Innovations in the Arts - Newark Academy

“Travel itself is more than mere luxury. It brings life changing
economic opportunities into parts of the world that might
otherwise have none, encouraging them to protect their
local habitats,” Ben remarks. “It promotes awareness
among visitors and encourages concern toward wildlife
and habitat conservation.”
Ben takes the classic ecotourism model to heart, putting
money into the hands of the locals in the places he visits,
helping them to develop businesses and products to
market to visiting tourists. Such economic development
shifts the local focus from practices that may have
been harming wildlife, to awareness and support for
environmental concerns. For example, the endangered
mountain gorillas of Uganda and Rwanda have historically
been hunted by locals for food. By marketing these
majestic animals in their natural surrounding to tourists,
eco travel brings awareness to the gorilla’s plight, as well
as pumping dollars into the local community allowing
them to find alternative sources for food. This practice
of giving back to the communities it visits has become a
Natural Habitat Adventures hallmark everywhere the
company travels.
Student and Alumni Sustainability Initiatives
And, although the company prides itself on such activities –
operating ethically and responsibly everywhere it runs its
trips – Ben believes
that this is simply not
enough. “The irony
remains that that the
very act of travel
increases greenhouse
emissions, contributing
to the climate change that threatens species such as the
polar bear.” To counteract this impact, Natural Habitat
Adventures has racked up a number of climate-friendly
firsts, including becoming the first carbon-neutral tour
company in the U.S., sponsoring the world’s first carbonneutral
soccer team, and offering the first carbon-neutral
travel expedition to Antarctica.
Natural Habitat
Adventures has racked
up a number of
climate-friendly firsts...
Partnering with respected nonprofit Sustainable Travel
International, Natural Habitat Adventures has calculated
the greenhouse gas emissions released as a result of every
aspect of each of its trips, including hotel operations, food
preparation and water and air transportation. The company
then pays to offset these emissions by funding renewable
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