How to organize an eco-friendly holiday

What does an eco-friendly vacation mean? It certainly means choosing a place with a special environmental and naturalistic significance, or staying in small eco-friendly hotels, favoring walking and cycling, and choosing sustainable tourism destinations. But an eco-friendly vacation is first and foremost about simple gestures, small daily habits that make a difference.

When we talk about green holidays , we immediately think of extreme choices, those of orthodox environmentalists. This isn't the case. Green holidays , inspired by the most authentic sustainability, and not by the usual cliché, are a mix of the right and targeted choices, behaviors during the holiday period, and new lifestyles applied to the interpretation of holidays. For example: to truly understand the soul of a place and its people, it's important to avoid organized tours, prefer small hotels, not decide everything in advance as if you were going to military service, and give in to your imagination and even to the occasional surprising unexpected event. Furthermore: whenever possible, always choose to walk, use a bike, or use public transportation . And truly respect the environment, the places, the plants, and the animals , with small choices and small daily behaviors. In everything. We've selected some of them with the help of the WWF.

Waste Management

Don't abandon them in natural environments and don't throw plastic bags, cans, bottles, or other objects into the sea or mountains. It's a crime. Waste also arrives at the sea from land: we recycle plastic in the winter, we'll find less of it on the beach in the summer. In the mountains, we bring a bag to throw in the recycling bins once we reach the valley. Every object abandoned in the environment lasts much longer than we think: a paper tissue takes 3 months to degrade, a cigarette butt 1 to 5 years, plastic bags 10 to 20 years, aluminum cans 10 to 100 years, glass bottles 1.000 years, Styrofoam 1.000 years, and plastic bottles never completely degrade.

Marine parks 

Avoid already crowded beaches. Excessive pressure alters the balance of the coastal habitat. It's better not to miss a visit to marine protected areas and nature parks, free of charge. We should take a cue from Northern European and Anglo-Saxon countries: everywhere, marine parks and reserves are ideal vacation spots , whether with family, friends, or a loved one.

Ecotourism by bike

Cycling as a family is a wonderful experience, bringing adults and children closer together. It's a perfect opportunity to share values ​​and feelings, the desire for new adventures along the way, concern for the environment , awareness of one's own potential, and respect for others and their time. Cycling is the ideal way to fully appreciate the landscape and nature around you. For children , cycling is an opportunity for growth, allowing them to discover the environment in a way that's more accessible to them. Thus, they learn to move independently, gaining independence and curiosity about the world.

Sustainable behaviors

Green holidays , speaking of behavior, also have a meaning in terms of how we reach places, whether at the seaside or in the mountains.

• How to get to the beach

Dunes represent a fundamental natural barrier for maintaining the beach and the surrounding areas (farmlands, woods, etc. ). They are formed by pioneer plants, spontaneous vegetation that retains the sand with its roots. These extraordinary environments are increasingly threatened by coastal development and therefore must be protected.

We reach the beaches using the trails designed to preserve their fragile balance. In the protected areas, we can also learn the names of the species that inhabit the dunes thanks to the signage. Among the most beautiful is the white and fragrant sea lily ( Pancratium maritimum), which blooms in summer right at the border between the beach and the dune. This summer, go look for it (always along the trails) and photograph it... it will be a pleasant discovery to share with your friends.

• How to reach the mountain

• Comply with the rules

Report any anomalies to the relevant authorities : animals in distress, illegal dumping, landfills, dangerous floating objects, uncivilized behavior by other tourists. Many rules are already written: let's respect them and try to ensure others respect them, such as the ban on motorized navigation within 300 meters of beaches and 200 meters of cliffs . At sea, avoid making noise and racing close to the coast with noisy and fast vehicles such as jet skis or flying boards. Pay particular attention to buoys marking divers or swimmers, keeping a safe distance. Don't stray off mountain trails : it could cost you dearly, even your own safety. Learn the rules of each park before venturing into nature; picking a protected flower can be costly and damage biodiversity. Reports can be made to the nearest Port Authority or by calling the national number 1530 , to the Forestry Corps at 1515 for any environmental reports and fires, to local associations, and to local governments.

• How to behave at the table

Refuse undersized fish and protected species at the fishmonger's or restaurant . Only in this way can we contribute to protecting biodiversity, making informed consumer choices that not only save the sea but also reward the work of honest and responsible fishermen.

