Grand Canyon North Rim opens May 15

USA Today reports that the Grand Canyon's North Rim road will reopen on May 15.

The North Rim is closed during the winter season, but the South Rim is open year-round.

Read the full story:Grand Canyon North Rim road to reopen

Visit Tahoe's Earth Day

The San Francisco Chronicle reports on Lake Tahoe's Earth Day festivities.

"Started eight years ago by the nonprofit Tahoe Earth Day Foundation, the events [on April 18 and 25 around the area] are designed to provide information about global climate change, recycling, water conservation, sustainability, energy production, composting, trash reduction and carbon footprints."

Read the full story: Earth Day at Tahoe

Camping = recession travel

CNN reports that camping is now fashionable as a recession-travel alternative.

"Outdoor camping's popularity jumped 7.4 percent between 2007 and 2008, according to a report from the Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association. Overnight backpacking is up 18.5 percent, the report said."

Read the full story: In a slump, camping comes into vogue

Lights out at tourist sites during Earth Hour

MSNBC reports on the tourist spots turning off their lights for one hour this weekend to honor the climate change and global warming initiative Earth Hour.

Among those to turn off their lights will be the Los Angeles International Airport sign (left). It be lit with green lights for the hour right before it is turned off.

Read the full story: Earth Hour to hit major draws near you

Indian car Tata Nano: small, cheap, environment-friendly?

Ecotravel News is back after a longer than expected hiatus with a post about Indian car Tata Nano.

U.S. News & World Report's Fresh Greens blog has the best insight into the environmental aspects of this hyped car.

The Nano costs the equivalent of $2000, and is barebones meaning it doesn't have things like power steering or windows, or air conditioning. Sounds to me like my old 1960s Volkswagon Beetle...

Read the full story: 10 things you should know about the Tata Nano

Ecotravel News is away

Ecotravel News will be traveling and won't be able post again until February.

To help readers get through the hiatus we suggest the following links:

The Christian Science Monitor's environment section is a favorite

Environmental News Network always has new and interesting stories everyday

Reuters video, environment section

National Parks Traveler blog

Enjoy and until Feb!

Free snow day Saturday

Winter Trails is a day of free Nordic skiing (cross-country) and snowshoeing that many resorts are offering nationwide.

Tomorrow, Saturday January 10th, is the day for novices or experts to grab their winter gear and head out for a free day on the trails.

The Idaho Statesman lists the places participating in Idaho.

But for those who want a longer deal can participate in the January promotion Learn a Snow Sport Month, with month-long discounts on all types of skiing.

Check out the website for states and resorts participating.

Continental latest airline to test biofuel

CNN reports on Continental Airlines foray into the biofuel testing arena.

Continental is the first national airline to test a mix of algae and jatropha oils in a 50-50 mix with traditional jet fuel.

The test, performed yesterday out of Houston, compared a biofuel plane with one running on all jet fuel.

The Boeing 737 burned less fuel in the biofuel-powered engine than a conventionally powered engine, and the two performed identically during the one-hour, 40-minute flight, Boeing spokesman Terrance Scott said.

We reported last September on Boeing, Virgin, and eight other airlines' commitment to working on biofuel development in the commercial airline industry.

International carriers Virgin Atlantic and Air New Zealand tested their own biofuel mixes last year.

Read the full story: Biofuels take to the skies in airline tests

Eat a squirrel, help save species

The International Herald Tribune reports on the new British culinary trend of squirrel meat.

Squirrels are abundant, so eating them helps to keep their population in check.

Also the native red squirrel is being pushed out by the non-native and more aggressive North American gray.

Enter the "Save Our Squirrels" campaign begun in 2006 to rescue Britain's red squirrels by piquing the nation's appetite for their marauding North American cousins. With a rallying motto of "Save a red, eat a gray!" the campaign created a market for culled squirrel meat.

British bon vivants suddenly couldn't get enough squirrel. Television chefs were preparing it, cookbooks were extolling it, farmers' markets were selling out of it and restaurants in many places were offering it on the menu.

Read the full story: Saving a squirrel by eating one

Yellowstone amphibians decline

Environmental News Network reports on the decline of frogs and salamanders in Yellowstone National Park; Stanford researchers blame global warming.

Sarah McMenamin, a Ph.d. candidate from Stanford University, studied the critters and found significant declines in population from the 1990s through now, directly citing a changing climate as the culprit.

Read the full story: Amphibians disappearing from Yellowstone Park

Air New Zealand tests biofuels

Happy New Year and welcome back from Ecotravel News. We hope the holidays were a nice relaxing and refreshing time for everyone and we now can start 2009 anew.

As you can see Ecotravel News has a new look and hope you like it.

The holidays are always a great time for travel and that makes Ecotravel News happy about new innovations and greener ways to get around and see the world.

For the first post of 2009, Reuters is following up on the Air New Zealand story we ran last month about using biofuels in their flights. Watch their video report below:

LA River revitalization?

