With all the forests getting thinner and thinner all around the globe, you better explore the forests now before they disappear. The zillions of unique planktons swimming in the waters of the Vieques island, dry and arid climate of the area, and the Guancia dry forest offers the tourists plenty of things to indulge themselves into.

Located on the South West coast of Puerto Rico, the Guancia biosphere reserve includes both coastal areas as well as mangrove habitats. This forest acts as a source of livelihood of the people living in eight nearby municipalities. The forest attracts plenty of tourists to the area and also provides a lot of materials to the people. Recently, Erik Olsen visited the region after being influenced by an article he read.

The writer was particularly interested in paddling the Bio bay reserve. At night he swam in the local waters. I will have to agree that he has some guts to swim around at night. I wouldn’t do that. The best part about this area is the landscape that is formed by the salt spray and winds that never die. The 9500 acres of forest doesn’t really look like one.

Yet another interesting fact about Guancia is: it is home to 140 different species of birds as well as plenty of flora and fauna. However, most of these birds shuttle between Puerto Rico and Guancia. So, if you are a bird watcher, you can visit Guancia whenever you want. Pelicans are probably the dominant birds found in this region.

The bio bay reserve is bioluminescent and the best of it’s kind. The environment is created from the luminescent planktons that glow at night. It is a natural wonder and very magical indeed. The visitors normally consider this to be an experience of their lifetime.

Besides birdwatching, paddling and glowing planktons, the island offers activities like biking, diving, Horse back riding as well hiking. So if you are still looking for a place to visit for your next vacation, come on down to Vieques island.

Image Credit: Tropical destinations, Elyunque, Rmrs

Well, are you always ready to take the first road out? Do you love outdoor adventure and thrills: Rock –climbing, Trekking Expeditions, White Water Rafting, Skiing, Nature Trails, Wildlife Safaris and more. Do you believe that there’s an exciting new world waiting to be explored? If, yes, than, you definitely are an ardent traveler and nature lover. But, wait; does that make you an eco-tourist? Read this and find out for yourself!

Just joining tour operators, who promise eco-tourism does not make one an eco-tourist. This is a concept which has to be believed and felt from within.

says Aloke Bajpai, CEO, The Explorers, a Mumbai based Adventure tour outlet.

Going on nature trails and exploring natures’ unexplored and virgin beauty is not enough, practicing eco-friendliness is equally important. Many travellers litter garbage, plastic bags and bottles on the way without giving it a second thought. Keeping the surroundings clean and pure is an important part of eco-tourism.

Besides, paying up a huge some of money to a travel outlet which takes care of all your needs and also plans your trip, it sometimes bars you from a lot of amazing experience. According to the Kiwi travel writer, Heather Hapeta, ‘Eco-tourism is an activity that has minimum impact while providing maximum benefits to the locals.’ He opines that independent travellers are most likely the closest to being real eco-travellers. By staying in cheaper, locally-owned accommodation, eating at small food outlets and using local transport, they leave much of their travel money in the country. Not only this. By doing so, they also get to visit places that are not on the tourist trail and can get to know people and absorb the local flavours. So, are you ready for an actual eco-tour?

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Source: OhmyNews, TheExplorers

Few people are fortunate enough to go on a trip to a place that can bring drastic change in their life. I don’t know the names of such people but surely I know the name of a place where one can get close encounters with the abundant nature.

The lush green Amazon is the world’s largest river basin that contains the most bountiful rain-forest on the planet. Including macaws, toucans, tyrant flycatchers, capybaras, tapir, sloths, squirrel monkeys, red howler monkeys, jaguars, caimans, anacondas, tarantulas, leaf-cutter ants, scarlet ibis and black skimmers, the Amazon rain-forest is home to a bewildering array of wildlife.

Don’t think the list gets over here, Amazon is such a large rain-forest and has such profusion of wildlife that it might get difficult for you to explore it and if you’re able to then there is a possibility that you won’t see the same sights twice. I’ll suggest you to take your camera along so that you are able to capture the cherishing moments.

Amazon rainforest is the world’s most beautiful and unspoiled places. It is dense, rich, tropical and brimming with life. It is host to some of the most remarkable and fascinating wildlife on earth. With about thousand species of fish and birds including hundreds of hummingbirds, about sixty reptile species one can easily make out the astounding biodiversity of the place.

