Responsible Travel Policy
To ensure our field projects contribute towards the goals of sustainable development, recognising that our actions in the field and the development and review of our project portfolio must be consistent with our organisational mission to promote action for a sustainable environment.
This involves aligning Earthwatch Institute (Europe) with best practice in the area of responsible travel, including balancing all associated operational impacts.
Earthwatch Institute (Europe) will operate in an ethical and sustainable manner, with the aim of minimising any negative impacts on local cultures and economies.
We will collaborate with local people to maximise the opportunities associated with Earthwatch operations, while addressing the wider environmental impacts associated with international travel.
Policy Commitments
Environmental
- To support projects that make a significant contribution to environmental conservation, providing objective scientific research which informs decisions on important environmental issues worldwide;
- To encourage Earthwatch participants to travel to and from research areas via the most direct route, and to recommend that the environment is a consideration in any additional tourist activity undertaken;
- To brief Earthwatch participants prior to departure about how to minimise their environmental impact while travelling and whilst in the field on the project, encouraging recycling and water and energy efficiency;
- To consider local environmental conditions by involving host country institutions, scientists and local people in the development and management of our projects wherever possible.
Social
- To brief Earthwatch participants before and during the expedition to highlight relevant sociocultural issues in the project area and to offer advice on best practice behaviour in relation to these issues;
- To develop scientific field research projects in partnership with host country scientists, academic and research institutions, NGO's and local people where possible;
- To support the education of local communities about the scientific research projects in order to encourage mutual understanding and to maximise the associated benefits.
Economic
- To use locally owned and operated accommodation where possible;
- To source transport, food, and field supplies from local suppliers, and to benefit the local economy with other project-related spending;
- To encourage Earthwatch participants to spend any leisure time before, during and after the expedition employing the services of local and environmentally sensitive tours, facilities and resources;
- To recruit field assistants and other support staff from the host country and local community where possible.
Earthwatch has also developed a set of guidelines to encourage volunteers to travel responsibly to and from our projects and elsewhere.
Read our guidelines for volunteers.