Plenty Magazine reports on the planned revitalization of the Los Angeles River and writer Frederick Reimers takes an illegal kayak trip down the length to check it out.

[In 2007] the city council adopted the $2 billion, 20-year Los Angeles River Revitalization Master Plan, an incredibly ambitious blueprint of 238 potential projects, from creating parks and bike paths to reducing flooding and removing concrete banks to restoring wildlife habitats, wetlands sites, and recreational boating opportunities.

But months after the council’s decision, the Army Corps of Engineers jeopardized the plan by ruling that the waterway isn’t traditionally navigable and is, therefore, exempted from the Clean Water Act.

Reimers three-day kayak trip however was successful. Police didn't arrest his group, he encountered other people interested in river revitalization, and the ending at Long Beach came to a bird-filled finale.

Read the full story: Kayaking the Los Angeles River

Discover Maine's nature through new guidebook

USA Today reports on the new guidebook to Maine's natural areas.

"Wheeling and tromping across thousands of miles of Maine's remotest points, author Tom Hanrahan has been to those pristine patches and plenty more. While he doesn't mind being alone, he doesn't want all million-plus acres of Maine public lands to himself.

At the request of the state Conservation Department, Hanrahan has written a book, Your Maine Lands — Reflections of a Maine Guide, to show Mainers and visitors the wild and breathtakingly scenic preserves that few people — Mainers included — know."

Read the full story: New guidebook uncovers Maine's scenic preserves

Zoo elephants have stunted lives; study

The Christian Science Monitor's environment blog reports on the study showing how elephants in captivity have a shorter lifespan than those in the natural world.

The study published in journal Science used the data compiled over 45 years about 4,500 elephants living around the globe. Mostly female African and Asian elephants were studied in European zoos, a Kenyan wildlife preserve, and a Burmese logging enterprise.

"The results were shocking. [The scientists] found that, excluding premature and still births, zoo-born African elephants had a median life span of 16.9 years, compared with 56 years for animals in the park. Asian elephants, which are more endangered than their African counterparts, lived for 18.9 years in captivity and 41.7 years in the Burmese timber trade."

Read the full story: Study: elephants in zoos live much shorter lives

Watch the latest videos on YouTube.com

Following the Australian climate change protesters

Following up on yesterday's post about the Australian climate change protesters, Reuters video shows what extent the protesters went to:

"Joke" say Australian climate protesters

BBC reports on the Australian climate change policy protesters who say it is inadequate.

"The new measures, announced on Monday, include cutting emissions by between between 5% and 15% by 2020, from 2000 levels, and introducing a carbon trading scheme in 2010.

But activists say the changes will not go far enough to prevent catastrophic change. Many have called for emissions to be cut by at least 25% by 2020 - as recommended by the UN's specialist Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change."

Read the full story: Australians condemn climate plan

Vatican to make toys out of x-mas tree

Reuters reports on the Vatican's Christmas tree.

This year the tree is from Austria and over 108 feet (33 meters) tall; the tallest tree ever to grace St Peter's Square.

And this tree will be recycled into children's toys as another way of the Vatican's continuing intentions of going green:

Last summer Ecotravel News noted that the Pope urged Australians to change their lifestyles to help save the environment.

The Vatican has also gone carbon neutral and recently installed solar panels on its roof.

Read the full story: Big Vatican Christmas tree to be recycled into toys

Japanese eco-products

Reuters video reports on the Eco Products expo in Japan.

Innovative recycling technologies for newspaper bricks, eco-toilets, and small solar panels among others were displayed.

Watch below:

Emirates Air longest "green" flight

Gulf News reports on Emirates Air newest and longest nonstop "green" trip from Dubai to San Francisco.

The airline will launch their new service Monday December 15th that will utilize new technology and follow new flight paths to save fuel and therefore release less greenhouse gases during flight.

"The flight has been described as 'the most environmentally-sophisticated route and trip possible to help save an estimated 2,000 gallons of fuel and 30,000 pounds of carbon emissions on the 16-hour non-stop service.'"

Emirates also will recycle all on board paper, plastics, aluminum, and glass.

Read the full story: Emirates plans longest 'green flight' from Dubai to San Francisco

Mexico Eco-lodges

The San Francisco Chronicle reviews six, new and more affordable, eco-friendly hotels in Mexico.

All the eco-resorts are under $200 per night.

The Genesis Ek Balam in the Yucatan is $44-$54 a night, uses natural ventilation (no A/C) and recycled materials in its design, and also helps save native animals and birds.

Read the full story: Six affordable eco-lodge escapes

Philippines urges ecotourism

Tree Hugger reports on the Philippines government's ecotourism plan.

A 10-year-old executive order decreed sustainable practices in the country's tourism sector.

"That executive order lead to the development of the National Ecotourism Strategy. The outline of this strategy includes spreading the wealth to the very impoverished rural areas, the conservation of cultural sites, promotion of conservation awareness, educational programs and more."