Wouldn’t you call Nick Gordon fortunate enough to spend ten years of his life get close encounters with the abundant nature of Amazon rainforest? He came up with the astonishing series of magical images. ‘A photographer’s incredible journey’ will be published next month by Evans Mitchell Books at £25. Here, in the picture gallery below I’m putting few pictures of the exciting species and I’m sure these will help you have the idea of Amazon’s biological richness.

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Source: Telegraph

Aspen, which is one of the all time great world class ski destination is facing the global warming threats. Snow which is the essential ingredient in winter sports is lessening day by day. Ski areas around the country are concerned that global warming could have a serious effect on their business. So they’re taking action to fight the problem on many fronts.

According to a climate-trends model showing dramatic snow-pack loss due to climate warming, global warming may spell disaster for much of the Rocky Mountain West’s ski industry by the year 2050.

Presently, the ski industry is concerned about global warming across the United States and is taking keen steps to reduce the impact of global warming. The most obvious action Aspen Skiing Company could take was levying of pollution tax.

Colorado’s Aspen Skiing Company, which hosts 1.3 million skiers annually, has called for the pollution tax. There are two deals on lift tickets for the upcoming season. The Lake Tahoe Six-Pack that offers six days of skiing at a variety of Lake Tahoe resorts for $249. The tickets are entirely transferable with limited quantities.

The pack includes, valid ticket for Heavenly, Kirkwood or Mt. Rose-Ski Tahoe, Heavenly or Sierra-at-Tahoe, Kirkwood or Sierra-at-Tahoe, Alpine Meadows or Northstar-at-Tahoe, Alpine Meadows or Northstar-at-Tahoe, Squaw Valley USA, Northstar-at-Tahoe or Mt. Rose-Ski Tahoe, Squaw Valley USA or Alpine Meadows

Holiday Blackout Dates are:

23rd November, 2007-24th November, 2007
26th December, 2007-31st December, 2007
19th January, 2008-20th January, 2008
16th February, 2008-17th February, 2008

A $299 season pass to Colorado’s Monarch Mountain will get you free or discounted lift tickets at 10 other mountains, including Crested Butte, Loveland, Silverton and Alta.

If humans do nothing to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions, global warming is sure to effect skiing at Aspen. Aspen Skiing Company has taken a step to save one of the best skiing destinations. Hope they succeed in their endeavor.

Image Credit

Source: Mlive

Yellowstone National Park can be called as the world in the world. Its wild beauty makes it one of the most visited attractions in the United States. The wildlife of the Park is full of animals such as bison, mooses, and elks. Elk (Cervus elaphus) make one of the more unusual sounds in the wilderness, called bugling, which is a mating phenomenon.

During mid-August, the elk in Yellowstone National Park enter their breeding season, or rut. The meadows and forests of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem are filled with the haunting bugle of the bull elk. While human males have been blessed with instincts and hormones for year-round romance, the bull elk peaks for about a month or two each year.

Image Credit

If you’ve never heard it before, an elk bugle does sound kind of weird. It’s an odd combination of noises in sequence, from a low bellow rapidly rising up to a high, screeching whistle, followed by a series of grunts. This disharmony of noise is music to the ears of elk cows, who gather into harems of 20-30 females.

The Yellowstone National park provides a rare glimpse at how the bull elk challenge each other for dominance over harems of cow elk. The bull elks bugling can be heard throughout the valley, as they vocally challenge and defend their territory from rival bulls. Listening to the elk bugling is one of the most amazing wildlife moments you’ll ever witness.

Various trips are offered in September and October. Rates start at $650 per adult and $495 per child. Rusty Parrot Lodge and Spa in Jackson runs a package with separate pricing on additional specific dates from September 23 - October 10.
Image Credit for first picture

Click here for more information on the Rusty Parrot packages

Source: Prnewswire

Unlike hunting and fishing, birdwatching is blossoming into an incredibly popular activity for numerous people all over the world. Most people enjoy getting out into nature as a way to relax and unwind from the hustle and bustle of the ever increasing fast paced world that we live in these days.

The recent data shows the boom birdwatching is witnessing. According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, birdwatching is now a hobby of 47.8 million Americans, with wildlife watching up 8% from 2000 to 2006. Over the same period hunting and fishing declined in popularity by 4% and 12%, respectively.

