Green Caribbean Holidays

No one in the Caribbean can afford to ignore the environmental impact of tourism, and so there’s a plethora of tourism organisations and properties that take their carbon footprint responsibilities seriously, that minimise their environmental impacts and support activities and projects that protect and restore the natural environment. Although a few may have jumped on the ‘eco’ bandwagon, the majority are the real deal.

The growing eco-conscience of holidaymakers has meant there’s a growing demand for low impact activities in the Caribbean. Hence the popularity of horse riding over Aruba’s sand dunes and desert like plains, eco safaris in Antigua, walking tours in Curacao and Dominica, mail boat trips around the Bahamas, canoe trips out to the bio-luminescent lake in Puerto Rico and jungle biking in St Lucia.

Over in the Cayman Islands, where diving is the primary attraction, the dive industry has affirmed its intention to be carbon neutral by 2012 and two of Grand Cayman’s leading dive resorts, DiveTech at Cobalt Coast and Ocean Frontiers, are set to open environmentally friendly new dive resorts by early 2009.

The Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance is an umbrella organisation which is setting up a €10 million trust fund to pay for the running costs of a land and marine park on each of the six islands of the Dutch Caribbean (Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao, Saba, St Eustatius and St Maarten).

The Bahamas has appointed April as Coastal Awareness Month where everyone especially school children are invited to participate in projects that involve the protection of the coastline that is all-important to these low-lying islands.

The tiny island of Nevis in the Leeward Islands has been promoting the green standard for quite some time. As the island’s economy developed along with a booking tourist industry, the government and private businesses have encouraged a responsible approach to the environment that continues to produce very positive results. The latest and greatest step towards going green was the discovery of Nevis’ vast supply of geothermal energy.

Other green initiatives have been in place on the island for years. Construction practices that incorporate natural, sustainable materials and designs that integrate energy and water-saving technologies are encouraged and it is against the law to build higher than the tallest palm tree. Two major hotels on the island, the Oualie Beach Hotel and Nisbet Plantation Beach Club, have already been awarded with the Green Globe accredited certification.

 
The endangered sea turtles that make Nevis their home are also an important part of several conservation programs. The Environmental Action Committee (EAC), in a joint effort with the Department of Fisheries, recruited members of the UNESCO Small Island Voice Group from the three high schools on Nevis to assist the nesting turtles and hatchlings at Lover's Beach by removing rubbish from the beach.

Sea turtle conservation programmes have captured the public’s imagination across the Caribbean. At the Old Hegg Turtle Sanctuary on Bequia, former seaman Orton King has dedicated his life to safely releasing Hawksbill turtle hatchlings into the nearby waters. Raising the turtles from eggs deposited on nearby beaches, ‘Brother King’ strives to increase the survival rate by feeding and protecting them through their most vulnerable time. His special attention has led to a local appreciation for the tenuous situation these animal face and turtles are no longer hunted locally.

Eco hangouts

Hidden in a jungle valley on St Vincent, Petit Byahaut is a true back to nature retreat – no phones, no television, only accessible by boat and a maximum of 14 guests at a time. Great care has been taken to preserve the environment. Rainwater provides showers, electricity is solar powered and the offshore coral is healthier than ever. Guests can hike through the rainforest to hidden waterfalls.

The Dominican Republic is home to the Punta Cana Resort and Club which has its own ecological foundation that has founded schools, manages a local clinic and helps regenerate coral reefs. It was a finalist in the coveted Conde Nast Traveler’s 2008 World Savers Awards, “The Good Shepherds’. The island already has four Blue Flag beaches and another four have been approved.

Hotel Mocking Bird Hill is a leading environmentally friendly hotel in Jamaica, and has teamed up with STI (Sustainable Travel International) and is working towards becoming a carbon neutral eco-boutique hotel by offsetting carbon emissions and enabling guests to offset the carbon emissions produced by their flights to Jamaica.

Old Bahama Bay at West End, Grand Bahama Island has received the prestigious Blue Flag Award for Environmental Excellence.

Tobago is among the few tropical countries in the Western Atlantic where the endangered leatherback turtle goes to lay its eggs. There is series of measures to promote the welfare of turtles at Turtle Beach by Rex Resorts on Tobago, including prohibiting flash photography and working closely with SOS (Save Our Sea Turtles), which is a local conservation group which gives help and advice to the hotel.  We also have a staff member who liaises with SOS and looks after the turtle habitat.

Children of all ages can enjoy learning about the endangered turtle species at Four Seasons Resort Nevis. The resort has partnered with the non-profit Caribbean Conservation Corporation (CCC) to launch a sea turtle education programme. Each family (with children 16 years and younger) receives a turtle adoption kit. In return, Four Seasons Resort Nevis makes a contribution to CCC's efforts to study and save sea turtles.

In an effort to better manage the further development of tourism in Antigua and Barbuda, the Ministry of Tourism now has a Sustainable Tourism Officer. Two relatively new properties stand out in their commitment to conservation. All the buildings at Hermitage Bay were constructed of wood taken from sustainable forests in the Caribbean territory of Guyana. The hotel has minimized the use of materials of high-embodied energy such as cement and glass. There is a grey water system to ensure water conservation and all recycled water is used to irrigate the resort’s extensive tropical gardens. Hot water throughout the hotel is produced from solar panels. There is an extensive mosquito and sand fly control programme using, whenever possible, only biodegradable products. Food wastage is reduced by operating a pig-feeding programme with a local farmer and the beach is a recognised location for Green Turtles to lay their eggs.

The Sandals and Beaches Resorts has been awarded a Green Globe certified by the Caribbean Alliance for Sustainable Tourism (CAST). Additionally, several Sandals and Beaches Resorts have been honoured with the Green Hotel of the Year award at the American Express Caribbean Environmental Awards.  Environmental managers at every property oversee the integrity of the programmes, which reduce energy and water consumption, improve solid waste and wastewater disposal, prevent air pollution, protect marine life and foster strong bonds with local communities.