FL taxis going green

USA Today reports that Key West's tropically-colored pink taxis are turning green.

The Florida island's famous pink taxis (seen at right) will not be getting a green paint job - but will be converted into hybrids.

The taxi company Five Sixes Taxi, has bought 10 hybrids that they estimate will get 38 mpg as opposed to 12 mpg the old vehicles got. They are in the process of replacing all their old taxis with the hybrids.

Read the full story: Key West's famous taxis get a green makeover

Beijing stops migrant recyclers during Olympics

Reuters reports that Beijing has stopped migrant recyclers from doing business during the Olympics.

Beijing leaders claim that the migrant workers, who trade recycling for a living, carry infectious diseases and don't want them to infect visitors to the games.

Watch the report:

Pope urges lifestyle changes to help environment... from his plane

Australia's The Sydney Morning Herald reports on Pope Benedict XVI's visit and urgent message to Australians (that he delivered from his plane before he landed) to save the environment by changing ones lifestyle.

This is just another ironic event (because as we all know that airplanes emit high amounts of carbon that is causing the climate to change) in the Pontiff's tenure.

Ecotravel News has previously pointed out that the Vatican has started their own airline and also have more honorably gone carbon-neutral.

The catholic leader has good intentions but he needs to start following his own advice too, even though the SMH does point out that Australia is becoming less energy-efficient.

Read the full story: Help to save the world, Pope tells Australia
and the sister story of: Nation of climate sinners

Americans favor urban density over nature

The Economist reports that less people are getting out to enjoy national parks such as Yosemite, and conservationists are partly to blame.

California's population has grown to 38 million from 31.5 million in 1994. More people are living near national parks but less of those inhabitants are actually visiting nature.

Visitors to national parks peaked in 1987 and the numbers have fallen since. Instead people are going to cleaned-up cities and theme-park like casinos, that have seen a rise in visitors.

Conservationists, according to the magazine, are trying to preserve the environment and thereby limiting the number of visitors let in to national parks:

"Earlier this year a federal court ruled that the National Park Service must limit human use of Yosemite Valley. That may mean a daily cap on visitor numbers. If the park imposes one, the example is likely to spread across America. This will create pressure to solve environmental problems by turning more people away."

Read the full story: Out of the wilderness

Kentucky looking into legalizing electric vehicles

Kentucky's Lexington Herald-Leader has a timely report on whether or not the state should allow electric vehicles (EVs) on state roads.

In an unusual twist on party politics, Republican state senators are the ones urging the Governor Steve Beshear - a Democrat - to sign the executive order.

The order would allow a ZAP electric-vehicle factory to be built and has the potential of employing "up to 1,000 people."

ZAP, as exposed in an excellent report by Wired Magazine (that Ecotravel News wrote about in March) was shown to be greedy charlatans who never delivered their promised cars and bled money from people opening dealerships.

Although EVs are an excellent thing to be approving and signing into law, especially by Republicans, Kentucky should really look into all the facts behind ZAP before making any decisions.

Read the full story: Analyst urges caution on electric car proposal

Read previous post about ZAP cars: Greediness hidden behind electric vehicles

Environmentalists killed in DRC gorilla park

The BBC reports on an attack to a World Wildlife Fund (WWF) vehicle carrying 11 environmental workers in the Democratic Republic of Congo's (DRC) Virunga National Park, home to endangered mountain gorillas.

Of the 11, two were killed and three injured when their vehicle was ambushed by Moi Moi rebels according to officials interviewed by Radio Okapi - a United Nations-supported station.

Virunga NP is "in a volatile region in eastern DR Congo where rebels have set up a base. Armed groups frequently carry out attacks in the park, home to at least 380 endangered mountain gorillas."

The endangered gorillas make their home in the parks and mountains that border Rwanda, Uganda and the DRC. More than half the population of the gorillas live in the DRC.

The rebel groups have taken over Virunga NP since September and have threatened to kill conservationists who enter the area. Last July five gorillas were shot "at point-blank range."

