Sustainability Handbook

Adventure Alternative

Sustainability Handbook

ADVENTURE ALTERNATIVE UK

PO Box 14, Portstewart,

Northern Ireland, BT55 7WS

UK +44 (0) 28708 31258

ROI: 04870 831258

[email protected]

www.AdventureAlternative.com


1 ©2012 Adventure Alternative

Index

Introduction .............................................................................................................. 2

Before you go ........................................................................................................... 5

Social & Cultural Issues .......................................................................................... 7

Health & Safety ....................................................................................................... 7

The Political Situation.............................................................................................. 9

Human Rights ....................................................................................................... 10

Religion ................................................................................................................. 12

Clothing ................................................................................................................. 13

Food & Drink ......................................................................................................... 15

Buying Local ......................................................................................................... 16

Supply Chain ......................................................................................................... 18

Fair Employment ................................................................................................... 19

Porters .................................................................................................................. 20

Tipping & Begging ................................................................................................. 21

Photography .......................................................................................................... 23

Environmental Issues ............................................................................................ 25

Climate Change .................................................................................................... 25

Energy ................................................................................................................... 30

Water .................................................................................................................... 31

Waste .................................................................................................................... 33

Wildlife .................................................................................................................. 35

Fire & Campfires ................................................................................................... 37

Pollution & Harmful Substances ............................................................................ 39

Back at Home ......................................................................................................... 40

Moving Mountains .................................................................................................. 41

Voluntourism .......................................................................................................... 43

Future Thoughts ..................................................................................................... 44

Informative Links.................................................................................................... 45

Affiliations ............................................................................................................... 46



Introduction by Gavin Bate

This Handbook has been compiled to help you to help us carry out our commitment to being a responsible tour operator. I hope you will keep it with you and have a read, and talk to our staff about it, in order to give us your feedback at the end of your trip.

The aim is to outline our travel philosophy whilst facilitating your understanding of sustainable tourism and proposing practical guidelines to help you achieve it. We will also offer a snapshot of some of the issues inherent to the destinations that we work in.

Who cares?

Many people who buy holidays nowadays expect the company they book with to take a care for the destination they send people to, to interact with local communities and offer an equitable commercial partnership between all its stakeholders. Unfortunately this is not always the case. The waters have also been muddied by opaque and overused terminology like 'responsible', 'ethical', 'sustainable', 'eco' and so on, which have become hackneyed phrases, often discredited and derided. The demand for cheap mass tourism is still a dominant force so therefore it’s easy to dismiss the manner in which tourism is implemented and sold.

Yet slowly, a desire for 'ethical' business practices has entered the mainstream consciousness, and that includes travel and tourism. There has been a move away from materialism and outright commercialism, replaced by a search for integrity and responsibility.

Historically this is not a new phenomenon, but the circumstances have changed (not least the online world in which we now live). The methodology may not be there yet, but we can no longer afford to ignore ‘ethics’, even when we're on holiday.

Whatever word you want to use to describe it, travel companies are being held to account by the consumer for their actions and the whole marketplace is refocusing its priorities. At the very least, there is an expectation to be ‘doing business in a good way’ and the current generation is switched on, connected and empowered. Everything is up for scrutiny and everybody is accountable.

For me, there was never a choice about caring or not caring. I started my company when I ran a few holidays for school groups to Kenya to run rehabilitation camps for street kids, whilst also having an adventure in Africa. This was before gap years became common parlance.

I never thought of myself as ‘responsible’ or ‘sustainable’, or anything really. I was motivated by my experiences there, in Nepal and other countries, and by the people I met. Like most small independent tour operators, there was a personal story that began the journey to where the company is now; I was deeply influenced by social inequity and exploitation, and the word ‘alternative’ in my company name was to represent an alternative business model which strives to be more equitable and fairer. Ultimately it’s about the allocation of money, and I think I have proved over the last few decades that profit and shared value are not mutually exclusive.



As a tour operator, I also wanted to provide an authentic experience which was safe and professional and fun...and responsible. That word means a lot, from providing honest descriptions of my trips to financial protection; comprehensive insurance; trained and experienced staff; properly vetted suppliers; risk assessments and back up procedures; and a management strategy that would make the company prosper and grow.

But I also feel a responsibility to every person who plays a part in my trips, even if they are semi-literate and poor, and to all the potential beneficiaries of the tourist dollar along the supply chain, plus the people whose livelihood and way of life might suffer from tourism. Bringing in visitors does not necessarily mean instant benefit; in fact the opposite is very often true.

Part of that responsibility is reflected in our membership of the Association of Independent Tour Operators (known as AITO). The 'I' could easily stand for ‘Inspirational’ and ‘Influential’. As a trade organisation it has fought for 35 years to represent companies like my own which sell specialised, personalised holidays to a niche market. As a consumer facing association it is a kite mark for quality, assurance and expertise. The pillars of membership include compliance with a Quality Charter and a Sustainability Code of Conduct which is audited by a committee of which I am a member.

Why should I care?

It may now be becoming apparent – you have a lot of power! Your choices as a consumer can significantly impact upon the development of communities and the conservation of culture and natural resources. So please do care, it helps us make a difference in the following ways:

• Investing in local enterprises and creating jobs. • Placing an economic value on natural and cultural resources, encouraging

conservation measures by governments and local communities. • Preserving locations and cultures so that future generations will be fortunate

enough to experience them, just as you have!

Thank you,



Sustainable tourism – what is it?

The myriad of terms used within the sustainability debate often serve to weaken people’s understanding. Whether you hear the name sustainable; responsible; ethical; low-impact; eco; green; or environmentally-friendly, these types of tourism all work within an ethical framework or a business model that takes into account more than just the balance sheet.

There are three equally important pillars that make up the sustainability debate and which tour companies can invest in: the environment; society; and the economy. It is a model that focuses on long-term benefits for local communities through the conservation of their culture, livelihoods and the natural environment.

With a large number of outbound tours that interact with fragile environments and cultures, it is fair to assume that educating tourists will become increasingly important if sustainable tourism is to be achieved. With effective education, tour operators and guides have the capacity to positively change consumer behaviour, during the trip and on their return.



Before You Go

Check the FCO’s up-to-date ‘know before you go’ travel advice. These country-

specific guides will advise you on matters of health, safety, natural disasters,

transport, entry requirements, local laws, customs and political stability.

If you are a British national, you can sign up to FCO’s ‘LOCATE’ service. This will

give you access to assistance in emergency situations:

www.locate.fco.gov.uk/locateportal

Vaccinations and Travel Health

You will need to visit your GP prior to your trip to discuss vaccinations and

prescriptions. Make sure that you get vaccinated in good time!We have a contract

with Interhealth in London who can provide expert travel advice on travel in any

country. Benefits include free travel consultations and health advice from a medical

team - Tel: 020 7902 9033/E-mail: [email protected]

For urgent medical advice on serious health issues call this 24hr hotline: 079 7325

0026

Access to our own online travel health advice centre can be accessed online through

the ‘before you leave’ section on our website.

Insurance

We encourage people to buy insurance as soon as flights and trips have been

booked in case there is a need for cancellation. Take your papers with you and make

sure that at least one person traveling with you knows where it is in case somebody

else needs to make a call for you.

At home

Save energy:

o Turn down the thermostat on your hot water heater.

o Turn water heater to lowest setting.

o Turn water off at outside connection to prevent flooding should a pipe break.

o TVs, PCs, light fittings and other electrical devices should be unplugged;

appliances drain energy even when they aren’t on!

o Turn icemaker off to prevent flooding should it break while you're away.

Put deliveries and subscriptions on hold – newspapers, magazines, milk and

other fresh produce.

What will you pack to avoid extra weight on airplanes or other forms of transport?

mailto:[email protected]



Leave behind any unnecessary packaging to avoid leaving waste in your

destination.

Mark your bags clearly with your own name and address and the contacts for

Adventure Alternative (Borneo) which will be advised prior to departure

Have you remembered your..?

Passport – many countries require your passport to be valid for at least 6months

from the date of travel, and that it’s in decent condition. It’s always wise to carry a

copy of your passport separately, or give it to a travel buddy. We also advise you to

carry another form of photographic ID.

Travel Funds - In case of loss or any other incident, we recommend that you carry a

mixture of the following: cash; debit card; prepaid credit card; and traveller’s

cheques. Make sure you know what’s accepted in your host destination. Leave a

copy of your card details/traveller cheque numbers at home.

Tickets - Boarding pass/proof of purchase/details of what to do upon arrival.