Read the full story: Ecotourism in the Philippines

Closer monitoring of gorillas against poaching

BBC online reports on the pledge taken by African countries against gorilla poaching.

"The gorilla action plan is designed to tackle the three main threats facing gorillas - loss of habitat, poaching and the Ebola virus - and all the 10 range states have signed up.

The plan commits them to securing good habitat for the animals, including the creation of reserves that cross national boundaries where that is appropriate.

They are supposed to clamp down on poaching and reduce the impact of conflict.

There was some good news this week from Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where rangers were able to return to the area where mountain gorillas roam, after having been forced away by armed men a few weeks ago."

Read the full story: Gorilla states in poaching pledge

Grab a pedal-powered ride in Pensacola

The Ecolocalizer blog reports on the new pedicabs in Pensacola, Florida.

Foot Taxi will offer tourists rides on eight pedicabs around the old downtown area.

"'It’s a completely ‘green’ way to get around,” [said co-founder Joe Abston]. 'The last thing we wanted our business to do was add to a global environmental problem.'"

The rides are free, but riders encouraged to give the peddlers tips.

Read the full story: Pensacola goes pedicabbing

Pedal around Oahu on shared bikes

USA Today reports on the new bike-sharing program on Hawaii's Oahu island.

The program, set to launch this June, will have an initial 100 bikes at 10 different locations. Adding to the green-ness of the program, the bike racks will be powered with solar panels.

"The first half-hour of ride time will be free. The next half-hour [will] cost riders $2, and the next 30 minutes is $5. Billing would stop at $100, but if a bike isn't returned within 48 hours, the user's credit card will be billed the cost of the bike — currently $900. Passes good for a day or week would also be available."

Read the full story: Oahu to launch bike sharing program

Soot-covered ice speeds melt

Reuters reports on the study showing how soot-covered Arctic ice accelerates its melt.

Scientists at the United Nations climate talks this week in Poland say that global warming efforts should be redirected to soot, ozone, and methane reduction from Europe, Russia, and the USA:

"'Reductions in these pollutants would have a greater impact' in the next two decades than curbing emissions of the main greenhouse gas -- carbon dioxide," they say.

Dark colors absorb more sunlight, so the black pollution particles from industry and vehicle exhaust that now cover the Arctic ice are speeding its melt.

Read the full story: Soot darkens ice, stokes runaway arctic melt: study

Venice floods bespeaks of global warming

USA Today reports on the recent Venice, Italy flooding, which is the worst since 1986.

The low-lying and highly-touristed Italian city has been prone to flooding for centuries. This time the water reached 61 inches, well over the 40-inch flood mark.

"It was the fourth highest tide since 1872, when the city started keeping records. The last time Venice saw such high waters was in 1986, while the all-time record was 76 inches in 1966."

Natural disasters such as flooding and more severe storms are effects of global warming.

Read the full story: Venice faces worst flooding in 20 years

Mini Es testing in Berlin

Reuters video reports on the Mini electric car tests to be conducted in Berlin this January.

German carmaker BMW, who produces the popular Mini Cooper cars, will be testing the all-electric version along with Swedish power company Vattenfall.

Watch the report:

China's first national park

National Parks Traveler reports on the first recognized national park in China.

The Heilongjiang Tangwanghe National Park, which is a 49,000 acre area in the northeast, was a heavily logged forest that has lost over 93 percent of its trees since 1948.

But now according to China's Ministry of Environmental Protection and National Tourism Administration, "'This region is home to the most intact and typical virgin Korean Pine forest in Asia, as well as more than 100 rare species of trees such as Dragon Spruce and Faber's Fir.'"

China already has 2,500 nature reserves, scenic and historic areas.

Read the full story: China moves to designate its first national park

Mercury levels high in NY Catskills bald eagles

The New York Times reports on the elevated levels of mercury found in New York Catskills' bald eagle chicks.

A report put out by Maine environmental group BioDiversity Research Institute showed the high levels of mercury build up in the chicks' feathers and blood.

High mercury levels have been shown to cause reproductive harm, yet the institute's director David C. Evers and study co-author Chris DeSorbo say "that not enough research had yet been done to say with certainty what effect the elevated mercury levels might have on eagles."

Mercury (which is blown east from coal-fired power plants in the Midwest), contaminates water sources, affecting fish and other animal and plant life, and the eagles eat the fish thus ingesting the metal.

"For much of the year, bald eagles live on brown trout, smallmouth bass and other fresh water fish that can be contaminated with methylmercury. Adult eagles feed the fish to their nestlings. Studies of common loons have shown how mercury can affect behavior. The loons become lethargic, which can affect their ability to gather food or sit on a nest long enough for eggs to hatch. Reproductive rates in loons contaminated with mercury can drop by as much as 40 percent, according to Mr. Evers.

Read the full story: Bald eagles in Catskills show increasing mercury