Naturetrek & SustainableTourismAt Naturetrek we have achieved AITO's 3-star SustainableTourism accreditation and have always tried to operate ourholidays in an environmentally responsible manner,striving to contribute to wildlife conservation and habitatpreservation at all times. Our detailed, 12-pageSustainable Tourism Policy may be found on our website.Alternatively, we will gladly post you a copy on receipt of acheque for £2 - or more! - made payable to the charity'BirdLife International'. The document catalogues ourcontribution (both financial and operational) to sustainabletourism and conservation; it states our own 'ST' policy,and it suggests guidelines for you - the tourist - tofollow whilst on holiday. Please take the time to read itcarefully! Just visit www.naturetrek.co.ukOurs is a tour company run by naturalists for naturalists.Unsurprisingly, all of us have an acute interest in conservation;wildlife and wildlife tourism, and the need to ensure the long-term protection of species and habitats, being such animportant part of our lives. In the national parks and wildliferegions that we visit, we support small, locally owned hotelsand lodges and the local guides and other staff in theseareas. Other aspects of our holidays that allow us, hopefully, tominimise environmental impact include: our operation of small groups (4-16, average 10, clients); our preference forexploration on foot, rather than by vehicle, wherever possible;our use of local naturalists (where possible, rather thanimported guides); our preference for small, locally owned,specialist agents/ground operators with a wildlife/conservation bias and sympathy; and our ensuring benefit,and employment opportunities, to local communities - soimportant when developing wildlife tourism in remote areas.To fly, or not to fly? Make travel count ... There is no doubt that Wildlife Travel is responsible for its shareof damaging carbon emissions. It does, however, providesubstantial benefits which, we would argue as conservationists,make a strong case for wildlife enthusiasts to continuetravelling. After all, if we are not bringing our custom to thenational parks, wildlife reserves and the wilderness regions ofthe world, many of these areas, especially in developingcountries, will simply disappear . and with them their wildlife.Not only does wildlife tourism support rural communities inimpoverished nations, but it supports them in the ability topreserve their natural and wildlife heritage for their futuregenerations who, hopefully, may have the wealth and leisureopportunities that we have today to enjoy their natural heritage.Staying at home may slow the rise in the world's temperaturesand sea levels, but it will have little value if we lose the best ofthe world's national parks and their wildlife in the process! Further, it is the climatologists, conservationists and otherscientists on whom we are reliant in putting pressure ongovernments to act. Yet from where do these experts draw theirfacts and inspiration? From travelling! It is through travellingthat we learn about, and learn to love our environment. Stoptravelling, and just who is going to care? Whilst global warmingdoes threaten us and the world's wildlife, there may also bebonuses. Global warming gives the world an incentive and anurgency to plant trees and, above all, to save our rainforestsfrom the logging and the fires that ravage and, especially in thecase of the latter, add hugely to carbon emissions - movesthat can only benefit our wildlife and their habitats. So, wewould argue, if you are choosing to travel, 'make travel count',and make sure that you, and your travel company, are off-setting all emissions that relate to your journey. Better still, ifyou off-set over and above your current journey's emissions,you'll be contributing to the off-setting of emissions resultingfrom previous journeys you have made! Financial assistance forconservation causes?Naturetrek's financial contribution to conservation causes hasincreased over the years with the growth of our business, andstands at a total of around £375,595 to date. This has includedongoing long-term partnerships with Butterfly Conservation since2002 (raising £61,514), with the Environmental InvestigationAgency since 2000 (raising £53,503) and with the ZoologicalSociety of London (raising around £14,000 between 2005 and2008). On behalf of some of these conservation organisationsNaturetrek operates a range of fund-raising tours (brochuredherein). Other partners in such fund-raising ventures haveincluded BirdLife International, Friends of Kew and the BiscayDolphin Research Programme (BDRP). Naturetrek's 8-yearsponsorship of the annual British Birdwatching Fair has alsoraised over £49,095 for the worldwide conservation causessupported by the Fair. Further, Naturetrek is a pioneeringCorporate