Prescriptions/medication – along with a doctor’s note, if possible.

Informative websites:

We couldn’t cram all the information we wanted to into this guide. Here are some

useful websites that can help you become the most responsible traveller that you

can be:

AA – for further details on our tours, guides and the countries you will be visiting.

Go Green Travel Green - extensive & practical travel advice

Sustainable Tourism (.net) - guide to being a responsible traveller

TIES - learn more about your destination, find responsible tour operators, tips on

how to be a responsible traveller.

World Travel Guide - World Travel Guide – country-by-country information

Safe Travel (UK) - Travel advice by continent or country

Websites listing the most responsible goods on the market:

Ethical Consumer - www.ethicalconsumer.org

Ethical Superstore – www.ethicalsuperstore.com

http://gogreentravelgreen.com/

http://www.worldtravelguide.net/destinations



Health & Safety

We aim to reduce the risk to your health, and maintain your safety, as far as is

practically possible. Each expedition we run has undergone a strict risk assessment

test, and we are compliant with the BS8848 specification which is a new British

standard for adventurous activities outside the UK.

We provide extensive health and safety information to all clients before arrival in-

country, but here are some health & safety vitals to ensure a healthy and happy trip.

Personal Safety

Try and carry the minimum amount of cash and leave important documents in a

safety deposit box at your accommodation. In instances where this is not

possible, consider a waist wallet, designed to conceal valuables under clothes.

Respect local traditions by dressing appropriately.

If confronted, don’t resist. It’s safer to give up your valuables.

Being under the influence of alcohol or drugs will leave you particularly vulnerable

in unknown areas.

Don’t share, exchange or accept drinks off strangers.

If possible, don’t walk on your own at night.

Accommodation

Lock doors, even when inside your room.

Ensure windows/patio doors are closed when leaving a room.

Be conscious of where you leave/store your key.

Avoid telling strangers where you are staying.

Food and Drink

If buying bottled water, ensure the seal is intact.

Avoid ice in drinks.

Avoid food that has been rinsed with tap water.

Make sure food is properly cooked or reheated.



Out and About

Always wear a seatbelt!

Drink plenty of water!

Avoid being in the sun around the hottest part of the day (12pm-3pm).

Apply sun cream and reapply after swimming.

It’s just as important to protect yourself from the sun in cloudy weather, or in the

snow!

Look out for relevant warning flags and signs, and follow them.

Some countries have ‘no go’ areas. Make sure you avoid them.

Animals

Always wear insect repellent.

If you feel unwell after being bitten by an insect, seek medical advice.

If you have been bitten, disinfect and dress the wound and seek medical

assistance.

Avoid direct contact with wild and stray animals.

Essential Items – First Aid

Plasters or adhesive dressings

Sun cream/block

Insect repellent

Antiseptic wipes/cream

Water sterilisation tablets

Anti-diarrhoea tablets

Rehydration tablets/powders

Painkillers

Calamine lotion/antihistamine



The Political Situation

Your first point of call for information regarding the political situation, safety and entry

requirements of a country should be the Foreign & Commonwealth Office. Their

website has up-to-date information on political stability and travel restrictions by

country. It is also possible to subscribe to email alerts for travel safety information

Be aware of the political situation before you go by checking FCO’s country-by-

country guide.

Don’t get caught up in protests. Demonstrations are usually peaceful and

confined to certain areas. As interesting as they may be, find out where they are

and avoid them!

Find out the address and telephone number of your embassy in the host

destination.

Check-up on entry requirements and local laws, even if you have already visited

the country, many regulations are subject to change, especially in developing

countries.

Many locations are regarded as taboo travel destinations due to their political

instability, human rights records and corruption. There are ethical implications

involved when visiting any country. Ultimately, each individual traveller should

address the consequences of visiting a location and consider ways by which any

negative impacts can be minimised. By choosing local eateries, crafts and

community-run attractions, money is more likely to be kept amongst locals rather

than making its way into corrupt hands.

Further Insight: Nepal

Many countries that we work in are in constant states of political flux. Strikes are a

daily occurrence in Nepal. Although they are often peaceful demonstrations, as with

many countries, there were violent acts in the lead up to the last general election in

2008.

In general these do not affect the tourist areas at all. It is obvious the moment you

set foot in the mountain regions that none of these problems really impinge on the

Himalayan experience.

Since the peace agreement in 2006, between Maoists and the government, tourist

figures have been recovering and there have been many complaints from tourists

that there are not enough flights into Nepal.



Human Rights

Since its establishment in 1991, Adventure Alternative has had strong foundations in

human rights issues. The company was founded upon the policy of supplying long-

term, secure and rewarding employment for the local people in the areas we

operate. Personal friendships are the basis of many jobs in the organisation,

fostering a culture of trust.

We adhere to the UNWTO Global Code of Ethics for Tourism and we do not

'greenwash' our credentials in order to fill the gap between policy and practice.

Adventure Alternative takes a comprehensive approach to human rights issues,

including concerns around child and bonded labour; workplace health and safety;

commercial exploitation of children; exploitation of migrant workers; discrimination

and displacement of indigenous people and vulnerable groups.

We are aware of all the individuals involved in our supply chains, from drivers to

hoteliers and porters, and we actively teach those people to be aware of their value

in that chain.

Rights that we specifically identify and promote positively with our trips:

1. The right to health and wellbeing - we respect the right of our employees to

have a quality of life and an individual choice which is not exploited by long

hours, hard labour, low pay, lack of rest and an unhealthy environment.

2. The right to dignity, respect and privacy - we do not let our tourism consume

the local communities where we visit, and we always work with the local elders

and authorities to make sure that our presence there is accepted and wanted.

3. The rights of the child - we actively promote the development of the family unit,

both in the company and in our charity Moving Mountains, and we provide

counselling and resources to assist staff so that child care is available.

4. The right to work - we actively involved as many people as possible in

becoming shareholders of the tourist equation and we do make sure that there is

correct financial recompense and sharing in the economic, social and cultural

benefits.

5. The right to leisure - all our staff in-country enjoy a good salary, plus training

and proper contracts which identify their right to leave, paid holidays and rest

time after a job.



Further Insight: The Penan People

With the increase in tourism to remote places, the importance of preserving and

learning from the indigenous peoples across the globe has never been stronger.

The Penan People of the Sarawak region of North West Borneo face a continued

struggle against deforestation and the loss of their native culture. The trips that we

run in the region have been designed to help the communities help themselves,

through sustainable tourism and education.

We do not run many trips to this region for fear of interfering with traditional

community life in the jungle. Therefore, we accept a maximum number of 12 people

and consult the Penan through the tourism process so that the trips are run on their

terms.

Projects vary depending upon the needs of the Penan. Current developments

include setting up tree nurseries to rehabilitate forest burnt from logging, also set to

run as part of our carbon offsetting scheme. We are also in the process of building

culturally-sensitive, traditional structures to meet the needs of future visitors.

We have built this trip purely out of the needs of the community, who came to us,

and we envisage that this trip will use tourism to really help.

For more information on human rights issues:

Tourism Concern’s ‘Putting Tourism to Rights’ campaign is calling upon the UK

Government and other tourism stakeholders to ensure that local communities in

tourism destinations are treated fairly and in line with national and international

human rights regulations. For more information, visit:

www.tourismconcern.org.uk/pttr

Visit the Moving Mountainswebsite to find out more about our efforts to collaborate

with the Penan people in Borneo.

www.fairtourism.org raises awareness on human rights violations in the tourism

industry, offering best-case and worst-case examples to help inform your holiday

decisions.

http://www.fairtourism.org/



Religion

Travel often involves visiting holy sites, be it a temple, church, mosque, synagogue

or shrine. Here are a few tips to help you maintain cultural sensitivity in holy places.

Do your research – we’re not saying read all of the religious scripts, but being

aware of certain differences before you travel may help you avoid offending people.

Simple points, like being aware of the days that sacred places are closed to the

public may help enhance your experience.

Cover up – different states of dress will be required for different sites, however,

regardless of gender, exposed shoulders, chests, under arms and legs are usually

frowned upon. Be observant; requirements will usually be clearly signposted.

Photography – again, regulations should be signposted, but do exercise caution.

Many sacred buildings charge for the use of a camera. Even if photography is

allowed, don’t take photos of people in holy dress without asking.

Respect - you may not share their beliefs, you may even strongly disagree, but if

you are going to visit a house of worship the least you can do is show respect.

