Sharing Joint responsibility for the protection of natural resources worldwide

For some of the most fragile territories in this world, the only way to create visibility is to attract the attention of international association such as WWF and UNDP (United Nations Development Projects), to focus on their needs.  And all though when, for example, WWF, puts its attention to the cause, local conditions sometimes improve and funding sources can be directed to local organizations, this attention only creates the drop in a bucket effect.  Sometimes worldwide efforts are put in place to raise additional funds, but unless interested people are directly confronted with specific needs, it is difficult to raise interest.

One of the benefits of expedition cruising starting in its infancy was the fact that the motto of “leave only footprints” was consciously practiced.  Where indigenous populations are involved, the practice has always been to make sure that a visit was welcomed by the population and that the population was compensated in a way that was based upon their needs.  For example, when Zegrahm Expeditions, brought their ships to the small village of Nikolskoe on the Commander Islands, based on the needs of the population, they brought children books and blankets.  They connected the small museum staff with the Smithsonian Institute, which then committed funds to improve the small museum’s interesting artifacts and exhibitions.

When Society Expeditions offered cruises covering the entirety of Indonesia, the doctor on board, held clinics on each island and distributed medicine wherever needed.  In addition, more than once, we initiated an interest by the local populations to revive their cultural traditions, both to benefit themselves as well as others.

Oceanwide Expeditions assisted the scientific community in Antarctic by carrying their scientists to the region, which otherwise would have been difficult and expensive. They also are actively involved in the Arctic environment by efforts to clean up the seashores of Spitsbergen and are a sponsor for Bird Life International’s Macaroni Penguin and Waved Albatross program.

 On a recent cruise by Heritage Expeditions, the local manager of the Commander Islands Nature preserve was on board and gave an interesting lecture about the preserves programs including not only the protection of its nature but also the inclusion of the Aleut population, the original inhabitants of the islands, in their programs.

Participation in an expedition cruise in this manner contributes not only to knowledge about conditions in the pristine areas which the ships visit, but also affords opportunities to educate its clients about the fragility of the regions they visit and opportunities to contribute to help, protect and conserve these areas for the future.

These efforts usually do not only take place when they are there but are extended through social networks on the internet, between concerned people, who consistently become even more involved in these efforts when returning home.

To be fair towards the larger cruise vessels, just recently Holland America announced its new programs to get people who wish to participate involved I local conservation efforts in the port they visit, if they so desire.

Aaltje van Zoelen is an explorer at heart, she is the General Manager for World Wise Ecotourism Network, which creates and markets eco friendly international journeys all over the world. She also serves as a part time consultant to various small cruise lines entering the US market. Aaltje is an excellent speaker, presenter and writer about multiple issues, involving our global world. You can find more information about Aaltje, on www.traveleastrussia, www.aaltjeaworldwiseexplore.blogspot.com, www.wordlwiseunite.blogspot.com, Facebook and Linkedin.

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