Ecotourism Archives - Green Initiative - For a Climate and Nature Positive Planet

Join the 2º Climate Action in Tourism Seminar Financing Perspectives for Sustainable Decarbonization Bonito Mato Grosso do Sul Brasil Green Initiative

(updated) Join the 2º Climate Action in Tourism Seminar: Financing Perspectives for Sustainable Decarbonization

Inkaterra Hotels: Leading the Way in Sustainable Luxury, Conservation, and Regenerative Tourism in Peru

Inkaterra Hotels, renowned for their unparalleled luxury and commitment to conservation, have once again been recognized for their excellence in the hospitality industry. Five of their distinguished properties – Inkaterra La Casona, Inkaterra Hacienda Urubamba, Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel, Inkaterra Hacienda Concepción, and Inkaterra Reserva Amazónica – have been nominated for the prestigious Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards 2024. Moreover, Inkaterra, acclaimed as the third best in the World’s Best Hotel Brands in 2019, has received another nomination for the esteemed title of best hotel brand. This recognition underscores not only the exceptional service and experiences offered by Inkaterra Hotels but also their unwavering commitment to environmental sustainability, conservation efforts, and regenerative tourism. One of their numerous accolades stands out prominently – their Climate Positive certification. Discover the Wonders of the Peruvian Amazon at the Inkaterra Amazon Field Station: An Immersive Experience for Nature Enthusiasts, Researchers, Students, and Volunteers An enriching experience for natural lovers, researchers, students and volunteers, Amazon Field Station byInkaterra invites all guests to explore the Peruvian Amazon through interactive excursions, inspired by conservation initiatives managed by Inkaterra Asociación within the megadiverse rainforest. Inkaterra Hotels, deeply rooted in the Peruvian landscape, have made significant strides in mitigating their environmental impact while contributing to preserving Peru’s rich biodiversity. Their Climate Positive certification is a testament to their dedication to combatting climate change and protecting the natural wonders surrounding their properties. The concept of Climate Positivity goes beyond mere carbon neutrality; it involves actively removing more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere than the organization emits. Inkaterra Hotels achieves this through a multifaceted approach encompassing various sustainable practices across their properties. From reforestation initiatives to energy-efficient operations and community engagement, each aspect of their operations is meticulously designed to minimize environmental harm and maximize positive contributions to the ecosystem. In addition to their Climate Positive certification, Inkaterra Hotels are at the forefront of the regenerative tourism movement, pioneering innovative approaches that minimize their ecological footprint and actively regenerate the environments in which they operate. Inkaterra goes beyond sustainability to restore and rejuvenate the natural landscapes and communities surrounding their properties by implementing regenerative practices such as regenerative agriculture, reforestation, and ecosystem restoration. Through initiatives like their Spectacled Bear Conservation project and native tree planting programs, they empower local communities and promote biodiversity conservation, ensuring that their presence leaves a lasting positive impact on both the environment and the people who call these regions home. Inkaterra’s commitment to regenerative tourism enriches the guest experience. It serves as a beacon of hope for the future of responsible Travel worldwide. Inkaterra La Casona, nestled within the historic city of Cusco, seamlessly blends colonial charm with modern comforts while prioritizing sustainability. The property is a beacon of eco-conscious luxury, showcasing how heritage preservation and environmental stewardship coexist harmoniously. Meanwhile, Inkaterra Hacienda Urubamba offers guests a serene retreat in the Sacred Valley of the Incas, where breathtaking landscapes and cultural immersion go hand in hand with responsible tourism practices. In the heart of the Andean cloud forest, Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel provides an enchanting escape for travelers seeking to connect with nature without compromising luxury. Here, guests can explore the lush surroundings while supporting conservation efforts to safeguard the delicate ecosystem. Venturing into the Amazon rainforest, guests of Inkaterra Hacienda Concepción and Inkaterra Reserva Amazónica are treated to an immersive wilderness experience like no other. These eco-lodges offer unparalleled opportunities for wildlife encounters and actively contribute to rainforest conservation through research, education, and sustainable tourism initiatives. As Inkaterra Hotels continues to garner acclaim for its exceptional hospitality and commitment to sustainability, it invites travelers worldwide to join it in its conservation journey. By voting in the Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards 2024, guests can support responsible tourism practices and help elevate Inkaterra Hotels to greater heights of excellence. In a world where luxury often comes at the expense of the environment, Inkaterra Hotels is a shining example of how hospitality and conservation can converge to create unforgettable experiences while safeguarding the planet for future generations. Green Initiative and Forest Friends: Leading the Way Towards Regenerative Tourism and Sustainable Hospitality with Inkaterra Hotels As partners of Inkaterra Hotels, Green Initiative and Forest Friends are immensely proud of their dedication to sustainable practices, conservation, and regenerative tourism. We applaud their leadership in the hospitality industry and stand alongside them in their commitment to protecting the planet. We encourage other hotel brands worldwide to follow the example and contact us for guidance and support in implementing environmentally responsible initiatives through our Climate and Nature Positive advisory and certification processes. Together, we can make a significant difference in preserving our natural heritage. Written by Yves van Hemelryck, from the Green Initiative Team.