Further Insight - Nepal

Hinduism is the prominent religion, whilst Buddhism is also commonplace and helps

to create the cultural fabric of Nepal. The two religions not only live peacefully side-

by-side, but also share common beliefs and even places of worship.

Nepal is said to be the birthplace of Siddhartha Gautama, known as the Buddha. The

main places connected to his life are important pilgrimage places for many Buddhists

and Hindus.

Take off your shoes before entering a temple or someone’s house.

Don’t enter a temple wearing any items made of leather; cows are revered as

sacred.

You may find that, in some cases, westerners are not allowed to enter Hindu

places of worship.

Always ask permission before taking photos.

Don’t sit with your feet pointing towards someone, especially a lama or a monk.

Never touch the head of a Nepali.

Don’t throw rubbish into an open fire as they are thought of as sacred.



Clothing

"When preparing to travel, lay out all your clothes and all your money. Then

take half the clothes and twice the money."

– Susan Heller

In other words, when packing, be concise and practical. Read up on your destination

and pack according to the time of year and activities you plan to do. Remember to be

understanding of different cultures; take your cue from the locals and remember that

dress will vary for entry into sacred buildings. In Zanzibar especially, it is important to

dress modestly out of respect for Muslim beliefs.

Adventure Alternative organises trips to many conservative and traditional societies.

All persons should dress ‘modestly’; this is especially true of female visitors. In many

areas keep your upper arms to the elbow and upper legs to the knee covered. Don’t

expose your midriff and your neckline should not extend down more than a few

inches. In Nepal, exposed shoulders are a sign of immorality, mostly for women who

may attract unwanted attention from men. Remember: the ‘in’ thing back at home

may not be appropriate for your host destination!

Travellers often find themselves in a trade-off situation – not wanting to attract

unnecessary attention, grungy clothing is often the attire of choice, yet this may be

seen as an insult to your host and the local community. For example, smart dress is

a matter of pride in Kenya.

If your trip is a one-off and you don’t want to fork out on expensive specialist gear,

consider renting fromExpedition Kit Hire. They offer a top quality clothing and

equipment service to fit the demands of any expedition from Polar, high altitude,

desert or tropical treks across the globe.

Informative Websites:

Extensive guidelines on vital items necessary for all our trips, from rainforest

expeditions to mountain journeys, can be found on the AA website.

What to Wear on Holiday (by country) -www.whattowearonholiday.com/

The Outdoor Shop -www.theoutdoorshop.com offers an extensive array of technical

outdoor clothing and equipment.

http://www.expeditionkithire.co.uk/

http://www.theoutdoorshop.com/



Safari Kit List

Eva Muronji, our safari coordinator in Kenya, has suggested the following

safari kit list:

Clothing:

Choose natural colours that blend in with the landscape, but not camouflage; in some countries you can be arrested for wearing military prints.

Avoid white clothing as it tends to get dirty easily in dry and dusty environments.

Materials that can ‘breathe’ – choose materials such as cotton and linen, and fine wools for cool evenings.

A pair of shorts, but not too short!

Long sleeves and trousers will give you additional protection from the sun, dust and insects.

A light rain jacket could be necessary.

If you are visiting some of the local villages then ladies should ensure that shoulders are covered and shorts are not too short, perhaps bring a sarong.

A cap or wide brim hat and a scarf can be useful as the terrain can be dusty.

Areas at higher altitude, such as Ngorongoro crater, can be cooler than the surrounding areas so a light jumper or jacket may be needed.

You will want good shoes for walking e.g. trekking boots or trainers along with more casual shoes, sandals and something you can wear in the shower or on rainy days. Don’t forget lightweight socks!

If you are on a lodge safari staying in a hotel you may also need a couple of smart outfits. Generally, the same rules apply, except you can use more colour variations, styles and fabric.

Conservative swimwear may be needed.

Other Items:

Journal

Sunscreen

Medication if any

Sleeping bag and roll mat (if

camping)

Head torch

A small set of travel binoculars can

be handy

Wet wipes

Camera, lens covers, filters & spare

batteries

Memory cards

Sunglasses

Mosquito repellent

Anti-malarial



Food & Drink

Wherever possible, we aim to use local ingredients to make traditional dishes. One

of travel’s biggest delights is sampling the local cuisine; whether that is shashlyk

(skewered lamb roasted on a charcoal fire) in Russia, chapattis in Kenya, or Tuak

(rice wine) in Borneo.

We will cater for any medical food requirements, and to some extent try to satisfy

group consensus on taste. However, do not expect Western foods or an endless

variety of ingredients.

Imported food and Western restaurants are often expensive, relative to the local

eateries where you can find cheap, delicious and healthy meals. Eating at local

restaurants is often a mutually beneficial relationship; the tourist gets to try

something new and exotic, whilst helping to boost the local economy through

consuming regional products and putting money in the pockets of local people. Our

tour guides will be able to offer some recommendations about where to best sample

the local cuisine.

Respect regulation and attitudes towards alcohol that vary between countries and

communities.

Pack a water bottle to avoid buying bottled water. Your accommodation should

supply you with boiled water that you can use to fill your bottle in the evening.

Always store food securely and dispose of leftovers in the correct way, this will

help to protect the local wildlife and yourself.

Overconsumption of scarce resources is a problem in many areas, especially

overfishing. Try to be informed on which species are under threat. In many places

such species include lobster, crabs, conchs, snappers, groupers and jewfish.

To avoid stomach upsets:

o Avoid ice, and ice shavings that are used in drinks offered by street

vendors.

o Try to avoid salad, fruit or any food that may have been washed with

untreated water.

o If you purchase food from street vendors make sure it’s fresh and

thoroughly cooked.

o Boil or purify untreated water.

Don’t forget to sample the locally-made wine and beer;Tusker is a favourite in

Kenya.



Buying Local

Support Local Handicrafts

Buying locally produced goods leads to money staying within the local economy. The

shorter the distance between yourself and the producer, the better, as this usually

means more money ending up in their pocket.

Apart from the economic benefits, sourcing local goods should give you a better

insight into local culture and tradition. Different regions will have unique textiles,

jewellery and other handicrafts that will allow you to pick up gifts and keepsakes that

you would never find back home. Be aware that many items said to be ‘hand-made’

are actually churned out by machines in huge quantities.

Endeavour to pay a fair price for items that contain local and natural materials;

bartering down to the lowest possible price may negatively affect the local trader.

Our guides should be able to help you if you’re unsure of where to find authentic and

fairly priced handicrafts.

Endangered Species

We encourage our clients to purchase sustainable items; Fairtrade and organic are

always preferred. There’s a wealth of endangered and protected species that are

often used to make items. Tourist demand can lead to over-harvesting wildlife that

can then create negative changes to ecosystems. Furs, ivory, reptile skin, ebony,

black coral and turtle shells are some of the most commonly used items derived from

endangered species. For an extensive list of all protected and threatened species

visit www.cites.org.

Coral Reefs

One of the most pressing matters that has materialised through over-harvesting

natural items is the deterioration of coral reefs. Certain species, such as black coral,

are internationally protected and illegal to transport into most countries.

Short-term profits can lead fishermen into using harmful methods to extract items

such as sea sponges, shells and coral. Their extraction impacts upon the health and

the aesthetics of the reef, damaging the reason why tourists visit the area in the first

place.

http://www.cites.org/



Ivory & Pelts

It’s likely that you might come across ivory and pelts in souvenir shops in parts of

Asia and Africa. A limited amount of these goods are allowed for exportation from

Zimbabwe, and there are strict national and international laws regarding how they’re

acquired and their movement across borders.

Be careful when buying souvenirs; such materials can be incorporated into all sorts

of items which you may unknowingly transport, leading to a lot of trouble.

International Regulation

Stick to regional, national and international regulation when harvesting and/or

transporting plants and animal-related products.

Numerous items can’t be transported into the UK, and some require you to get a

permit prior to departure. Make sure you’re in the know or you could incur a big

fine, or even a jail sentence.

There are currently over 800 species of plants and animals that are barred from

international trade, whilst the sale of over 30,000 species is controlled. Visit

www.cites.orgto find out what’s on the list.

http://www.cites.org/



Supply Chain

Adventure Alternative’s business model has always been to invest in host-country

assets, allowing for a stronger influence on the supply chain. The standard tour

operator business model involves outsourcing the whole package to a local agent,

reducing control over operations in the host country. Our structure allows us to

maintain the highest standards throughout our entire operations, despite huge

differences in national environmental, employment and human rights legislation and

regulation.