To guide the newcomers, there have been many birding trials created in more than 20 states have created since 2000. Also, outfitters are branching out to offer trips focusing on feathery critters.

Bird watching is really an interesting hobby that lets you enjoy the excitement you feel when you have the opportunity see that rarely seen bird species. The feeling of joy and admiration that you feel towards your bird watching hobby is beyond comparison!

Source: USA Today

The Indian Himalayas are extremely fragile. With zillions of regular tourists visiting the popular hill stations, places are becoming more crowded and nasty. Regular tourists destroy the local area. Although, eco tourists are different. Experts believe that ecotourism will do the Indian Himalayas good.

With the development of ecotourism, conservation businesses are likely to create more jobs for the hill people in India. Also, organic farming is yet another aspect that is related to ecotourism and creates various opportunities. WorldWatch institute researcher Zoe Chafe agrees that conservation projects that go on for a long time provide the locals with jobs and develop the mountain economy in the Indian Himalayas.

Personally, I feel the same way as well. Being a hiker and sort of a climber myself, I believe that the mountains should be kept clean at all costs. This will not only benefit the coming generations, but also the future generations. A clean trail obviously preserves th beauty of the environment as well as attracts more visitors to the area. Environmental experts believe that regular tourism is the major cause of the degradation of Indian Himalayan towns. According to Manoj Bhatt, the president of RACHNA(Research, Advocacy and Communication in Himalayan Areas), ecotourism is the answer to preserving the Himalayan environment as well as the economy.

Just imagine the amount of trash a regular tourist leaves behind. But, when you look at an eco tourist, you always think of leave no trace. Most hikers, bird watchers, climbers, go by an unwritten code of ethics which lets them preserve the environment they love the most. These ecotourists create jobs in Himalayan regions.

The locals make their money off the ecotourists. Places like Uttarakhand, Northeastern Himalayas as well as the Western Himalayas, often require heavy loads and thus, the call for porters. Thus, it is imperative that the state govt. of Uttaranchal work on improving the scopes of ecotourism in the area.

Image Credits: Pbase, Iexplore

Mauritius is no doubt one of the most spectacular holiday destinations. Swaying palm trees, dazzling blue ocean, balmy nights and the dazzling smiles of the local people are is enough words that describe this place. Anyone can be easily lured to plan a vacation in Mauritius.

But if you think Mauritius is environment-friendly place then you are wrong. There are many countries around the world that have been named polluted in an ongoing bio-green debate and Mauritius too is caught in the whirlwind.

The Ferney road development project is the first one to be swept by this new wave and has been sent back to the board. From raw sewage and pesticides in waterways to loud music from nightclubs, the issues have been discussed many times but very little is actually done to develop a comprehensive environmental framework.

The governments obviously need to shoulder their responsibility for not acting. Little efforts have been done by the Ministry of Environment that boasts of a mission to enable Mauritius to attain the highest level of environmental quality as a means to enhance the quality of life of Mauritians and preserve the natural environment.

Sugar cane which is bread and butter of the country is also one of the factors that add to the environment pollution of the place. The harvesting of sugarcane brings with it effects that can be a significant inconvenience. Time and money can be saved by putting fire to the crop but it brings along a multitude of injustice to people living around or near the fields on fire. Ashes produced from the burning leaves are windswept miles away from the fields, only to end up in places where we go to get some calm and tranquility.

The country has a police unit assigned to the environment that is dedicated to tackle environmentally unfriendly occurrences. But, the Ministry of Environment has to answer a long list of questions raised in bio-green debate.

Source: All Africa

In today’s times if one thinks of long teeth, elephant’s tusks come to mind. , In the ancient times, a mastodon, member of the family Mammutidae, related, though, different to the mammoth also had long teeth. The two well-preserved tusks seen above are among the recently unearthed parts of a mastodon found in northern Greece.

Measuring 16.4 feet (5 meters) and 15 feet (4.6 meters), the toothy remains “are the longest tusks ever to be discovered in the world.”

Mastodon Mural, Sequim Museum, Image credit

Some of the animal’s leg bones and parts of a jaw with molars have also been discovered. Based on the partial skeleton, the researchers believe the animal stood 11.5 feet (3.5 meters) tall at the shoulder and weighed about six tons.