According to a park ranger, tourists have been led over the borders illegally by rebel "guides" to view the DRC gorillas. He urges tourists not to take this path because 1) the illegal guides do not follow proper procedure to stay a certain distance from the animals to not transmit disease and 2) it gives money to the same rebels that kill and eat the gorillas.

Read the full story: Attack in DR Congo gorilla park
Read about two gorilla conservationists: Diary: protecting mountain gorillas

Amtrak ridership up dramatically, thanks to high gas prices

The Sacramento Bee reports on the significantly higher levels of people traveling by train between California cities this year.

Amtrak says their nationwide ridership is up 11 percent since last year as more people are traveling by their service now that gas prices have gone up.

"'It's been quite surreal in some cases,' said Amtrak spokeswoman Vernae Graham, citing instances of as many as 200 standees on Pacific Surfliner trains traveling between San Diego and Los Angeles. "

Graham also says that the largest increases in ridership are for distances under 500 miles.

Popular routes in California between the Bay Area and Sacramento have seen a 19 percent increase.

Article author Janet Fullwood writes that her Bakersfield to Stockton train was completely full to Fresno.

Read the full story: Train travel hopping with new riders

Studying Yosemite's roadkill

NPR has an interesting report about a man named Moose Mutlow, who is a roadkill researcher and educator in Yosemite National Park.

Mutlow studies miles of highway alongside the park and records data about the animals hit - some endangered like bears or owls - by passing vehicles.

Listen to the full report: Environmental educator eyes Yosemite roadkill

Everglades-named bird wiped out

The Miami Herald reports on the disappearing Everglades Snail Kite.

Writer Curtis Morgan sets the somber tone for the story in the first sentence: "It's never a good sign when an animal disappears from the place that gave it its name."

The kite's numbers have dropped dramatically and the recent droughts and water management projects haven't helped.

Local Indian tribes say federal wildlife protection schemes have failed in the Everglades and are to blame for the kite's demise. The Miccosukee Tribe points to the protection of another bird - the Cape Sable seaside sparrow - that indirectly helped kill-off the kite. Planned flooding to help protect the sparrow in certain areas in the Everglades drowned one of the kite's main food sources, the apple snail.

Read the full story: A rare bird all but vanishes from Everglades

Yellowstone visitors top June

USA Today reports a record number of visitors to Yellowstone National Park in June.

Over 600,000 people entered and enjoyed the famous national park last month, topping last June's numbers by 2,500.

Read the full story: Yellowstone reports record June visitation

Be green on July 4th

Ecotravel News hopes that everyone is already at their Independence Day locales and has gotten there agap (as green as possible).

There are even more ways to green-up your holiday celebrations and Plenty Magazine has a few tips:

1) Mow your lawn with an environmentally-friendly (and get your exercise too) push mower.

2) Use DEET-free bug repellents like citronella candles.

3) Eat grass-fed beef and locally-grown organic products.

4) And instead of watching environmentally-detrimental fireworks displays, sing or bang pots to celebrate.

Read the full story: Green tips for your 4th of July celebration

Mexico tree-planting drive to combat deforestation

The El Paso Times reports on this Saturday's (July 5) tree-planting drive in Juarez, Mexico.

City officials and residents will plant 2,500 trees across the city "as part of national reforestation effort across Mexico."

Vast areas of Mexico's indigenous rainforests have been cut down due to rapid industrialization and population growth and today only 10% still survives.

Tree-planting drives across the country such as in Juarez hope to plant five million new trees.

Link to the tree-planting drive website: www.plantaunarbol.gob.mx/

Organic farms offer back to basics vacation

The Christian Science Monitor reports on the quietly growing trend of volunteering on small organic farms in return for room and board.

The World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms or WWOOF is a global organic farm network, where you can become a member for a small sign-up fee and have access to volunteer opportunities wherever you and the farm you choose sees fit.