Wherever possible, we try and source the most ethically-sound and efficient

products. In many cases, recycled, responsibly sourced, fair trade and energy-

efficient goods are not readily available in the areas that we work. Although products

are slowly starting to filter into these markets, there is little knowledge of their

existence, let alone the potential benefits. Such goods are often a more expensive

alternative which often inhibits uptake in developing countries. We are currently

trying to inform our worldwide staff of the benefits of responsible purchasing and how

it ties in with Adventure Alternative’s business model.

In terms of the food we supply, little is imported. Most of the produce used is

organically-grown on local farms. This allows our clients to experience authentic and

delicious meals whilst helping to support the local economy, reducing demand and

dependency on foreign imported goods.

We have our own transport fleet in East Africa, rather than using a third party. This

allows us to regularly maintain the vehicles to ensure efficiency. Transport elsewhere

is minimal due to the nature of our trips. Our drivers often start as apprentices,

working their way up as a mechanic and helper so that they know the vehicles and

can maintain them themselves, fix them, or at least make sure that garages don't rip

us off!



Fair Employment

Rather than outsourcing, we have set up companies in a number of areas where we

offer tours, including Kenya, Tanzania, Russia, Nepal and most recently, Borneo. As

well as providing investment, this model allows us to continuously help develop and

train our staff in line with Adventure Alternative’s principles.

Adventure Alternative offers the means for local small entrepreneurs to develop and

sell a sustainable product that is based on the area’s nature, history and culture,

helping to keep money within the local community. The aim is to allow everybody

involved in the tourism chain to share in the economic benefits, from the office staff

to our employees on the ground.

Many companies take advantage of the poor human rights in less-developed

countries by offering a low salary and poor working conditions. At Adventure

Alternative, we believe in fair and long-term employment prospects. We offer a fair

wage, often well above the industry average, along with overtime pay, paid holidays,

training and refresher training. As well as this, the UK office provides management

advice to all of our bases worldwide.

We also take a collaborative approach with the small businesses that we are

affiliated with. For example, the Blue Line Hotel on the slopes of Mount Kenya has

enjoyed working with us for over ten years now. This is not just a case of providing

clientele, but also helping with standards, facilities, training and even investment.

Moving Mountains Trust was launched in 1991, built on a management principle of

providing long term careers for some of the young people who were being supported

by the charity. That is how Kelly Kioko began life as street kid and ended up

becoming the Director of Adventure Alternative Kenya some fifteen years later.

This business model has fostered a culture of trust; since gaining employment within

Adventure Alternative and Moving Mountains our previous beneficiaries have a new

self-confidence, a new motivation to work hard and are able to provide for their

families, thus ensuring that their own children will never have to suffer the privation

that they did.

For more information on employee rights in the tourism industry, and to see how you

can help, see Tourism Concern’s ‘Putting Tourism to Rights’ campaign:

www.tourismconcern.org.uk/putting-tourism-to-rights



Porters

Most porters are not like the famous Sherpas who carry huge loads at altitude. Many

are impoverished sustenance farmers who are driven into this line of work to provide

for their families. Like trekkers and climbers, many porters suffer from altitude

sickness, hypothermia, snow blindness, frostbite and even death in extreme cases.

It is commonplace for porters to be exploited; this is the unfortunate truth in many

countries, including Nepal, Kenya and Tanzania. Out of desperation, many porters

accept a daily wage that is way below the recommended amount. On top of this,

they are expected to carry heavy equipment, often without insurance, proper clothing

and food and lodging along the route. A porter can come home with a net salary of

$10 for up to two weeks work. For us at Adventure Alternative this is wholly

unacceptable.

Adventure Alternative has a dedicated policy in place to tackle all issues in relation to

Porters Rights and beyond that actively campaigns for and on behalf of these great

men and women in the various mountain ranges of the world via:

IMEC - the International Mountain Explorers Connection

KPAP - The Kilimanjaro Porters Assistance Project

IPPG – the International Porters Protection Group

Trekking ethics - the IPPG’s recommended guidelines:

1) Adequate clothing should be provided to porters for their protection in bad

weather and at high altitude.

2) Above the tree line, porters should have access to shelter, either a room in a

lodge or tent with a sleeping pad and a blanket, food and warm drinks, or cooking

equipment and fuel.

3) Porters should be provided with the same standard of medical care, including

insurance.

4) Seriously ill porters should be sent down with someone who speaks their

language and understands their illness along with a letter describing their complaint.

5) No porter should be asked to carry a load that is too heavy for their physical

abilities.

In addition we pay our sirdars and guides an appropriate salary commensurate with

their experience and responsibility so they do not have to take a 'slice' out of porters

wages.

For more details on these policies, please visit the Adventure Alternative website.



Begging

Please do not offer beggars money, food or other items. Although these actions may

be well-intentioned, handing them out creates a culture of dependency. Begging also

encourages children to drop-out of school in search of a wage handed out by

tourists.

Many of our tours involve work with children. In these situations, if you are keen on

taking gifts, we propose any of the following: old clothes; a pair of shoes or socks;

pencils; pens; and colourful trinkets for the girls. We urge you to be careful when

offering out items. It’s important not to favour one child; this can sometimes lead to

kids being bullied verbally and physically, or in extreme cases they can be thrown

out of homes.

To avoid these problems, we suggest donating to our charity, Moving Mountains, as

a basis for helping children. We have avoided third-party projects just so we can be

certain that all donations go towards creating sustainable communities in the areas

that we work. One-off gifts often confuse families and kids, who are accustomed to

the support system that we have put in place; a support system that they trust

because it is tried and tested, and developed through consultation with the

communities themselves.

If you are at all worried about any of the above issues then talk to one of the tour

leaders.

Tipping

Unfortunately many people working in the travel industry are paid very low wages

and rely heavily on tips. Many of them do not receive regular employment either, so

tips have become the alternative to both a salary and also a supplement to a very

irregular income.

Our staff are paid well above industry rates; tips act as more of a bonus which can

be shared among the entire team of local staff. Unfortunately, paying a good salary

does not in any way reduce the expectation of a tip! In fact in some cases the higher

the salary, the higher the expected tip. Please do note that we do provide annual

increments in salary which are linked to the inflation rates, and we do give end of

year bonuses to the main staff.

Any gratuities should be made at your discretion. If there happens to be a problem

then you should exercise your right to refuse a tip, helping to send a strong message

about the work ethic that is expected of all our staff worldwide.



We can offer guidelines on tipping, but essentially it’s up to you, and you should tip

according to the service that you receive. You should endeavour to pay tips in the

local currency, especially in Tanzania.

Further Insight: Tipping in Eastern Africa

Tips are expected at high-end luxury hotels and lodges and moderately priced

safari lodges. Tip boxes are usually kept at reception.

Tips are not expected at hotels and restaurants frequented by locals.

Tips will be expected at the end of a walking safari. Recommended tips vary from

Park to park, so check with your guide or driver.

When you give tips we recommend that the money is collected as a team and

given to the trip leader as a total to be then distributed to the staff team members

in an open 'ceremony'.

Please avoid individual tip giving to specific members of staff, even if that person

has gone beyond the ‘call of duty’ for you. It does cause enormous problems after

you have left, with arguments and jealousy.

The following is a rough guide on the amount of money that you may consider

giving as a tip to the staff team on an Adventure Alternative expedition in East

Africa.

Mount Kilimanjaro - £50 or $80 (this calculates to 125,000 Tz shillings)

Mount Meru- £25 or $40 (or 62,500 Tz shillings)

Mount Kenya - £30 or $50 (or about 4000 Kenyan shillings)

Safari - £25 or $40 (or 100,000 Tz shillings or 3250 Kenyan shillings)



Photography

Taking Photos Responsibly

If a person is the focal point of your photo then make sure that you ask

permission, or make a gesture. Learn about the local customs, superstitions and

religion before you go to avoid making any silly mistakes.

If someone says no, respect their decision. If you don’t understand their response

then be mindful of their body language and look out for signs of unease.

In some cases, money will be expected. Try to establish a fair price before you

take the shot to avoid any nasty surprises.

Sacred spots, museums, memorials, protests, government buildings, military

bases and historical sites might not condone photography. In fact, there may be

punishments so make sure you check! Also be aware that asking someone to

take your photograph could lead to them getting into trouble.

The enthusiasm of children makes them great subjects, but try to ask a parent or

guardian before snapping away.

Safari Photography

The East African savannah is a prime opportunity for practicing photography, yet

there are a few realities that can disappoint if the photographer isn’t aware:

Many animals are camouflaged and difficult to spot. However our drivers and

guides are adept at spotting animals that have adapted to blend in with the

environment.

