Reviving tourism in Afghanistan

CNN reports on the difficult development of tourism in Afghanistan. Ecotravel News has previously reported on eco-tourism development in the country in July 2008.

One of the safest provinces in this war-torn country is Bamiyan; infamous for giant Buddha statues that were blown up by the Taliban in 2001.

"The natural resources and cultural resources here are probably the single best place for economic development to happen, around revitalizing the tourism industry here," says Bob Thelen, the representative for the Aga Khan Development Network in Bamiyan. The nonprofit organization has been working with the government of New Zealand to distribute $1.2 million over a three-year period to develop eco-tourism as an industry in Bamiyan.

Read the full story: Afghanistan's Bamiyan province struggles to build tourism

Photo by B. Praxenthaler / ICOMOS Germany

Second plastic-bag subway art installation

Back in April '08 we reported on New York street artist Joshua Allen Harris, who fashions used plastic bags into inflatable subway grate art. Harris' latest incarnations, that are larger than his earlier polar bears and giraffes, look like giant fantasy monsters.

Watch the report below from New York Magazine.

See eco-vacation photos

Tree Hugger has a slideshow of their readers' eco-vacations.

From photos of cattle drives in Kenya to old huts and new power lines in South America, our readers sent in their eco-vacation photos for our weekly user-generated slideshow.

Some travelled far -- cramping their carbon-conscience lifestyle -- by flying to South America and Australia, but kept their environmental impact down by biking and buying local food while there.

Others ventured to new places but stayed closer to home -- like the Lobert family (pictured above) who travelled to neighboring province British Columbia, Canada -- and slept in tents, utilized public transit, and enjoyed the great outdoors.

See the slideshow: Readers' eco-vacation photos

Photo by Liz Lobert

Ecotravel News was unable to post yesterday due to internet connection problems and the death of Senator Ted Kennedy

Florida coral reef revived with scientific help

The Miami Herald reports on the success of "farm-raised" coral helping to revive decimated reefs.

For the first time, stands of "farm-raised'" staghorn transplanted to Molasses Reef off Key Largo were caught in the act, providing critical proof that corals cultivated in underwater nurseries can not only survive but do the wild thing.

For researchers, it has raised optimism that they might actually have a shot at slowing, maybe even reversing, decades of staggering loss. Staghorn and elkhorn -- large and spectacular branching corals that once grew in sprawling forests -- have declined by as much as 97 percent along a reef tract stretching from Palm Beach to the Dry Tortugas.

Read the full story: In the Florida Keys, staghorn, elkhorn coral making a comeback

Photo by Timothy O'Hara/The Citizen

A visit to eco-city Freiburg, Germany

The Los Angeles Times visits the green city of Freiburg, Germany.

Renewable energy and public transportation are actively encouraged in this city of 220,000 nestled in the Southwest corner of the country.

The Best Western Premier Hotel Victoria, built in 1875, was even part of the green movement, billing itself as a "zero emissions" hotel. It uses no more power than it generates, thanks to its solar roof, an investment in a windmill and an eco-power supplier.

Read the full story: Freiburg: A very eco-friendly German city

Photo from Wikimedia

A hike up Mount Fuji

Stars and Stripes reporter David J. Carter reports on his hike up Japan's Mount Fuji.

The popular trail is covered with thousands of other visitors both local and foreign.

An old Japanese saying goes, "A wise man climbs Mount Fuji once, but only a fool does it twice."

Looking up from the eighth station, I could see the summit clearly and knew the torment I’d put myself through in the hours preceding was going to pay off. Not that much further, I kept thinking. But as I’d come to realize throughout the day, looks on Mount Fuji can be deceiving.

Read the full story: Mount Fuji climb is tough, but worth it

Photo by Yuno-yuno

Swim near a nuclear power plant in Taiwan

Global Post reports on the Taiwanese nuclear power plant looming over a popular beach.

To date, Taiwan has a near spotless nuclear safety record. That means few here fear having their beach time ruined by a meltdown. "Maybe we've just been lucky," [A 52-year-old parking lot attendant] added with a laugh.

