodge.

Now in it’s 11th successful year, EyeforTravel’s Travel Distribution Summit North America will bring together the most successful travel brands from North America, Latin America, and the Caribbean to Chicago, October 13-14. The foremost brands from across the hospitality, airline, OTA, metasearch, and GDS sectors to review the current industry state of play and reveal how they plan to capitalize on improving market conditions. Top on the agenda will be how to harness emergent trends and technologies, understand changing consumer behaviors, and capitalize on the mobile and social media phenomena.

The event will gather over 750 senior travel professionals and 70+ expert speakers for 2 days of insightful presentations, vigorous debate, and powerful networking opportunities to arm online travel professionals with essential strategic tools and insider’s knowledge for a prosperous 2010.

“We know that maintaining a ‘business as usual’ approach to markets and consumers that have transformed almost beyond recognition is not an option,” reports Event Director Marco Saio. “What we’re seeing now is that those companies who proactively anticipate and react to disruptive change will undoubtedly be the same companies that will emerge in the strongest position competitively and financially as momentum builds for economic recovery.”

More than 70 industry experts will be speaking at the summit, including Glenn Fogel – EVP, Priceline.com; Ronnie Gurion – President, Orbitz Worldwide Distribution and Travis Christ – President of the Americas, Travelport. You can view the Full Speaker Line-up Here: http://events.eyefortravel.com/tdsusa/conference/speakers.asp

Speakers will be placing a large emphasis on gaining insights and practical case studies from leading airline carriers including United Airlines, Continental Airlines, Midwest-Frontier, Lufthansa, Virgin America, and JetBlue among others.

“This event comes at an opportune moment,” added Saio. “Packed full of insightful case studies from top travel brands, as well as ample time to network and secure successful partnerships, TDS North America 2010 is an essential date for every North American travel professionals diary.”

See the Full Summit Agenda Here: http://events.eyefortravel.com/tdsusa/conference/index.asp.

“This new feature of the show will enable dealers to discover new ways to serve customers interested in experiential travel, and become true specialty partners to the brands and destinations that provide gear and adventure,” said Kenji Haroutunian, Outdoor Retailer show director. “This has been bubbling under the surface at the show for some years, and we’re glad to help shed light on this exciting opportunity in the Grand Ballroom at OR.”

The 1,000 square foot Adventure Travel Hub will be at the center of the Grand Ballroom showcasing cross-promotional opportunities available to retailers, brands and destination marketing organizations (DMOs). Attendees will be able to view case studies on Belize, Montana and Fjord Norway, speak with DMO representatives from each of these destinations and meet with the ATTA’s leadership, which has a combined 40+ years of experience in the outdoor industry.

The ATTA will hold one-on-one meetings with outdoor dealers who want to learn more about ways to reach the core adventure travel enthusiast market by partnering with DMOs.

Retailers can also register to win trips to Belize, Montana and Fjord Norway, sponsored by the DMOs from the respective destinations, when they stop by the Adventure Travel Hub.

Many outdoor product manufacturers and outdoor retailers have already worked with the ATTA in collaboration with DMOs. Together they’ve launched joint consumer outreach initiatives (i.e. sweepstakes) and commercial sales programs, and produced co-branded marketing collateral promoting in-country tours hosted by travel destinations.

“We strive to partner with the best outdoor recreation products and services to enrich every moment of a traveler’s vacation,” said Seleni Matus, Belize Tourism Board’s director of tourism. “Participating as one of the first destinations in the ATTA’s new adventure travel pavilion at Outdoor Retailer is a great opportunity for our destination to connect with international and national retailers, and synchronize our efforts to reach our core consumers.”

The ATTA’s research shows that the majority of adventure travelers in the Americas and Europe don’t recognize some of the most salient brands in the outdoor industry. The ATTA/The George Washington University/Xola Adventure Travel Study 2009 surveyed approximately 800 outbound travelers from the Americas and Europe about their recognition of key brands in the outdoor industry. None of the key brands were recognized by more than 16 percent of those surveyed.

“There are significant untapped opportunities for retailers, brands and DMOs to cross promote each other,” said Shannon Stowell, ATTA president. “Investing now in this resilient category, as adventure and experiential travel continue to gain bigger pieces of the broader travel and leisure market, is absolutely worthwhile.”
Retailers interested in meeting with ATTA are strongly encouraged to schedule them in advance with Chris Chesak, ATTA vice president of business development, at cchesak@adventuretravel.biz or 208.291.5626.

For more information, visit outdoorretailer.com or adventuretravel.biz.

Fairmont Hotels & Resorts have been dedicated environmental stewards since 1990 with the development of the company’s comprehensive Green Partnership program, designed to minimize the hotels’ operating impacts on the environment.

“Every business has a responsibility in the community to be environmentally conscious,” says general manager George Terpilowski. “Our commitment to support renewable energy development and reduce carbon emissions has an impact similar to planting 42,982 mature trees or not driving more than 10.5 million miles in an average passenger car.”

Over 70% of U.S. electricity comes from burning fossil fuels such as coal and gas. Every time we burn fossil fuels to generate electricity, harmful greenhouse gasses are emitted into the atmosphere, contributing to climate change. Wind-generated electricity is renewable, sustainable, and does not produce environmental pollution.

Purchasing a specific quantity of RECs ensures that wind energy producers add the same amount of clean electricity to the national grid, reducing the overall need for fossil fuels, and resulting in a cleaner and more sustainable planet.

“Fairmont’s commitment to take responsibility for 100 percent of its electricity use demonstrates its understanding of the importance of helping to support and grow our nation’s renewable energy infrastructure,” said Quayle Hodek, CEO of Renewable Choice Energy. “We’re looking forward to helping Fairmont communicate the value of this commitment to its employees and guests.”

In addition to its investment in 100 percent renewable energy, The Fairmont Washington, D.C. has accomplished the following sustainability objectives:

• The hotel’s colleagues have created an Environmental Committee, developing a number of programs incorporating the environmental mantra, “reduce, reuse and recycle,” into the hotel’s daily operating practices.
• Three honey bee hives and more than 105,000 Italian honey bees live on the rooftop. They enhance the hotel’s culinary program and assist with the reversal of the national colony collapse.
• Recycling white paper in the heart of the house and purchasing copy paper made with a high percentage of recycled material.
• Hold Earth Day cleanup and planting events with neighborhood school.
• Conduct food, clothing and blanket drives for Keys for the Homeless and hold Environmental Awareness Day to Honor Earth Day.
• Recycling aluminum cans, newspaper, cardboard and glass in all guestrooms and through banquets, light bulbs, batteries, ballasts, textiles, oils and fats.
• Installing low-flow showerheads and toilets in guestroom baths and public restrooms.
• Encouraging colleagues to use public transportation by offering MetroCheck, a program enabling hotel staff to purchase monthly MetroRail, MarcTrain and VRE passes with pre-tax dollars.
• Low wattage compact fluorescent light bulbs are used.
• Light motion sensors are used in administrative areas and dimmers are used in meeting rooms.
• A new energy efficient/water saving dishwasher is now in the hotel’s banquet kitchen.
• New energy saving ovens are now in use in the main kitchen and the pastry kitchen.
• Hospitality suites have new digital thermostats.
• Guest floor corridors have new compact fluorescent bulbs.
• The hotel has 24 variable speed drives for HVAC units, pumps, cooling towers, etc.
• The hotel has installed a new energy efficient system for chillers, boilers, refrigeration systems that will generate about $35,000 in annual savings in energy.

For more info, visit The Fairmont Washington, D.C. online.