CSM contributor Emily Badger shares her experience as a novice WWOOFer in the french countryside:

"I’ve never been particularly organic, and I had a vague sense that my best qualification for this job was that I like to do yoga, which is something organic people seem to like, too. The movement, though, doesn’t draw the bulk of its WWOOFers from farmers hoping to bring new organic techniques back to their own backyard polytunnels. Rather, the idea appeals to the adventurer, the wandering soul, the liberal who wants to do more than pay for carbon offsets. I felt a little of all that."

Read the full story: WWOOFing in Normandy

Chinese plastic bag ban: a success

Environmental News Network reports that China's almost complete ban on plastic bags - consumers can still purchase thicker plastic bags - is a success.

Consumers have easily adapted by bringing their own bags and some have even gone back to using traditional baskets.

The ban makes it illegal for shops to hand out free plastic bags to shoppers.

"China's central government dealt this heavy blow to plastic bags out of concern for the environment and a desire for greater energy savings. People in China use up to 3 billion plastic bags daily and dispose of more than 3 million tons of them annually. Most of the carriers end up in unofficial dumping sites, landfills, or the environment. Urban dumping centers and open fields alongside railways and expressways are littered with the discarded bags, mostly whitish ultra-thin varieties. Such scenes have generated a special term in China: "the white pollution."

Read the full story: China watch: plastic bag ban trumps market and consumer efforts

Beijing pollution still high, now threatens Olympics events

Reuters reports that although the Beijing Olympics are only two months away, the threat of still present and high air pollution levels could cause delays in endurance events like the marathon:

First shared bikes, now shared cars

Paris introduced the bike sharing program called Velib a year ago (with much success), now they plan to do the same with electric cars.

The Guardian newspaper reports that 4,000 electric cars, called Autolib, will be put to use around the city and its outlying areas - and it will be the first electric car sharing scheme in the world:

"Paris city hall said 700 Autolib pick-up points would be set up across the Paris area, 200 of which will be underground. A driver could pick up a car, for example, in the east of the city and drop it off in the west after a short journey."

Read the full story: Paris plans help-yourself green car hire

Low-cost Euro airlines + more flyers = carbon upsurge

The New York Times reports on how the popularity of low-cost European airlines has upped air travel across the continent and thus also the rise in carbon emissions.

Warm countries such as Spain are seeing the increase in weekend tourists from colder climes such as the U.K. and Germany, which although good for the tourist industry, just adds to the global warming conundrum.

The competitiveness of the budget airlines keeps the prices low as well as being much cheaper and faster than car or train travel:

"[For] many, the economics of flying cheap are proving more compelling than the environmental consequences. With prices for gas and hotels at all-time highs in Britain and Germany, it is, somewhat bizarrely, more economical to fly to Spain, even for a weekend, than to take a traditional driving vacation near home."

Read the full story: Air travel and carbon on increase in Europe

Machu Picchu porters overworked and underpaid

USA Today reports how the exploding popularity of Peru's Inca Trail trek is also overtaxing and underpaying the porters who tote tourists' luggage.

All tourists who want to make the historic hike must now go with a guided tour that can cost hundreds of dollars - and to lure in budget travelers some companies cheapen their prices by paying their porters less but requiring them to haul more weight.

Although a law in 2003 made it mandatory for porters to make $15 a day and only carry 57 pounds - it's easy for companies to dismiss and porters happy to make any money still work for less:

"Victor, 22, [said he was carrying over-regulation weight — 66 pounds — for $9 dollars a day and complained bitterly about not getting enough food,] as he labored alone on the final ascent to Warmiwanusca, Quechua for "Dead Woman's Pass," the grisly name for the trail's highest point at 13,779 feet.

Unlike porters with other agencies, Victor didn't have a water bottle and his dry, cracked toes jutted out from the end of worn-down sandals, covered in dust from the trail.

Jorge Villasante, Peru's vice labor minister, acknowledges that enforcing the 2003 law is a problem."