Sponsor/Partner of a wide range of conservationorganisations, including BirdLife International, ButterflyConservation, the Oriental Bird Club and African Bird Club, andhas made numerous donations and gifts to assist theconservation work of these, and such other charities as BirdConservation Nepal, SEO and the former Ethiopian WildlifeConservation Organisation.Another beneficial by-product of Naturetrek's operation of wildlifetours arises on account of the company's need to advertise inwildlife and conservation magazines worldwide to generatebusiness. Of a spend of approximately £175,000 per annum, alarge part is spent with such notable conservation organisationsand charities as the RSPB, RSPCA, the RHS, Plantlife, theWildlife Trusts, and numerous other smaller publicationsdistributed by wildlife charities.We strive to Carbon Balance each Naturetrek holiday Please make it Carbon Negative!Since 2007 Naturetrek has been making contributions towards neutralising the carbon emissions of our holidays atour expense, and this policy continues for all of our 2012 holidays. To do this we currently donate to the World LandTrust, £15 for every person booking a long-haul holiday with us, and £5 on behalf of each of our short-haul travellers.The World Land Trust (www.worldlandtrust.org), a highly respected charity with a growing profile, then invests thismoney in the purchase and protection of threatened tropical rainforest, in so doing not only helping to lock up carbonthat would otherwise be released into the atmosphere, but also protecting valuable habitat and its endangered wildlifein perpetuity.While our donation goes towards off-setting the carbon emissions from your flights, we invite you to match ourpayment to the World Land Trust and therefore contribute towards off-setting some of the emissions resulting fromother aspects of your holiday (airport transfers, coach travel, lighting, heating, etc.), perhaps even ensuring that yourholiday is carbon negative by means of a more generous donation.Since 2008 Naturetrek has raised £125,333 in this way. Of this, £30,000 has already enabled the World Land Trust (incollaboration with its Ecuadorian partner, Fundación Ecominga) to purchase and protect an additional 182 acres ofcritically endangered forest for the Candelaria Reserve in central Ecuador, and the remaining funds have beenearmarked by the World Land Trust for further forest purchase in this area as soon as current negotiations have beencompleted. This new land will help to link together the Llanganates and Sangay National Parks on the eastern slopesof the Ecuadorian Andes.Naturetrek was one of the very first British tour operators to encourage its clients to contribute towards off-setting theircarbon emissions, having been doing so since 2000. However, we also believe that we are one of the few touroperators contributing ourselves towards the cost of off-setting every customer's flight emissions, in addition to off-setting all emissions from both our office operation (electricity, heating, staff journeys, etc.) and the flights of our staff.Jaguar, BrazilLarge BlueNaturetrek&SustainableTourism 13

12Call 01962 733051 now or visit www.naturetrek.co.uk for your detailed Trip ItinerarySouth Africa Friday 9th March - Sunday 18th March (see page 173)Cost: £2,595CroatiaMonday 11th June - Monday 18th June (see page 43)Cost: £1,395The Cévennes Thursday 14th June - Thursday 21st June (see page 62)Cost: £1,195HungaryTuesday 19th June - Tuesday 26th June (see page 76)Cost: £1,295Southern Greece Saturday 23rd June - Saturday 30th June (see page 72)Cost: £1,495La BrenneThursday 28th June - Tuesday 3rd July (see page 64)Cost: £895The Italian Dolomites Sunday 1st July - Sunday 8th July (see page 90)Cost: £1,295Sweden Thursday 5th July - Wednesday 11th July (see page 146)Cost: £1,495The French Pyrenees Thursday 5th July - Thursday 12th July (see page 65)Cost: £1,295NormandyThursday 12th July - Monday 16th July (see page 67)Cost: £795Sri Lanka Saturday 6th - Monday 15th October (Tour Code: LKA01)Cost: £1,895All travel arrangements are made byNaturetrek. Naturetrek is pleased tobe the first subscriber to ButterflyConservation's Purple Emperorcorporate membership scheme, andcommitted to fund-raising on behalfof the Society.Twin-spot FritillarySouthern FestoonThe following special selection of butterfly tours, guided by expertbutterfly enthusiasts, has been designed to allow you to enjoy andlearn about butterflies in the company of fellow enthusiasts. 10% of theproceeds from each tour will be donated to Butterfly Conservation andinvested directly in the conservation of British and Europeanbutterflies. Holidays will focus on butterflies and their habitats, moths(moth-trapping at night) and, to a lesser extent, other natural history.ButterflyHolidays in support of Butterfly ConservationEscher's Blue14