Many animals rest and hide during the day when conditions are the best for

taking photos.

It’s difficult to get close to wild animals, and the last thing we want to do is disturb

their natural processes. This can often lead to shots of the dusty savannah with a

tiny and non-descript animal of into the distance.

Coming across a chase or a kill is rare. Hunting usually takes place in the low

light conditions of dusk or dawn

With all these factors against you, it’s vital that you prepare….

Security

Make sure that any valuable equipment is insured against loss, damage and theft.

Most theft is opportunistic so keep your camera on you at all times, or securely



stored away and out of sight. Our vehicles are safe and always manned by a driver

or guide, but don’t take unnecessary risks. There have been cases of opportunistic

monkeys on safari, so be vigilant when windows are down!

Protection

Safaris are hot and dusty; not the ideal place for expensive electronic items. A

camera bag or case will help protect against the elements. Also make sure that the

equipment is well secured as you will experience offroad driving and probably a fair

few potholes and bumps along the way.

Visibility

There are certain cases where the driver will ask for all windows to be shut: in heavy

dust or if animals are close by (especially baboons). Our safari vans have pop-up

roofs that allow you to take turns getting your shots, without impendence. The

windows in our overland trucks roll up allowing you a high vantage point from which

to get your photos.

Power points

All of our lodges have power points for charging equipment. Generators will supply

240V, as do Kenyan plug sockets that take the same three pin plug as used in the

UK. We can’t always promise that there will be power points in campsites so you

may want to bring a portable solar charging unit, a charging cable to plug into the

cigarette lighter in the vehicle, or lots of spare batteries! The overland trucks provide

a 24V supply which is ideal for small devices. Major cities should stock equipment

such as camera batteries and memory cards, but this is not to be relied on.

Lenses and filters

The range of equipment you bring should reflect the type of shots you want to

capture. A wide angle lens will allow you to capture the vast panorama of the

savannah. It’s necessary to keep a fair distance from wild animals, so a 270mm long

lens should help you capture intimate photos of the animals in their natural habitat.

The immense blue sky can often overexpose a shot; a UV or skylight filter can help

with this.

Tripods

It’s often the case on safari that your best shots will be in low light and using a zoom

so holding the camera steady is vital; a gorilla pod or clasp should do the trick. There

won’t be much space for a large tripod, so we encourage enthusiasts to bring a small

stand or clasp for inside the vehicle, and a larger tripod for use from the campsite.

It can be quite stressful trying to get the perfect shot. Just remember to take some

time, sit back and enjoy the scenery with your own eyes!



Climate Change

Tourism and Climate Change

Many aspects of the tourism industry have a large carbon footprint, the main culprit being air travel. As tourism continues to rise, year after year, the industry increasingly contributes towards worldwide greenhouse gas emissions.

Similar to agriculture, transport and energy, tourism is regarded as a climate-sensitive industry with many tourism and leisure organisations dependent on the climate and the health of the local environment in order to operate. Given tourism’s contribution to current greenhouse gas emissions and the industry’s sensitivity towards climatic changes, there is an urgent need to adopt a number of policies that encourage truly sustainable tourism.

Indeed, climate change is not an indefinite or remote future event as many people believe; the effects are becoming apparent at many destinations around the world. Kilimanjaro’s shrinking snow cap has been attributed to global warming. The images that depict the snow’s withdrawal have become a well-known tool in the fight against climate change.

As well as its receding glaciers, Kili is also suffering from droughts and flash floods. After hearing of these climatic changes, many tourists are now flocking to the mountain in fear that the iconic snows will soon disappear. Ironically, this boost to tourism may accelerate the melt leading to fewer and fewer tourists in the long-run. Tourism plays a huge role in the local economy. Local people are hired as porters and guides to assist climbing tourists. Over the years, local infrastructure has developed in order to complement the influx of tourists, with many businesses reliant on the constant stream of visitors for an income.

This pattern will become more widespread as global warming continues to shape and change the natural environment. The different manifestations of climate change will call for all stakeholders in the tourism arena to adapt in some way; regional climate change will prove to be increasingly relevant for tourism destinations and tourists alike.

Our Commitments

We believe that the tour operators should play a central role in climate change mitigation and adaptation through their ability to influence the tourism supply chain and shape demand. The tour operator also has the ability to inform and educate clients so that they adopt the principles of sustainable tourism. Indeed, it is in the tour operator’s interest to preserve the destinations in which they operate



Moving Mountains – Rainforest Enrichment Project

Adventure Alternative works in partnership with Moving Mountains, promoting and funding our work in support of community led, sustainable development in Kenya, Nepal and Borneo.

As part of AA’s commitment to responsible travel, we offer clients and all of our Moving Mountains volunteers the opportunity to help to offset the carbon emissions from flights by making a small payment to the tree planting programme, run and managed by Moving Mountains in Borneo, in partnership with the indigenous Penan people.

Having avoided third-party projects, we developed this scheme along with Moving Mountains and the Penan. The Project is run under the supervision of MESCOT - a community-based cooperative that oversees all of the environmental/conservation efforts in the BatuPuteh area of Borneo. The initiative aligns conservation goals with the protection of the Penan people by conserving the forest habitat and the region’s biodiversity, whilst also ensuring the health and livelihoods of the local indigenous population.

After spending years running trips to this wonderful and remote part of Borneo, we now have an offsetting scheme that we can vouch for! This donation will help to offset the carbon emissions from your flight and help to reduce your carbon footprint, whilst also:

Providing fair employment and an income source for local people in Borneo to collect saplings from the forest, manage our tree nurseries and plant young trees;

Helping to reforest areas of the Borneo rainforest destroyed by extreme weather and illegal logging;

Providing a sustainable source of new wood for the Penan and help them to protect the existing ancient rainforest in which they live;

Helping the Penan to campaign against the logging companies and protect their land and traditions.

Offset your emissions!

As part of our shared commitment to responsible travel, ethical tourism and sustainable development, Adventure Alternative and Moving Mountains offer clients and volunteers the opportunity to offset the carbon emissions from flights.

By using our embedded carbon calculator you can calculate the emissions from your flights and make a small payment to the programme to offset your carbon emissions whilst helping to support the Penan to protect and enrich the Sarawak Rainforest in Borneo. Most importantly, rather than funding a third-party organisation, ALL funds will go to Moving Mountains and will directly fund the programme in Borneo.



10:10

As part of our commitment to the 10:10 scheme, AA is aiming to reduce its carbon footprint by 10% in the year 2012. This goal stretches throughout our operations to our offices and guesthouses worldwide. To aid this commitment we have issued energy saving guidelines that we hope will inform our staff, suppliers and clients, enabling them to become more conscious of their carbon footprint and the ways by which they can reduce it.

The shortcomings of carbon offsetting

Whilst carbon offsetting makes a positive contribution towards mitigating harmful climate change, it doesn’t solve the problem of consumption and excess carbon. Essentially, it validates flying.

Carbon offsetting doesn’t remove harmful GHGs from our atmosphere, and many offsetting schemes take years to remove the corresponding amount of carbon emitted from a flight.

Take a look at www.cheatneutral.comfor a satirical look at the issues surrounding carbon offsetting.

Fly Smart

The Responsible Tourism Partnership recommends these three steps to try to compensate for the shortcomings of carbon offset schemes; to become ‘Fly Smart’.

1. Fly less

Take other forms of transport wherever possible. Whilst flying is time efficient, land travel is infinitely more interesting and exciting; ‘getting there is half the fun’ became obsolete with the advent of commercial airlines.” – H. J. Tillman

2.Fly more carbon efficiently

Make purchasing choices that encourage airlines to reduce their emissions.

Fly direct Choose a charter flight or economy - your emissions will generally be

less. Carry less baggage Fly with airlines that fill their planes

Using a carbon friendly flight searchallows you to choose the most carbon efficient airlines.

http://www.cheatneutral.com/

http://www.directflights.com/flightbanners.php?banner=bannerCW500x255&depIATA=LON&retIATA=NYC&bannercode=RESPON



3. Donate to a credible offsetting scheme

If you do fly, consider donating towards a credible offsetting scheme. Take your time to research the myriad of schemes – this is a complex market where a multitude of different prices are offered. Try not to appease your guilt by choosing the cheapest option – take responsibility for your carbon emissions!

Although carbon offsetting is not the solution by itself, our clients can rest assured that our offsetting scheme, the Rainforest Enrichment Project, is credible and responsibly managed. For more information on the scheme visit our Moving Mountains website.