How to organize an eco-friendly vacation

Once you've decided on your destination and booked your train, bus, or plane journey , if possible, avoid printing your ticket and present it digitally . This simple gesture will allow you to save paper and, at the same time, ensure you don't lose or forget your paper tickets. Here are some more tips:

• Always choose an environmentally friendly accommodationMore and more campsites, hostels, and hotels are designed with water and energy savings in mind and are able to offer their guests meals made with local products.
• Try to travel light as much as possible. avoiding bagagli Full of clothes, items, and accessories you won't need later. Not to mention that traveling with carry-on luggage is much more convenient.
• Once you reach your chosen location, For travel, if possible, prefer public transportAlternatively, opt for renting a bike. This is also a great way to explore the city's most hidden yet charming spots and connect with the locals.
• At mealtimes, always prefer local productsThis is an excellent opportunity not only to learn about the local culinary traditions but also to support the local economy. To protect biodiversity, remember to avoid undersized fish and protected species.
• And on returning home, Don't forget to bring a local souvenir with youThis is also a way to support the local economy and preserve a memory of the experience. No to natural souvenirs instead such as sand and shells, mountain flowers or dried pine cones: everything we take away is something we steal from nature.
• Don't forget, even on holiday, to continue to put into practice all the precautions you take in your daily life to avoid waste.Turn off the light when you leave the hotel room, try to consume the right amount of water, especially when you go to bed. shower, avoid filling your plate with food at the buffet if you already know you won't eat it.
• Respect the place you are in by following the rules and avoiding any behavior that could cause pollution. Never abandon waste in natural environments, at sea or in the mountains: plastic bags, bottles, cigarette butts, and other objects can not only pose a danger to marine and other wildlife, but also take a very long time to degrade: for example, while a cigarette butt can take up to five years, a plastic bag takes 10 to 20 years, and an aluminum can can take up to 100 years.
• in the sea absolutely do not disturb the underwater fauna especially in the case of scuba diving excursions and, if you decide to take a trip with a pedal boat or canoe, remember not to disturb the animals such as seagulls or hawks that live along the cliffs.
• If you in the mountains instead, absolutely do not approach wild animals such as bears, wolves, foxes and squirrelsIf necessary, observe them by adhering to the established rules so as not to put your safety and theirs at risk.

What to do in case of close encounters

• At the sea
  

Don't disturb the underwater fauna by chasing octopuses or collecting starfish and other organisms. With a quiet snorkel in the sea, we can enjoy the spectacle of nature. If we take a canoe or pedal boat out , we don't disturb the creatures that live above the water, such as seagulls, cormorants, and hawks that live along the cliffs. Just keep a safe distance, avoiding unnecessary noise and shouting . To admire animals in nature, it's always advisable to have a good pair of binoculars : they won't run away in fear, and we can enjoy the spectacle.

• In the mountains
  

In the mountains, we don't try to approach bears, wolves, foxes, or squirrels , perhaps even with food. Fortunately, animals have formidable adaptive strategies for finding food, and if we want to observe them better, all we need to do is remain still, completely silent, and have a little patience. Not all animals behave the same way; each has its own personality, just like us humans. Some may be calm, while others react with a bite. The rule applies to small animals as well as large ones. Keep a safe distance, be quiet , avoid disturbing others, even with noise, and each in their place. There's room for everyone. Let's teach this to children, too!

Dangerous and prohibited souvenirs

We won't be alone on the beach or in the mountains: removing shells, driftwood , and other debris from the beach reduces the availability of shelter and even provides food for small insects and crabs . No more sand bottles, and we should remove excess sand from towels and other used objects before leaving. For example, the Sinis Marine Protected Area in Sardinia, to safeguard the rice grain beach of Is Arutas , has created a closed-circuit shower system behind the dunes, which brings sand left behind by bathers back to the beach. To maintain the rich biodiversity of beaches, the WWF often advises beach managers not to clean them at the end of the day with mechanical means such as bulldozers or tractors, but to use small rakes specifically designed for waste. Educating beachgoers will do the rest.

In the mountains, before collecting dried pine cones or branches , consider the rule of numbers: everything we take away is something we take from nature, and even in the mountains, our actions could be repeated thousands of times by others. In reality, the danger lies with our safety, as vipers could be hiding among the rocks and driftwood , and if disturbed, they could react. If we really can't resist the basket of dried pine cones, at least tap the ground with a stick before reaching for it. Always follow the signs (there are always plenty and comprehensive information in the parks) regarding the rules applicable to each region. Furthermore, in the mountains, almost all flower species are protected: a good guidebook is helpful here too , as is reading regional regulations, which often vary from area to area. Unfortunately, the risk of uprooting a protected plant is very high. A note of common sense: since the hikes are long, the bouquet of flowers or our medicinal herbs are almost always destined to wither.

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