Inkaterra Hotels: Leading the Way in Sustainable Luxury, Conservation, and Regenerative Tourism in Peru Read More »

Mato Grosso do Sul: Leading the Way in Ecotourism

Estância Mimosa is the first Climate Positive certified ecotourism attraction in the world

Leave a Comment / Green Initiative

Addressing Climate Change in Tourism: The Glasgow Declaration’s Strategic Framework Climate change is one of the major problems faced by humanity today. Since 2021, the Glasgow Declaration has offered all actors in the tourism sector a strategic framework that encourages the internalization of climate actions in all areas of the tourism value chain: destinations, attractions, companies, and tourists. In this context, Estância Mimosa, a renowned ecotourism tour in Bonito, Mato Grosso do Sul, celebrates an unprecedented achievement for the world tourism sector. It became the first tourist attraction in the world to receive the Climate Positive Certification, granted by the international organization Green Initiative. This achievement highlights Estância Mimosa’s commitment and hard work since its foundation in 1999, not only towards environmental sustainability and the preservation of local biodiversity but also with the climate action goals proposed by the United Nations and the Glasgow Declaration for Tourism. To obtain this prestigious certification, Estância Mimosa started the Green Initiative Certification Cycle in 2023, demonstrating compliance with the organization’s strict criteria of sustainability and environmental responsibility. With this perspective in mind, the INTERNATIONAL SEMINAR ON CLIMATE ACTION IN TOURISM took place in Bonito on July 27, 2023. The event featured the participation of Dr. Saulo Rodrigues, Sustainability and Climate Action Manager, representing the Ministry of Tourism, Edson Barros, as well as Dr. Daniel Galvan from UNFCCC, and Virginia Fernandez-Trapa from the World Tourism Organization, among other stakeholders from the national tourism sector. Estância Mimosa: Leading the Way as a Climate Positive Certified Attraction The Climate Positive Certification demonstrates that Estância Mimosa not only has a neutral balance between its emissions, captures, and offsets but also actively contributes to the mitigation of climate change by preserving and recovering native forests within the limits of the attraction, which account for more than 84 % of the total area of the property. The preservation of these forests guarantees that the carbon in their biomass is not released into the atmosphere through exploitation, and it allows more carbon to be captured by plants during forest restoration. Sustainable Ecotourism Throughout the project, all sources of greenhouse gas emissions from the attraction were quantified for the year 2022 and classified into four categories proposed by the ISO 14064 methodology, namely: The carbon footprint calculation was carried out following the principles of Relevance, Completeness, Consistency, Transparency, and Precision, considering the complete scope 1, 2, and 3 of the attraction. This means that all emissions relating to the operation and the business value chain were assessed in a detailed and standardized manner to allow the comparison of results in the coming years and show the effect of the reduction measures that will be taken. All raw materials used in the attraction were accounted for, from the consumption of fuel and paper to the consumption of rice, meat, and beans. Among the results, we have that the emissions of Estância Mimosa in 2022 were 277.76 tons of CO2 equivalent, which results in 12.46kg of CO2 per visitor received in 2022. The analysis of carbon capture in 2022 was carried out by combining detailed maps of the property’s vegetation cover using UAV technology, satellite images, and studies of forest inventory and carbon capture. Estância Mimosa is a rural property with a significant extension of primary forests and forest regeneration areas, also officially protected by a private reserve – RPPN. This survey found that the forest regeneration areas, equivalent to 89 hectares, captured a total of 460.36 tons of CO2 in their aerial biomass throughout 2022, which is greater than the total emissions of the attraction. Regeneration areas have an accelerated accumulation of biomass in their initial phase of development, which then tends to decrease as the forest becomes more mature. In addition, the carbon stock present in primary forest areas was estimated, which in addition to avoiding greenhouse gas emissions, has an apparent effect on environmental additionality in the region since it is home to a wide range of birds, mammals, and other animals, already identified on the property. Luiza Coelho, Sustainability Director at Estância Mimosa, expressed her gratitude for the recognition and highlighted the attraction’s ongoing commitment to promoting sustainable practices and inspiring other companies in the sector to follow this path. “The Carbon Neutral Certification in the Climate Positive category is an extraordinary milestone for Estância Mimosa and an incentive for us to continue our work in the pursuit of excellence in sustainable ecotourism. We are proud to be leaders in this journey, and we thank all those involved who made it possible “. The Award The Climate Positive Certification was awarded to Eduardo and Simone Coelho, Directors of the Rio da Prata Group (www.gruporiodaprata.com.br), of which Estância Mimosa is part, during the Seminar on Climate Action in Tourism: Global Challenges and Local Opportunities for Innovation, an event held at Sebrae, Bonito, MS on July 27, 2023. About Estância Mimosa Located in Bonito, Mato Grosso do Sul, Estância Mimosa is an acclaimed ecotourism tour known for its lush nature, well-preserved trails, and stunning waterfalls. Committed to sustainability, it offers visitors memorable experiences in harmony with nature. The site is the only tourist attraction in Bonito (MS) that offers trails and waterfalls within a private reserve – RPPN in which it is possible to enjoy direct contact with preserved nature, walk along trails through the forest, see more than 255 species of birds or come across one of the 32 species of cataloged mammals. More information: http://www.estanciamimosa.eco.br Press Contact Name: Luiza Coelho Position: Director of Sustainability of Grupo Rio da Prata E-mail: luiza@gruporiodaprata.com.br Phone: 5567999389064 Become a Climate and Nature Positive Business Green Initiative Certifications are a crucial step towards promoting sustainability and responsible environmental practices across various industries. These certifications are awarded to organizations and businesses that demonstrate a genuine commitment to reducing their carbon footprint, conserving natural resources, and mitigating the impacts of their operations on the environment. By adhering to rigorous standards and guidelines, companies can quantify their greenhouse gas emissions, identify areas for improvement, and implement