Moving Mountains -www.movingmountainstrust.com/

MESCOT - www.mescot.org/

10:10 Campaign- www.1010uk.org/

Cheat Neutral - www.cheatneutral.com/

Carbon Neutral -www.carbonneutral.com



Responsible Travel Tips

1. Fly Wisely: Travel by air is usually the most energy-consuming part of any trip. Minimise air travel by taking direct flights, reducing the number of short trips, staying longer in one destination or by choosing a carbon efficient carrier.

2. Travel Lightly: Pack only the essentials, anddon't bring things that will become waste.Terracurve state that 7,537 tonnes of carbon dioxide would be averted from going into the atmosphere each year if travellers reduced their luggage by 25%.

3. Book Responsibly: Choose service providers that have strong sustainability practices. Look for information on the company's commitment to the environment, the local community and economy.

4. Unplug before You Leave: Turn off lights and unplug household appliances before you leave. Appliances drain energy even when they aren’t on!

5. Unplug while you’re there: When you leave the room, turn off the heating, air-conditioning, lights or any other electric devices.

6. Choose Greener Transportation: Using alternative modes of transportationis a far more sustainable way to travel and will allow you to get to know the local culture.

7. Source Locally: Support the local economy by buying locally made crafts, sourcing local ingredients and dining at local eateries, thus reducing demand for imported goods.

8. Manage Water Responsibly: Keep your showers short; don’t let the water run whilst you brush your teeth, shave or wash; avoid excessive flushing of the toilet; use the minimum amount of water necessary for cooking and cleaning; and if possible, opt out of having your towels and bed linen washed every day.

9. Charge Sustainably: A portable battery charger and rechargeable batteries will save you costs in the long-run whilst also helping to prevent acid and toxic minerals being disposed of in harmful ways. Rechargeable batteries can be used for a number of essential travel items such as cameras, torches and razors.

10. Offset Your Carbon Footprint: Contribute to a credible carbon offsetting programme. Adventure Alternative supports the scheme run through our charity, Moving Mountains.



Energy

Our commitments:

We have installed eco-efficiency guidelines in all of our offices and guesthouses to enable staff to reduce energy consumption. Subject to local restrictions, here are some of the actions that we have implemented:

Lighting

We have installed energy-efficient light bulbs wherever possible.

We have established overnight lighting policies in our offices and guesthouses worldwide to minimise unnecessary lighting.

Electrical equipment

Where heating and cooling devices are used, we have policies in place to maximise their efficiency whilst minimising use. Our East African offices use only natural cooling methods.

We pay attention to energy efficiency ratings when choosing electrical goods. Our Borneo office has an energy-efficient cooling system for the hot and humid jungle environment.

We use flat-screen monitors that are considerably more efficient than their CRT counterparts.

All PCs have energy saving standby mode.

All electrical devices are switched off during evenings and holidays.

Suppliers

We have set up local companies in the developing countries where we operate. We do not use contractors to run our tours, which allows us to have control over our energy use in our offices worldwide and out on the ground.

There are a few cases where we have become business partners with accommodation providers. We have edited and extended our eco-efficiency guidelines to fit the needs of these guesthouses, including more efficient refrigeration and cooking methods, and ethical procurement procedures.

All these actions contribute towards our aim of reducing carbon emissions by 10% throughout 2012 as part of the 10:10 campaign. Visit www.1010global.org/ukfor more information.

See the ‘Before you go’ section to learn how to leave your home in an energy-

efficient state before you head off on your travels.

http://www.1010global.org/uk



Water

Water is a precious resource that needs to be protected. Joint effects of climate change and overpopulation will see water become an increasingly scarce resource.

A major concern is the excessive use of water in tourism destinations, whilst many locals continue to have limited access to clean water infrastructure.To learn more about water equity and the strains that tourism can place on water supplies, visit:www.tourismconcern.org.uk/wet

Here are some tips to help you conserve water and save money on your travels, and at home:

Take a shower; a shower uses approximately a third of the amount of water used to fill a bath.

Turn off the water whilst brushing your teeth.

Filtered water is the most environmentally friendly way to generate safe drinking water. As an alternative, we encourage the treatment of water with iodine tablets.

Reusable and lightweight water bottles are a great alternative to throwaway

plastics.

Reuse your sheets and towels instead of having them changed every day.

Avoid excessive flushing of the toilet and don’t use it as a general dustbin.

Let your hotel or holiday rep know if you spot a drip.

When boiling the kettle or cooking, only heat the amount of water that you need.

If bottled water is the only option, buy a larger container of water (2-4 litres) that you can store and use to fill one small portable bottle. This should help reduce waste.

Try and become aware of water supply issues in the region that you will be visiting, in order to minimise your impact.

Bottled Water – Adventure Alternative Policy:

We try to avoid bottled water wherever possible, and encourage our clients to do the same. We do not bring bottled water on mountains due to waste; all water comes from rivers and glacial streams. The staff will fill your water bottles every evening. The British Mountaineering Council estimated that over 200,000 bottles were discarded by tourists last year in Nepal’s Annapurna region alone.

Filtered water is available from some of our Nepal guesthouses – a cheaper alternative to bottled water. If filtered water isn’t available, the best option is to order boiled water from the lodge kitchen to fill your water bottle in the evening. Please note that cheap water bottles easily split when filled with hot water! The other option is to use iodine drops (known as Lugols solution in Nepal and available in supermarkets).

Always check bottles to see that the caps are still sealed, this is particularly relevant to bottled water in Kenya and Tanzania. Many plastic bottles are filled from municipal sources and reused. If in doubt, use water purification tablets too, to be on the safe side.

http://www.tourismconcern.org.uk/wet



The International

Business Times,

2011



Waste

The following tips will help you to minimise waste left in your destination:

Leave behind any unnecessary packaging to avoid leaving waste in your destination.

Biodegradable products can replace plastics and other harmful materials. It’s now possible to buy biodegradable soap, shampoo, insect repellent candles and many other travel necessities.

Don’t litter! Many of the countries we operate in have limited waste facilities leading to huge problems with discarded waste.

Reduce excessive consumption and waste, such as buying numerous plastic water bottles.

Know your accommodation’s recycling program and sort your rubbish accordingly.

Trekking waste:

When trekking, all waste is removed from the mountain and disposed of responsibly.

Human waste policies vary by region. Kilimanjaro has its famous long drop toilets, whilst human waste is often bagged and carried off other mountains and disposed of safely. Take non-clear plastic bags and wrap it well!

When answering calls of nature, please bury it if necessary, and if possible burn any toilet paper. Choose sites away from water sources, streams etc.

Further Insight: Nepal

There is a strict waste policy in effect for climbers visiting Everest and its base camp. Tourist numbers rose quickly in an area that was ill-equipped to deal with waste disposal. The Ministry of Tourism has now imposed a strict set of rules for visitors to follow regarding waste and its disposal:

1. All expeditions pay a $4000 deposit which is lost if any non-biodegradable waste is left on the mountain.

2. Rubbish is split into three categories: I. Recyclable goods are brought to the prescribed recycling facility in

Kathmandu. II. Disposable items are brought off the mountain and deposited in front of

the relevant authority. III. Re-exportable items are sent from Nepal to their respective country of

origin.



3. The Liaison Officer and the region’s village leader collaborate to enforce these procedures.

4. Since 1994, Sherpas have been compensated for every discarded oxygen bottle that they bring down from the mountain.

5. Glass bottles have been banned on the mountain since 1998.

Further Insight: Russia

Unfortunately Mount Elbrus does not have a rigorous waste policy, and this is evident along the trek. Many climbers and porters use crevasses as rubbish tips, toilets are often overflowing and the area around the cabins can be particularly bad. You will also be subjected to a view of scrap metal, bottles and plastic bags from the recently erected mountain chairlift.

Even though there may be a lack of official enforcement, rather than following the crowd, Adventure Alternative abides by its own waste removal policy. We ask all our clients to minimise their impact on the natural environment, instead of worsening the waste problem.



Wildlife

Follow these guidelines to minimise your impact on the local wildlife.

Different regions will inherit unique and specific environmental problems. Educate

yourself on these local and regional matters before you leave to avoid worsening

any issues surrounding the native flora and fauna.

Don’t collect specimens; if everyone did this, there wouldn’t be any left for people

to observe and enjoy.

Don’t feed animals. This can cause reliance, and even aggression.

Give wild animals space and avoid disturbing them during sensitive times –

mating; nesting; raising young; and feeding.

If taking pets, control them at all times.

