Eco-tourism

World Wise Ecotourism Network LLP is a Division of Far East Development, which for the last twenty years has supported the development of eco-tourism in Eastern Russia. The company was involved in the first stages of expedition cruise development from 1990 to 1998, and the building of cooperative partnerships between nature preserves and budding eco-tourism companies.

Our involvement with the expedition cruise industry covers more than 25 years. Travel by expedition ships which use zodiacs for their travelers to go ashore is one of the least invasive types of tourism. First of all people who take these types of cruises are naturally interested in protecting wildlife, flora and fauna. They are briefed on each destination to assure that they stay within limitations that protect these natural areas, and that they do not leave anything than footprints behind. Expedition travelers are also the kind of people, who share their interests with others and sometimes benefit the regions they visit by making donations to conservation organizations active in the area, such as WWF. In addition the cruise companies that we work with, for example, Oceanwide-Expeditions is a member of a variety of organizations such as AECO was founded in 2003 and is an international organization for expedition cruise operators. Oceanwide Expeditions is a member of AECO (Association of Arctic Expedition Cruise Operators) and complies with environmental guidelines and regulations set by the organization for the Arctic.

Oceanwide Expeditions also partners with BASP (British Association of Ski Patrollers) organized in Scotland, and benefits from their first aid training program that is provided to Oceanwide Expedition Leaders who receive a certificate after successful participation.

BASP is well known to outdoor enthusiasts who require knowledge of first aid in a remote environment, and provide quality training in Outdoor First Aid and Ski Rescue.

Oceanwide donates to environmental conservation programs and bird protection projects (i.e. Save the Albatross campaign) researching by catch of seabirds in fisheries.

BirdLife International is a global Partnership of conservation organizations that strives to conserve birds, their habitats and global biodiversity, working with people towards sustainability in the use of natural resources. Birds are beautiful, inspirational and international. Birds are excellent flagships and vital environmental indicators.

Clean Up Svalbard Oceanwide initiated and is an active member of "Clean up Svalbard "campaign, which is now a project of the Governor of Spitsbergen. Today there are also some other vessel operators that contribute to the initiative. In 2009 Oceanwide Expeditions was appointed to a clean up a stretch of the coast of Edgeøya and Barentsøya for at least an hour.

Oceanwide Expeditions is as a member of IAATO (International Association of Antarctic Tour Operators) and complies with the organization's guidelines. The company promotes and follows the practice of safe and environmentally responsible private-sector travel to the Antarctic. IAATO, in cooperation with ship operators has established extensive procedures and guidelines that ensure appropriate, safe and environmentally sound travel to and in the Antarctic Peninsula.

World Wise Ecotourism Network, under the name of Far East Development at that time, worked with WWF from January, 2000 to the end of 2001, on ecotourism development in the nature preserves/reserves and parks in the Primorsky and Khabarovsky Krais. In the final phase of this project, an Amur River Cruise was organized under the auspices of WWF. Activities during the cruise involved discussions between travelers and scientists about issues such as the need for cooperation in the field of ecotourism development. Practical applications included stops at the Komsomolsky, Bolonsky and Bolshekhektsirsky Preserves and several villages inhabited by the Nanai and Ulchi indigenous peoples.

After our work with WWF, we established World Wise Ecotourism Network as an organization to consult with the Russian government, non-profit organizations and tourism companies interested in ecotourism development. We organized and managed a large conference in Vladivostok in 2005 which focused on ecotourism development and which was attended by at least 200 attendees from various regions, including members of the international travel community. Heritage Expeditions participated in this conference, and as a result has been able to operate quite successfully in the region since then. We also developed various training modules including "building your eco-tourism business", and "how to market eco tourism"; which were part of regional and local presentations and have spoken on a variety of issues at various eco-tourism events.

From 2004 through 2006, we partnered with Martha Madsen from Explore Kamchatka on a UNDP project which focused on building ecotourism in the nature preserves/reserves and parks of Kamchatka. Under this cooperation we managed a series of seminars which focused on the necessity for travel partners to work in concert with scientists to share skills and to work together as partners, each with a different set of skills. We also provided the first steps on a comprehensive Web site to include information about the various reserves/preserves and parks included in the project.

• We respect the fragility of nature. We realize that unless we are all willing to help in the preservation and conservation of the areas we visit, others may not be able to visit them in the future.
• We support preservation and conservation programs of natural areas that need protection.
• We ask our travelers to leave only footprints and take only photographs. We ask that travelers do not take anything away from the areas we visit as souvenirs.
• We support use of natural resources in a sustainable way
• We respect the privacy and dignity of others. All our programs are organized with the permission of the people involved.
• We educate our travelers about the geography, customs and cultures of the areas they are to visit. We ask them, by their example, to encourage local conservation.
• We use only designated trails. We do not disturb animals, plants or birds in their natural environment.
• We use fire responsibly. And if we are using fire we keep fires small and contained.
• We use campsites that have already been used.
• We pick up our trash and that of others.
• We walk wherever possible and are sensitive to poisonous fumes which may harm the environment

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