Read the full story: Machu Picchu tourism boom puts extra burden on Inca Trail porters

Wash. state's record snowpack brings waterfalls

The Seattle Post-Intelligencer reports on the spectacular season for waterfalls this summer due to a record winter snowfall.

Around 10,000 waterfalls will spew forth from the Cascades.

Waterfall watchers say this year will beat the last record season of 1999.

And intrepid "baggers" are happy to go off the beaten path for remote sightings:

"Oh, it's stunningly beautiful," says Sprague Ackley of Seattle, a climber and whitewater kayaker who reached Service Falls [located] in a high and remote canyon on the upper Queets River in the heart of Olympic National Park."

Read the full story: The land of 10,000 waterfalls

California sans car

The San Jose Mercury News reports on a few vacation spots that are easy to get to by public transportation. And once at the place visitors can get around by foot, horse or even Segway.

The three popular spots highlighted are Angel Island, Old Sacramento and San Luis Obispo - all are easily accessible by train from San Jose.

Read the full story: Gas-free getaways

Green recognition for European car rental agency

Europcar, the European car rental agency, has been environmentally conscious for a decade and has finally received green certification, reports breakingtravelnews.com.

Being named into the "Green Charter" by Bureau Veritas Certification is "regarded [as] a crucial benchmark for developing a sustainable business:"

"Europcar took its first eco-friendly measures 10 years ago with the opening of an 'environmental station' in Paris. It was also the first car rental company in Europe to offer hybrid and electric cars, and it regularly introduces new, cleaner-energy models into its fleet. In France, Europcar has won the “Oxygen Awards” twice for its environmental efforts. The company is currently implementing an electronic rental contract system which substantially reduces paper consumption."

Read the full story: Europcar awarded first ever green charter

Japanese car runs on water

Reuters reports on a Japanese car that runs on only water.

Hydrogen - extracted from the water through an energy generator - powers the vehicle.

Watch the report:

Asia and global warming

China and India are both high-population and fast-emerging economies that are also altering their climates drastically by emitting some of the highest amounts of carbon dioxide worldwide.

The Economist reports how the effect of these greenhouse gases is changing the climate, melting the Himalayan glaciers and shifting weather patterns - all things that are affecting the health and livelihoods of their citizens. Both countries are realizing their contributions to the problem and are beginning to work on solutions.

Read the full story: Melting Asia

Tiger bone wine - illegal but still for sale

The BBC reports that tiger bone wine - made with endangered tiger carcasses - is still being sold illegally at animal parks in China.

The wine, sold in tiger-shaped vessels like the one pictured above, is made by soaking dead tiger bodies in rice wine. Benefits to the drinker's health are the reasons for drinking the brew.

The British Environmental Investigation Agency said advertisements for the illegal drink were shown blatantly in the parks and visitors were openly solicited to buy it.

Read the full story: Chinese parks sell 'tiger wine'

Vandals disturb NC beach nesting areas

National Parks Traveler reports that protected bird and turtle nesting beach areas in North Carolina's Cape Hatteras National Seashore are being deliberately trampled on.

The seasonal beach closures are to ensure the nesting and breeding success of endangered native plovers, oyster catchers and turtles - without the harmful effects from off-road vehicles.

Several acts of vandalism have occurred in closed-off areas:

"Rangers on June 4th closed another section of the park beach due to a plover hatch. On Thursday, June 5th, several visitors expressed opposition to this closure. One person deliberately entered the area and was dealt with by law enforcement personnel."

Read the full story: Bird nests and closures spurring civil disobedience

Honduras: an ecotourism paradise or claim to lure tourists?

In this month's Slate.com Well-Traveled section Elisabeth Eaves explores what ecotourism means in Honduras.

She points out the ironies of the tourism industry's eco-promise versus the not-so-eco realities.