Further Insight – Borneo

Commercial logging operations gathered momentum in Borneo during the 1980s and

1990s. Initially, the northern states of Sabah and Sarawak were hit hardest, whereas

the southern regions were targeted later and now act as the island’s primary source

for tropical timber.

Whilst the forests were once largely used for paper pulp and furniture, the biggest

threat today comes from palm oil and other biofuels. Today, almost half of Borneo’s

cultivated land consists of government-owned palm oil plantations.

(R.A.Butler, Mongabay)

One of the most devastating effects of deforestation is the consequent loss of

biodiversity in an area that is considered to be one of the most species-rich in the

world. Reduced forest cover and increasing demand has also resulted in higher

levels of poaching. The orang-utan is often targeted due to the value it can reach in

the tropical pet and entertainment industries.



The governments of Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei have collaborated to protect

220,000km² of land, almost a third of the total area of Borneo. The project aims to

protect the land, collate data and educate people around the world whilst

collaborating with local communities to ensure that social development takes place in

conjunction with environmental conservation.

Our ‘Carbon Enrichment Project’ in Borneo was set up through our charity Moving

Mountains in order to restore areas that have been affected by extreme weather and

logging activities. The project is maintained by the indigenous Penan people who are

masters of the natural environment around them.

The Penan people are paid to collect and plant the tree nurseries, and to monitor

and ensure that the young trees flourish, ready for replanting. All of this work utilises

a deep knowledge and connection with the rainforest, replanting only native tree

species to maintain the original integrity of the forest. This work also provides an

income for the people, supporting them in their efforts to resist the logging

companies and protect their traditional homes in the forest.

How you can help reduce your impact on the world’s forests?

Reduce wood and paper consumption;

Choose paper with the highest recycled content;

Use both sides of paper;

Use cloth napkins/towels, avoid disposable;

Choose tree-free paper – this includes agri-waste products like waste straw,

hemp and kenaf.


Forest Stewardship Council– www.fsc-uk.org

Heart of Borneo project – www.heartofborneo.org

Conservation International – www.conservation.org

Conservation on Biological Diversity - www.cbd.int

http://www.fsc-uk.org/

http://www.heartofborneo.org/

http://www.conservation.org/

http://www.cbd.int/



Fire & Campfires

Ask yourself the following questions to ensure that you LEAVE NO TRACE:

Is a fire necessary? Campfires were once a necessity, but the invention of lightweight and efficient camping stoves has eliminated the need for potentially damaging and resource-dependent campfires.

Is it a protected area? Collecting fuel wood may be prohibited. This is the case on Kilimanjaro and within certain national parks in Nepal.

Is firewood scarce? Even if the collection of firewood is permitted, you may be depleting the supply of the local communities and regeneration may not be able to keep up with demand.

Are there any existing fire rings? Using an existing fire ring will reduce the impact upon the natural environment.

Is there a risk of the fire spreading? Location, time of year and type of vegetation could all increase the likeliness of a fire spreading. Even a small breeze could cause a fire to spread.

Do you have fire fighting equipment? If you can, put the fire out with water, not dirt. If the fire continues to spread then leave the area and get help.

Further Insight: Nepal Major deforestation in Nepal has been directly linked to fuel wood and the use of timber for buildings to satisfy village growth and the ever-increasing influx of tourists. Forests are often destroyed at a rate that can’t be restored, especially at higher altitudes where it is more difficult for trees to grow.

Cutting down wood is now strictly prohibited in Sagarmatha national park and many other areas of Nepal, in order to rehabilitate forests. Stoves have reduced the burden on forests by encouraging a shift away from traditional campfires, yet there are still areas at risk. For more advice and information, visit www.lnt.org. Eco-friendly cooking stoves in Bumburi, Nepal The forests around Bumburi have been slowly disappearing due to pressure from population growth, greatly inefficient cooking methods and continued demand for wood for cooking and heating water.

http://www.lnt.org/



The stoves we installed in Bumburi are made of clay and have a narrow opening for the wood and a specially shaped ‘hob’ which directs the heat rather than letting is dissipate. The stove is connected to a back boiler which is fed by the new water supply that we installed into every house, allowing families to have hot water ‘on tap’ for washing. As part of this project we also supplied electric rice cookers which run off the hydro electric supply, so that dinner can be cooked using renewable energy during the day when there is a surplus of power. The stoves and back-boilers are produced locally in Kathmandu by a Nepalese company and the project is fully supported by the Nepalese government in their efforts to protect the Himalayan forest. As part of this commitment the government provides a partial subsidy towards the cost of manufacturing the stoves. Results:

Reduced firewood use by 50%;

Water heated automatically as it passes through pipes, further reducing the need for firewood;

Frees up time for locals, especially children who no longer have to collect firewood, increasing school attendance;

Improved health – less smoke in the kitchen has led to reduced respiratory and eye problems;

Preserves habitats for the rich diversity of animal and birds found in the region.

http://www.movingmountainstrust.com/nepal/bumburi-village-water-supply

http://www.movingmountainstrust.com/nepal/bumburi-village-water-supply

http://www.movingmountainstrust.com/nepal/hydro-electric-power-plant-in-bumburi-solu-khumbu



Pollution and Harmful Substances

Natural and biodegradable products are used wherever possible, although such

products are often not readily available in many of the destinations that we work in.

If you happen to be working with, or close to, animals, we recommend that you steer

clear of products with DEET. Evidence suggests that DEET may cause neurological

conditions amongst animals. If you choose to use DEET (it is known to be more

effective than natural substitutes), opt for a cream rather than a spray; the former

won’t act as an inhalant.

Natural remedies:

Lemon eucalyptus oil

This oil has been hailed as the most effective alternative to DEET, working for up to

six hours to repel mosquitoes and deer ticks.

Citronella oil

Citronella oil, having been used as an insect repellent for more than 60 years now,

its qualities have been well confirmed by research. Although not effective as DEET,

its formulas can be as good as to DEET based repellents.

Transport

The majority of our trips involve being active – trekking, mountaineering and walking,

so vehicle use is minimal. We do use public transport wherever necessary; it’s a

great way to see an area through the eyes of a local, and it’s a more energy-efficient

substitute to using our own vehicles for short trips.

Trucks are used for our safari trips in East Africa. These vehicles are regularly

maintained to ensure that they are working efficiently. In both Kenya and Tanzania,

our old engine oil is sent to treatment facilities, where it is disposed of responsibly.

In rural areas, the discarded oil is painted on wood to prevent termite invasions.



Back at Home

Feedback

Feedback plays a big part in moving the company forward; whether it’s good or bad, we want to hear it!

We have an extensive online feedback questionnaire. We would hugely appreciate it if you had a go at filling it in, however much or little:

www.surveymonkey.com/s/AdventureAlternative

There are a number of websites that allow you to review your holiday service-providers, anonymously if preferred. This is a great way to share your experiences with other travellers:

Tour Company Reviews – www.tourcompanyreviews.com

Go Overseas – www.gooverseas.com

At Adventure Alternative, we enjoy keeping in contact with our clients. The easiest way for both parties to keep informed is through social media sites. To stay in the loop, follow us on Facebook,Twitter (@AdvAlt), LinkedIn and Google+.

We now have an Adventure Alternative blog up and running, discussing all sorts of travel-related and sustainable development matters. Find us on WordPress:http://adventurealternative.wordpress.com

You can also keep up-to-date via our monthly newsletter. To sign up, enter your e-mail address into the newsletter box on Adventure Alternative’s front webpage.

You may have promised photos, trinkets or a simple e-mail to one or a number of people you met on your trip. Try to see these things through, even if it may not be top of your list on arriving home. An unfulfilled promise may breed resentment towards visitors, so aim to keep up good relations.

If a particular issue struck a nerve whilst you were away, why not get involved with a relevant organisation or charity? Collaborate with friends, family or work colleagues to organise a fundraising event, or spread the word amongst people who may not have known the issue existed.

For further information on how you can support our charity Moving Mountains, please visit: www.movingmountainstrust.com

Try and keep up-to-date with news surrounding sustainable tourism via websites, blogs and social media, building on the knowledge you gained on your trip. Exciting progress in this industry is being made all the time; it’s a relatively new area that’s making its way into the mainstream.



Moving Mountains

Moving Mountains was started by Adventure Alternative founder Gavin Bate in 1991 after many years travelling throughout Kenya, Nepal and Borneo.

All admin overheads are paid for by Adventure Alternative and Trustees work voluntarily, maximising the financial capital directed towards development. Moving Mountains UK provides the strategy for the future of all the charitable aims and pays for the bulk of the projects.