Evangelia Tsoukala of Aristotle University in Thessaloniki was the team leader for the research. The team believes that the mastodon was probably between 25 and 30 years old when it died.

The tusks were probably used to break branches and twigs although some evidence suggests males may have used them in mating challenges; one tusk is often shorter than the other, suggesting that, like humans, mastodons may have had laterality

An American Mastodon Skeleton In Saltville, Va, Image credit

Mastodons were browsers, mostly eating leaves off branches and mammoths were grazers, mostly feeding on grass.The meat of mastodons was a food source for early humans. Archaeologists are still trying to determine what role, if any, the early human settlers of North America played in the extinction of the mastodon.

Checking out museums for the mastodon can be an enjoyable trip for families! You can find exhibits at:

American museum of natural history, Pink Palace Museum (Memphis, Tennessee), Mastodon State Historic Site (Kimmswick, Missouori), Museum (Baltimore, Maryland), Dayton Museum of Natural History (Dayton, Ohio), Museum of Arts and Sciences (Rochester, New York), Houston Museum of Natural Sciences (Houston, Texas), Grand Rapids Public Museum (Grand Rapids, Michigan), Canadian Museum of Nature (Ottawa, Ontario, Canada),

Source: National Geographic

It seems alarming climatic changes are drawing attention of lot of people around the world. Bicycle craze which once became the story of past is seeing a huge revival. Besides mounting environmental problems, health, fitness and the glamour of the Tour de France are various other reasons that are driving a huge revival in cycling holidays.

Britain is one one such place that is seeing a big surge in two-wheeled active breaks. It is becoming a nation of cycling enthusiasts. Research reveals that health conscious Britons are going ‘wheely’ mad for cycling holidays. As many as 450,000 cycling holidays were taken last year, accounting for a collective £120 million.

Whatever be the reason-health, fitness, Tour de France’s glamour or environmental issues, cycling is getting a new lease of life and we hope to see a rise in number of people who opt for cycling holidays. Cycling is the best way to go out on a relaxing break away from the crowds and promoting eco-travel. Next time, you plan to take a break away from the crowd, go out on a cycling holiday. Enjoy!

Image Credit

Source: Guardian

If you consider fast packing or trail running your favorite activity, you might want to check out the trails of Tasmania, Australian island state. This island is home to 19 national parks and offers day hikers as well backpackers a multitude of trails all over. In fact, Tassie is probably the best region in the southern hemisphere for multi day hill walking or even for day hiking.

Here, weather can change with the blink of an eye. Clouds and rain one moment. Bright sunshine along with bone chilling cold (even in summer). From what have I heard and learned about this part of the world, the climate is very weird indeed. But, don’t let this discourage you from your hiking plans. The Tasmanian park service people has plenty of offers for the hikers.

At cradle mountain, the park service maintains a bus service every 10 minutes from outside the parking lot. Also, if you don’t feel like scrambling up rocks, you can consider a leisurely stroll up paved terrain that are even wheelchair friendly. Guess what? Tassie even offers some skiing in winter. So, there’s something for everyone.

Central Tasmania is about 1900 miles north of Antarctic circle. That’s the distance between El Paso and Washington. Smart hikers equip themselves with extra gear which does come in handy sometimes.If you come to Tassie , make sure you hike up the customary trail to Mt Wellington, overlooking Hobart. At the top superb vistas will be waiting for you.

I am sure this will be an unforgettable journey for you. To keep things comfy, make sure you pack several layers, and survival gear. However, for fast hiking tent is not required since you will have a base like a hut.

Image Credits: Chockstone [1], [2], [3]

The barn owl also known as the screech owl, because of its high-pitched scream, is one of several owls native to Britain. It is the silent hunter of dusk and dawn which has emerged as Britain’s favorite farmland bird. With heart shaped face, buff back and wings and pure white under parts the barn owl is a distinctive and much loved countryside bird.

It is widely distributed across the UK. Barn owl can be recognized by its light colored plumage which is white on its front and orange-brown on its back with ash grey colored specks. It has a heart shaped disc of feathers around its face.

Image Credit

It relies mostly entirely on small rodents and unlike some other birds of prey tend to stay fairly local for hunting. If barn owl gets wet, it has to face problem especially if food is scarce, because ‘getting dry’ requires energy, and of course, regular intake of mice and voles is a pre-requisite for the provision of energy.

