Travel Green – Travel Into the Wild!
Now first things first, I’m not suggesting you go all nutty and head into the wild unprepared such as in the amazing, but ultimately badly ending book Into The Wild. Don’t do that. However, getting out into the wild is not only a greener travel excursion than hanging at a tourist trap, but it’s fun, educational, and an adventure.
According to Wilderness.net, “Wilderness is the land that was – wild land beyond the frontier…land that shaped the growth of our nation and the character of its people. Wilderness is the land that is – rare, wild places where one can retreat from civilization, reconnect with the Earth, and find healing, meaning and significance.”
Benefits of wilderness and wilderness excursions include:
- Recreational – Wilderness areas provide amazing recreational opportunities humans. You can hike, backpack, camp, climb mountains, ride horses, ski, raft, canoe, take pictures, view wildlife or stargaze, hunt, fish, chill out, and see new sights.
- Eco-benefits of a wilderness vacation – Wilderness improves air quality, decreases the “greenhouse effect,” provides water for many urban areas, and protects wildlife.
- Visit Wilderness.net to learn more about the benefits of wilderness areas such as educational benefits, geographical benefits, scientific benefits, and cultural and historical values and benefits.
Why sign on for a wilderness vacation?
You can vacation green just about anywhere, choose a green city, or visit an eco-hotel, but visiting the wild is super green because it makes a case for protecting these areas. If people don’t visit wild areas, and learn to adore them, people won’t sign on to preserve them.
The National Wilderness Preservation System, created in 1964 first protected 54 areas (9.1 million acres) in 13 states. 756 areas (109,478,939 acres) in all are protected as of today, in 44 states and Puerto Rico. While the laws do protect these wild areas, it’s not all inclusive. Many threats can damage wilderness areas, such as overuse, fire suppression, invasive species, pollution, and lack of public awareness. Plus the demand for economic growth and the growing human population puts pressure on wild spaces. People also need to be on board with supporting the wild, and choosing a responsible trip into the wild helps.
Coming up soon – how to find wilderness areas to visit and how travel responsibly in said wild areas.
You tell me: Are you more interested in green travel in the wild or in urban areas?
[image via free pixels]