Aims

The primary aims are to provide aid for the relief of hardship, poverty, suffering and inequality through education and vocational training, medical treatment, sport and employment. We also provide capital to build, renovate and maintain schools, orphanages, community centres and environmental projects, all of which must show a positive socio-economic impact on the population.

Moving Mountains is about long-term sustainability, about supporting people in ways that help them not only today, but into the future. Our projects are built on community ownership, sustainability and professional, responsible management delivered by our staff, the majority of whom are from the countries and communities in which we work.

Progress so far…

The following achievements are but a snapshot of the progress made by Moving Mountains since the charity was founded in 1991. For a complete breakdown of projects and their outcomes, please visit the Moving Mountains website: www.movingmountainstrust.com

MM Kenya

The development project in Solio began in 2009 with the aim of providing housing and educational infrastructure to the 10,000 families evicted from their land by the government.

To date, the project has delivered the construction of seven new school classrooms, four bandas to provide housing for teachers, a school kitchen and toilet facilities, as well as capacity building work to help local people build their own houses to replace the ‘temporary’ tents provided by UNICEF over ten years ago. A further 42 classrooms have been built after funding was secured from the Kenyan government. Now working alongside the Kenyan authorities, Moving Mountains plans to provide seven schools, a health clinic to serve each village and permanent housing for each evicted family.



MM Borneo – Rainforest Enrichment Project

Work in Borneo has focused upon rainforest rehabilitation after logging and extreme weather conditions began to threaten the quality and sustainability of the Sarawak rainforest.

For every Borneo trip booked through Adventure Alternative, £100 is donated towards Moving Mountain’s Rainforest Enrichment Project. Funding is used to build tree nurseries – planting 10,000 hardwood trees a year; to provide vital training in ecotourism, management and ethnobotany that helps the indigenous population efficiently manage their forest; and to construct a visitor’s centre within the forest that allows a small and sustainable number of visitors to experience these communities and the forest environment.

MM Nepal

We have been continuously improving the infrastructure in Bumburi, a once-overlooked end-of-trail mountain village in Nepal. Eco-friendly cooking stoves have been installed and a hydro-electric plant supplies electricity to 73 homes within the village. Each home pays an annual bill for the use of the electricity. The profit made from these payments is put towards a community fund that is used to pay for TV and internet links.

The hydroelectric plant now powers two mills, one for grinding corn to make flour and one for making oil. Tea rollers and driers were acquired to allow village members to make their own tea as part of a co-operative that encourages fair employment and working conditions. Several people from Bumburi met with tea specialists in Kathmandu to learn the art of tea making, and to learn how to effectively run their own business.

How you can help:

Fundraise, visit or spread the word!

MyDonate (UK), JustGiving (UK) and MyCharity.ie (ROI) allow you to donate funds directly to Moving Mountains, and if you are running a fundraising event on our behalf, you can set up a fundraising page.

As well as one-off or monthly donations, we welcome individuals and groups out to help us with international operations. There are projects to suit all types of interests, from placements in medical centres and schools to tree planting in Borneo as part of the Rainforest Enrichment Project.

Any charity is only as strong as the people that work with it to raise awareness, run events, garner support and raise funds. To show your support and to receive up-to-date information on all MM projects, become a friend of Moving Mountains Trust on Facebook.



Voluntourism

Voluntourism has long been an option, but has only recently acquired this name; this kind of trip is commonly known as a ‘gap year’ or ‘development’ trip. An increase in the number of these tours warrants the introduction of regulatory criteria to ensure that they have a long-term positive impact.

Voluntary Services Overseas has found that the majority of volunteer placement organisations offering short-term volunteer placements, or gap year trips, accommodate the needs of volunteers at the expense of the community projects that they claim to support. VSO highlights how many companies have jumped on the voluntourism bandwagon whilst showing little interest in implementing well-designed and sustainable volunteer projects.

Adventure Alternative runs a number of voluntourism trips. The content of these trips is built around real development goals, rather than focusing on the needs of an individual or group. The objectives of these trips run directly in line with the development aims of our charity, Moving Mountains.

Fair Trade Volunteering

FTV is an independent body established by leaders in the industry. The organisation’s main aim is to ensure that the client’s money and input directly benefit the local community by promoting best practice in the field.

Five suggested criteria work as a benchmark for organisations, as well as giving prospective volunteers a clear and simple way to understand what they should be looking for in a Fair Trade Volunteering placement.

Adventure Alternative complies with the following Fair Trade Volunteering principles:

1. A minimum level of local investment beyond the volunteer’s time and effort, including finance, resources and training.

2. A long-term commitment to the project (minimum 3 years) that is developed in collaboration with the host community and/or project leaders.

3. Clear and honest project description and thorough pre-departure preparation for all volunteers.

4. In-country support and project management.

5. 100% volunteer expenses covered by the placement organisation rather than the local community, including food, transport and accommodation.

Further Information:

Fair Trade Volunteering - www.fairtradevolunteering.com

Voluntary Services Overseas - www.vso.org.uk

http://www.fairtradevolunteering.com/

http://www.vso.org.uk/



Future Thoughts

We will continue to develop each Adventure Alternative subsidiary until they achieve self-sufficiency; this is the end goal in each of our destinations!

We look forward to increasing our range of trips and expanding the Adventure Alternative team as we go. 2012 will see Spain and Morocco added to the list of tours and we will apply the same attention to detail and commitment to responsible tourism in these new destinations. Our regional companies will continue acting as ground handlers, promoting sustainable values amongst suppliers and agencies in the host country.

Having spent years establishing the quality of the holiday with investment and training, it is now time to start linking up clients with our staff worldwide, in advance of the holiday. Adventure Alternative and Moving Mountains have a large number of staff around the world and it seems natural that all those people should be linked up to each other and to our clients. This will allow clients to get more involved in the running of our tours.

It is likely that an exponential rise in the number of global tourists will put further strain on fragile ecosystems, cultures and communities. We will therefore continue to campaign for more responsibility within the tourism industry through the many organisations that we are affiliated with. For tourisms sustainability, it will be key for organisations to take a more holistic approach to their operations by focusing on the social and environmental aspects of trips, as well as financial objectives. It's a matter of persuading the larger companies, which are shareholder governed and profit driven, that long term strategies are necessary in today’s world of tourism.

We hope that the Adventure Alternative model will highlight the business case for both local investment and providing long-term environmental, social and financial benefits.

We will continue communicating our sustainability agenda to our many stakeholders, including you – the client! This will include reporting on and benchmarking our environmental, social and financial performance.

By maintaining honesty and integrity, we hope to create an open forum for discussion amongst our stakeholders, gaining feedback that will help propel the company forward.



Informative Links

Here at Adventure Alternative, we’ve been putting together a log of all the most relevant, interesting and informative websites surrounding tourism and sustainability.

ABTA – www.abta.com

Adventure Travel - www.adventuretravel.biz

Ethical Traveler - www.ethicaltraveler.org

Ethical Traveller (Catherine Mack) - www.ethicaltraveller.co.uk

Global Footprint Network - www.footprintnetwork.org

Green Traveller - www.greentraveller.co.uk

Make Holidays Greener - www.makeholdaysgreener.org.uk

National Geographic’s Centre for Sustainable Destinations - http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/sustainable

Sustainable Travel International - www.sustainabletravelinternational.org

The Travel Foundation - http://www.thetravelfoundation.org.uk/

Tourism Concern - www.tourismconcern.org.uk

Tour Operator’s Initiative - www.toinitiative.org

http://www.adventuretravel.biz/

http://www.ethicaltraveler.org/

http://www.ethicaltraveller.co.uk/

http://www.greentraveller.co.uk/

http://www.toinitiative.org/



Affiliations

Adventure Alternative is a member of The Association of Independent Tour Operators (AITO), which offers financially protected quality holidays from award-winning specialist independent tour operators.

Adventure Alternative is a member of the Adventure Travel Trade Association which reflects and represents high quality, trusted Adventure Travel tour operators from around the globe.

Adventure Alternative activities are compliant with the British Standard 8848 and we are in the process of being assessed by the BS 8848 awarding body.

Adventure Alternative is a member of Tourism Concern.

Adventure Alternative is a member Sustainable Travel International’s Partner Programme – a programme devised to help manage our sustainability agenda.

Adventure Alternative is a member of the Expedition Providers Association.

Adventure Alternative is a member of The International Ecotourism Society.

Sustainability Handbook

Documents

Transcript of Sustainability Handbook