And she even selflessly points out that tourists - including herself - are also to blame for ruining the environment:

"On our last day on the coast, I floated facedown in the Caribbean, toting up my sins. I had flown in an airplane, taken taxis instead of buses, requested air conditioning, run the air conditioning even after I realized I couldn't shut one of my windows, and bought small plastic bottles of water. That was all before sundown on my first day. Subsequently, I had participated in the feeding of wild animals, been driven around in gasoline-powered cars and boats, eaten conch (I didn't know it was threatened), and—this one hadn't even occurred to me until I read it in a guidebook—worn sunscreen and DEET-laden bug repellent while swimming above the delicate corals. But I had no idea how to weigh all that against whatever minuscule economic benefit I might have been bringing to Honduras."

At least she admits to her eco-sins while most travel writers do not, but if one is writing a story about ecotourism at least one should try to be a little more eco-friendly than she was. To Ecotravel News her story seems like just a ruse to write an article while enjoying a tropical vacation as opposed to really caring about the environment and doing something to make a difference.

Read the full story: Eco-touring in Honduras

Bolivia's model rainforest protection scheme

The Christian Science Monitor reports on the Bolivian rainforest conservancy project that could be a world-wide model for fighting deforestation and global warming.

The Bolivian government along with conservancy groups and energy companies came together to save the rainforest in a first-of-its-kind plan called Noel Kempff Climate Action Project.

This venture sparked a carbon-reducing initiative called Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation, or REDD, which environmentalists criticized:

"But REDD is now seen as a leading solution to deforestation, which accounts for 20 percent of the world’s annual greenhouse-gas emissions – more than the transportation sector, according to the Center for International Forestry Research...

In Bolivia, the idea has been tested at the widest scale: The project bought out four timber concessions, nearly doubled the national park’s boundaries, and set up a carbon-monitoring system by which offsets are awarded to three participating energy companies (American Electric Power, BP, and PacifiCorp.) and the Bolivian government – offsets that could be traded on the voluntary carbon-trading market, and (in the case of the Bolivian government) the money reinvested in the communities affected."

Read the full story: Bolivia gets clean by staying green

Old Faithful less faithful

The San Jose Mercury News reports that Old Faithful - the iconic geyser in Yellowstone National Park - has become less faithful because of drought conditions.

A U.S. Geological survey conducted over nine years by Shaul Hurwitz found that it now takes 1.5 hours for an eruption as opposed to just about one hour before 1959:

"Hurwitz's study examined data from five reliable geysers, including Old Faithful, from 1997 to 2006. The winter of 1997 in Yellowstone and surrounding mountains was the wettest in at least 100 years, but drought has prevailed in the area for much of this decade."

Read the full story: Drought slowing down Old Faithful geyser

Resort threatens Grenadian bird

The Christian Science Monitor reports that a new resort to be built in a protected park on the Caribbean island of Grenada could wipe-out the already endangered native dove.

Mount Hartman National Park - one of the few undeveloped areas of the island and a sanctuary for the native dove - is now set to build a Four Seasons uber-resort. Only 120 doves remain of which about half live in Mt. Hartman.

Protests from conservation groups have led to a compromise to help preserve the already small numbers of the bird:

"Under the current plan, the resort will develop areas that are currently part of the Mt. Hartman National Park. But in exchange, the resort’s developer will help underwrite the designation and management of a newer, better, and similarly sized sanctuary nearby. Pets and pesticides will be prohibited at the resort, which will be built in phases timed to minimize disruption of the birds’ seasonal activities."

Read the full story: Will new resort imperil Grenada's endangered dove?

Biofuels push out peasants

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) published a report for their food summit that condemns biofuels for not only adding to the global food crisis, but also for pushing out low-income peasant farmers from their land, says Reuters:

"'Specific social groups such as pastoralists, shifting cultivators and women are especially liable to suffer exclusion from land caused by rising land values, while people who are already landless are likely to see the barriers to land access increase further,' [the report] said."

Read the full story: Biofuel land demand puts peasants at risk: report