But he said the beach has changed dramatically since he was a child. Then, coral covered the shallow sea floor. "Now, they're all dead," he said. "I don't know if it's because of global warming or the nuclear plant."

Read the full story: Welcome to Taiwan's nuclear beach

Photo by Pichi Chuang/Reuters

Alaska's Caribou in a warming climate

National Parks Traveler is excerpting the National Parks Conservation Association's report on climate change and the affects on national parks.

This excerpt explains how caribou in Alaska are being impacted by a warmer planet.

Ice fields are shrinking, ice sheets are breaking up, forest fires and insect outbreaks are increasing, permafrost is melting, and coastal villages are disappearing into the sea.

For caribou, one of the Earth’s great iconic species, these climate-related shifts are expected to bring many changes, some good, some not so good, and some unknown. Cows and calves require lush spring vegetation for vital nutrients during the critical period around calving and early development.

Climate change will affect when that spring vegetation appears, potentially putting the green-up out of sync with calving, and leaving adults and newborns without adequate nutrition.

With climate-change forecasts predicting a warming of as much as 5 degrees centigrade throughout the Arctic, a trend that is likely to lead to earlier plant germination, will caribou be able to advance their biological clocks and keep calving when food is most available?

Read the full story: Climate change and national parks: caribou in Alaska

Photo from National Parks Traveler

Ten global eco-lodges

ABC News reports on their top 10 eco-hotels around the world.

Among the environmentally-friendly lodges is the Ecocamp in Argentina's Patagonia region (pic left). The domed camp is made from reclaimed and recycled materials.

Other spots include the Three Camel Lodge in Mongolia, Sarinbuana Eco Lodge in Indonesia, and Kigelia Camp Ruaha in Tanzania.

Read the full story: Top 10 eco-vacation hot spots

Picture from ABCNews.com

Berlin solar-powered boat launch

Reuters video reports on the new solar-powered boat that will take visitors around Berlin, Germany's rivers.

The 60-passenger boat called Solon is powered solely by the solar panels placed on the roof. The panels soak in the sun and the energy produced is stored in batteries. Another benefit is that no smelly fumes and barely any noise comes from running the boat.

Watch the video below:

Escape from crowded Capri

The Washington Post reports on getting away from the crowded parts of Capri with a scenic trek.

Capri is a beautiful and heavily-touristed island near Naples, Italy. It may seem hard to escape from the crowds but Kristin Harrison managed to do it on a three-day trip:

On a Sunday morning last May, my boyfriend and I strolled through a field of pink and yellow wildflowers on the island of Capri, following a dirt path that seemed more suitable for goats. There wasn't another person in sight. We scrambled up rocky bluffs and hiked along a grassy meadow until the path ended abruptly at a steep drop-off to the Mediterranean Sea. Yachts and sailboats dotted the waters below, small flecks of white on a canvas of azure, turquoise and aquamarine.

Read the full story: Trekking the casual side of Capri

Photo by Jeremy Ginsberg

Galapagos Islands overpopulation problem

Ecotourists like to visit natural sites like the Galapagos Islands, and now the surrounding area is suffering from overpopulation directly related to this industry.

Global Post's Pailin Wedel reports on this below:


View the full story here: Overpopulating paradise

Photo by Guillermo Granja/Reuters

Cabs taking backseat to mass transit

The New York Times reports that more travelers are foregoing expensive (and CO2 emitting) taxis for shared or public transportation options to and from airports.

Although the premise of the article is for budget reasons; positive environmental effects also occur by taking mass transit.

Another positive is that many travelers found that taking the train to/from the airport was much more reliable and sometimes even faster than a cab, especially during rush hour.

Read the full story: More fliers skipping the cab

Take kids to new green theme park

Reuters blogs reports on the new California theme park with an environmental focus.

Environmentaland, created by nonprofit environmental group Global Inheritance, opened this month in Hollywood.

Visitors can ride a see-saw on an energy playground to power up their cell phone, putt on a desert mini golf course and fly airplanes from recycled paper. This past weekend, visitors could arm wrestle a polar bear in a climate change quiz challenge for a chance to win prizes.

Read the full story: Mickey Mouse meets Mr. Polar Bear at green theme park