on your travels Tread lightly

By Andrea Weiss, Media Manager: WWF South Africa

YOU REGARD YOURSELF AS A RESPONSIBLE, ENVIRONMENTALLY CONSCIOUS TRAVELLER AND ENJOY GETTING OUT INTO NATURE. BUT EVEN WITH THE BEST INTENTIONS, IT IS SOMETIMES A CHALLENGE TO MAKE THE RIGHT CHOICES WHEN YOU’RE ON THE MOVE. THAT NEEDN’T BE THE CASE. HERE ARE THREE AREAS YOU CAN FOCUS ON TO MAKE YOUR NEXT HOLIDAY AS ‘GREEN’ AS POSSIBLE.

Be Food Smart

What would a holiday be without enjoying some wonderful meals with family and friends? And yet, we also know that the way in which we produce and consume food has one of the greatest impacts on our environment.

This is for a range of reasons – from the clearing of virgin land to make way for new crops to unsustainable fishing practices and excessive food waste. Fortunately, we have some ideas and handy apps to help you make your food choices a little easier.

Follow the sugarbird

You can start by choosing to support one of WWF’s 55 Conservation Champion farms in the Western Cape that have signed up to ensure that they implement regenerative agriculture practices. This includes lowering their energy and water footprints and safeguarding natural areas on their farms, particularly in the Cape Floral Region which is one of the world’s botanical treasure chests.

WWF’s Conservation Champions are entitled to use the Cape sugarbird logo on their wines to show that they are taking their environmental responsibilities seriously – so look out for the logo when you’re selecting your wine for your evening meal. You can also download the Champion Wine Farm Guide (http://championwineguide.co.za/) which gives you all the details about participating farms – including many of the ecotourism activities they offer to visitors, from mountain biking to hiking, picnics and more.

Greenlight your seafood

For many, a beach holiday is synonymous with a delicious plate of seafood. But we also know that many species are currently being overfished, which can make ordering that meal a bit tricky. Fortunately, there are choices you can make – like eating locally produced mussels over prawns – that will ensure that you are doing your bit to protect our oceans.

An easy way to check whether the fish that you want to order is sustainably fished is by using the WWF Southern African Sustainable Seafood Initiative app (or SASSI app). It works by using a basic traffic light system to guide consumers. If a species is listed green it’s your best choice, orange means you should think twice, and red means don’t buy. You’ll find the SASSI app in your app store or go to https://wwfsassi.co.za/ sassi-app/.

Keep it seasonal

A holiday is a great opportunity to frequent local markets and buy local, seasonal produce which helps to reduce your food footprint. Get creative when planning your meals so that they reflect the seasonal bounty that we have in South Africa and factor more vegetables into your diet – for your own health and the health of the planet.

Limit food waste

Food waste is a big issue in South Africa, with almost a third of food going to waste (that’s 10 million tons of edible food a year!). In a country, where so many go hungry this is an appalling statistic. running so that they can be enjoyed by everyone.

Don’t over shop if you’re self-catering but rather plan your meals carefully so as to limit what lands in the bin. Remember, many places are not well geared up for managing waste so the less that goes into the bin the better. A little bit of foresight and planning can make all the difference.

Many of our parks are important for a range of reasons because they protect natural systems – like the mountains and rivers that produce the freshwater we all depend on for our health and economic wellbeing. Some are home to iconic wildlife species – like rhinos and elephants – that help to bring in the tourists. By looking after these areas, we are looking after people and nature.

South Africa is a country of spectacular beauty – and we have some of the most accessible and affordable parks in the world. Explore them!

Similarly, by choosing holiday activities

Local Is Lekker

Tourism is a big revenue earner for protected areas. We saw how our national parks came under pressure during the Covid lockdowns when they were closed to visitors and the usual money wasn’t coming in.

Fortunately, this trend is being reversed and the visitors are coming back. By choosing to spend a holiday in a provincial or national park, the money you pay towards entry fees and accommodation will help to keep these national treasures up and

Did you know?

According to reports only 9% of all plastic produced globally is recycled.

closer to home, you can support the local economy and reduce your carbon footprint. There are few better ways of recharging your batteries than spending time in nature. Go on a camping trip, take a hike, go for a bike ride in nature. You’ll feel all the better for it. You can also learn more and reconnect with nature by visiting your nearest national botanical garden or an aquarium.

3.

Mind The Plastic

It’s natural to let your everyday habits slip a little when you’re on holiday – like buying water and putting the bottle into the bin when you’re done.

Did you know that South Africans generate the equivalent of 41kg of plastic waste per citizen a year, and the materials you throw away persist in nature long after they have been discarded?

You can reverse this trend by ensuring that you follow the mantra of refusing single-use plastics as far as possible and investing in reusable items. Pack your reusable coffee travel mug so that you don’t have to buy disposable cups when you’re on the move.

Keep your trusty water bottle to hand and refill it when you have access to clean, fresh water from the tap. Take along reusable containers and zip-lock bags to store your food to keep it fresh for longer. Sit down for a meal and use real cutlery rather than grabbing the takeaway. The break will do you good.

And, finally, don’t forget to have fun!

Travel is all about recharging those batteries, creating new memories and having unique experiences. It’s widely acknowledged that spending time in nature is good for our physical and emotional wellbeing. Travel can also be a force for good when it supports communities and the local economy. If you internalise some of these ideas so that they become second nature, you’ll be well on the way to making ours a better world. Enjoy!