Image Credit

Barn owl has such sensitive hearing it is able to exactly locate a field mouse rustling through straw in a pitch dark barn. Its ears are located at different positions on the sides of its head. One is at the height of its forehead and the other is level with its nostril. Barn Owls do not build nests themselves. Instead they rely on a variety of nesting sites for laying their eggs, such as tree cavities, rock ledges, and ledges in barns.

Image Credit

The bird has suffered declines over the past fifty years as a result of the degradation of once prey-rich habitats in the face of intensive agricultural practices. This decline, fortunately, has halted in many areas and the population may now be increasing.

Image Credit for the first picture

Source: Telegraph

Don’t be too sure that the atlas you are referring to gives you the right map of a particular area! Even the newest redrawn maps are finding it hard to cope up with developmental, infrastructural and environmental changes taking place around the world today. The more vivid the atlas is the greater problem it faces.

Consider China for instance where the mushrooming expansion of the port city of Shanghai seems most unbelievable, structures such as the Donghai bridge, at more than 20 miles long, the longest cross-sea bridge in the world.

Mick Ashworth, the editor-in-chief of ‘The Times Atlas of The World’ with reference to China is quoted to have said:

China is a phenomenal challenge for a cartographer, It now has more than 100 cities with more than one million people.

Environmental changes also play a major role in the changing atlases, for example the dramatic shrinking of two of the world’s biggest inland water bodies, the Aral Sea in central Asia and Lake Chad in Africa. Coral reefs destroyed or degraded. Tropical forests cleared away as well as the changing area under ‘protected lands.’

The Aral Sea has shrunk by 75 per cent since 1967, largely because of large-scale water extraction to irrigate cotton growing, in a project of the former Soviet Union, which proved disastrous. Lake Chad has shrunk by 95 per cent since 1963, because of water extraction for a growing population, overgrazing by cattle, and rainfall decline. So as of now the new Times Atlas of The World is trying hard to be more exact even as the world continues to change.

Source: The Independant

The scientists and researchers will go on an eight month voyage through the Arctic Ocean to examine the coupling of sea ice and atmosphere. Russian project partners will focus their investigations on sea ice, primarily performing measurements close to the ice. These measurements will be supplemented by Jurgen Graeser.

There will be 36 expedition participants that will board the Russian research vessel Akademik Fedorov in the Siberian harbor of Tiksi on August 29, 2007. They will advance the currently patchy data situation in the Arctic. A stable ice floe between 80 and 85 degrees northern latitude and between 170 degrees eastern and 170 degrees western longitude will be chosen as the base for the drifting station North Pole 35.

The ice floe will drift in the Arctic Ocean and across the North Pole during winter. During this drift the information about current climate change will be provided by the variety of measurements carried out at the station.

The upper ocean layer, sea ice, and snow cover will be investigated. Atmospheric measurements of meteorological parameters such as temperature, wind, humidity and air pressure, will be added through recordings of trace gases such as carbon dioxide and ozone.

Polar 5, the research aircraft of the Alfred Wegener Institute will fly out Jurgen Graeser and five Russian colleagues after approximately eight months, in April 2008.

Landing strip will be constructed on the ice.
The project will help the scientists to understand the key regions for global climate change.

Source: Science Daily

I’m sure you’ll agree with me if I say that people in the past were not aware of this environmental cost but these days, travelers are becoming more aware of the damage their trips may do to the environment. Thinking of travelers is undergoing a significant change and they are willing to alter their actions to protect the environment.

The recent online polling of more than 24,500 consumers from 144 countries, conducted by the guidebook publisher Lonely Planet shows that the number of people willing to consider offsetting carbon emissions has increased.

The travelers are willing to opt for more radical options such as giving up flying for less damaging modes of transport, the introduction of an annual personal carbon allowance into which they must fit their travel and reducing the number of flights taken or increasing the cost of flying via a carbon tax.

Traveling by train is time consuming and more expensive as compared to air-travel and people are putting off by the high price of tickets. Following table shows the comparison between rail fares and airfares to Rome and Madrid from Britain’s major cities.

I agree that some people are putting off trains for reason being hight ticket prices but the majority of people still find trains as viable alternative for traveling. The increasing number of such people who are willing to alter their actions brings hope that our planet might be saved.

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Source: Telegraph