Estância Mimosa is the first Climate Positive certified ecotourism attraction in the world Read More »

Bonito (MS) is Leading Brazilian ecotourism Climate Action and raising the bar for other destinations worldwide

Bonito: How a Brazilian ecotourism destination is leading climate action by example

2 Comments / Green Initiative

As the world recovers from the shock of the COVID-19 pandemic, rebuilding a more sustainable tourism sector remains a shared responsibility of tourism firms and destinations. Amid mounting evidence of severe climate change, points that the window of opportunity to rapidly reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and avoid a climate disaster is rapidly narrowing. Atmospheric temperatures have already increased by about 1⁰ Celsius from preindustrial levels, and keeping that increase to less than 1.5⁰ through 2050 will require intense efforts by the public and private sectors. At the COP26 conference in November 2021, the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) and their partners issued the Glasgow Declaration for Tourism and Climate, which calls on all tourism stakeholders to demonstrate a shared commitment to mitigating greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by integrating climate action into the core of tourism business models and management tools. Brazil’s ecotourism industry relies on landscapes with extraordinary biodiversity and vibrant ecosystems that provide food and shelter for native species. One of Brazil’s key ecotourism centers is Bonito, a fantastic destination in Mato Grosso do Sul that rests atop the Guarani Aquifer, the second largest source of freshwater on earth. Bonito’s efforts to achieve carbon-neutral certification are based on over two decades of implementing sustainable tourism management practices. As early as 1995, Bonito created a Tourism Voucher system that is designed to control the number of tourists per attraction based on a scientific reference point for tourist capacity, and Bonito has since emerged as one of the most lauded ecotourism destinations in the country. After Bonito received the WTN Global Responsible Tourism Award in 2013 (London), government authorities launched a public-private destination governance body – FUNDTUR, which plays a key role in promoting sustainable tourism development best practices for Bonito. The carbon neutral certification process led by Green Initiative, was initiated with the signing of the Glasgow Declaration by FUNDTUR, in coordination with the Bonito municipal government and the state secretariats for the environment, tourism, and economic development. The carbon-neutral certification cycle requires an accurate assessment of the destination’s carbon footprint. This footprint establishes the baseline for reducing Bonito’s carbon emissions, which will need to fall by 45% by 2030 and reach net zero by 2050, in accordance with the guidelines of the Paris Agreement. The certification process also includes an assessment of the GHG capture and storage capacity of local forests, which include eight of Bonito’s main ecotourism attractions spread over 5,000 hectares. According to the carbon-footprint assessment, the main GHG emission sources are fuel consumption by vehicles (52,36% of total emissions), followed by the decomposition of solid waste (22,64%). The mitigation plan will focus first on solid-waste management (including food waste), reducing methane emissions at landfills by channeling organic waste to appropriate sites through governmental and community programs. In addition to reducing GHG emissions, the proper treatment of organic waste can provide opportunities to produce valuable products such as biochar, compost, biogas, and organic fertilizers. Local farmers can use organic fertilizers as a substitute for nitrogen-based fertilizers, further slashing GHG emissions from agriculture while complementing ecosystem restoration and reforestation projects currently underway. Reducing the carbon footprint of cars, trucks, and motorcycles will be vital to achieve Bonito’s climate targets. Vehicle emissions pose an especially complex challenge, and emissions reduction will require sustained investments in electric mobility. By developing the capacity to measure and monitor its climate performance, Bonito is raising the bar in climate action for ecotourism destinations world-wide, leading the way to new destination management practices, that should mainstream climate action as a significantly relevant aspect for long-term prosperity for any destination. This article for Transforming One Planet Vision into Action has been prepared by FUNDTUR, Mato Grosso do Sul Destination Management Organization. For more information visit Green Initiative website. Green Initiative, a leading sustainable certification company, is proud to announce that it has partnered with the UNWTO and the Travel Foundation to support the Glasgow Declaration Capacity Building Working Group. ENGAGE NOW Commit to a new level of leadership and competitiveness in the tourism industry by introducing climate action at the core of your business model, and become Climate Positive, Carbon Neutral and /or Carbon Measured certified. Click here to learn more about Green Initiative Certifications and Climate Action Solutions for Tourism.

Bonito: How a Brazilian ecotourism destination is leading climate action by example Read More »