An encounter that changed everything – The story of Douglas Maclagan

Nepal is a country of majestic mountains, spiritual places and warm people that attracts travelers from all over the world. One such traveler was Douglas Maclagan from England. It could have been a “normal” trip had a woman not pressed her sick infant into his arms. “Help!” Her look seemed to say. But all he could do was hand it back to her. “I’m not a doctor,” he said helplessly. The child died that night.

Douglas learned that at the time (1993), infant mortality in Nepal was extremely high. Approximately 34% of children did not reach school age. Preventable causes such as infectious diseases, diarrhea, and pneumonia were responsible. There was a lack of both a reliable health care system and adequate facilities for the care and treatment of children.

An inheritance opened up new possibilities

Shortly after that fateful encounter, Douglas’s grandfather died, leaving him a house in England. With the money from the sale of the house, he did what he had wanted to do since the day the woman gave him her sick child: he flew to Nepal and opened two daycare centers for young children in 1995. These grew into today’s Right4Children organization, which has helped more than 40,000 children to date.

Die Daycare-Zentren bestehen aus kindgerechten Betreuungsräumen mit geschultem Personal, wo Eltern ihre Kinder im Alter von 1 bis 5 Jahren tagsüber hinbringen können. . Es gibt Spiele, warme Mahlzeiten und eine hygienische Umgebung mit Gesundheitsvorsorge. Der erste Bericht zeigte: Kein einziges der betreuten Kinder starb.

Daycare centers for strong and healthy children

People in neighboring villages also wanted daycare centers for their children, so Douglas approached the provincial government about opening more centers. However, the government told him that he would first have to set up more daycare centers throughout the province and provide a detailed report on their development to demonstrate the benefits of these facilities. The only support he received from the monarchy was recognition of his work as an NGO. But he still had to raise the money for the centers himself.

In 1996, he used his last money to fly to Hong Kong (then still British) to promote his project. On the side, he waited tables at the Hard Rock Cafe. Through newspaper and television reports, he was able to publicize his idea and raise funds. First one daycare center was added, then three more. Gordon Oldham became Chairman of the Child Welfare Scheme (CWS) in Hong Kong and is still Chairman of the entire Pavilions Hotels & Resorts Group.

Love in Nepal – Douglas and Incuba

During this time, Douglas also met another important person: Incuba. The Nepalese was one of the women who had been trained as caregivers in the daycare centers. They shared not only a vision for the children of Nepal, but also love. Today, they are married and have three daughters. From the beginning, Douglas had a partner who knew the local conditions and people. This turned out to be very important because war was coming.

Nepal in the grip of civil war (1996-2006) – Sustained commitment in difficult times

Until 2008, Nepal was a Hindu kingdom ruled by a brutal king. In 1996, the Communist Party rose up against him. A Maoist guerrilla force attacked police stations, robbed banks, and drove out landlords. They demanded the removal of the ruling elite and land reform. A ten-year civil war ensued, leaving more than 16,000 dead, 100,000 refugees, and scores of missing persons and political prisoners.

Douglas and Incuba look back on those days in their eco-booklet:

“Many NGOs left the country out of fear, but CWS stayed to help people when they needed it most. In remote areas, hundreds of children were recruited as soldiers. Fear led to a mass exodus from villages to cities in the hope of safety and protection. Unfortunately, the reality was that many children left school and became child laborers, street children, or domestic slaves. Young girls and women were trafficked across borders and forced into prostitution.”

During this time, they built:

• A center for street children
• A vocational training center for practical trades such as plumbing and electrician (running until 2015)
• The Asha Primary Health Clinic in Pokhara (still in operation)

Tourism as a source of income

When the global financial crisis hit in 2008, many of the donations Douglas and Incuba had been receiving (mostly from the UK and Hong Kong) suddenly stopped. The couple recalls this as a wake-up call. They felt the need to start a company that could fund charitable projects.

Financial support from the family

Before Douglas’ mother died in 2011, she visited the couple in Nepal and showed them the property near Pokhara that is now the Green PearlsⓇ Resort Pavilions Himalayas – The Farm. “I will leave you money,” she said in essence. “Money to start a business that will fund the charity projects that have already done so much good for the people of Nepal.”

Thus, the property with agricultural land in Chisapani was purchased and The Pavilions Himalayas – The Farm was born. It opened in 2015. The resort consists of 15 spacious villas that combine traditional Nepalese style with luxury. There is a swimming pool, outdoor hot tub, spa area with sauna, gym, yoga and meditation room, clubhouse and restaurant. It became part of the Pavilions Global Collection, which includes boutique resorts in other locations around the world, including Bali and Phuket.

Organic farming and sustainability

Nepal is a largely agricultural country. “About 70 percent of Nepal’s working population is engaged in small-scale subsistence farming,” writes the UN. The Chisapani property has been transformed into a certified organic farm. Douglas and Incuba have been a role model for local farmers, showing them an alternative yet profitable way to transition from traditional agriculture to organic farming.

The local farmers employed on the farm have learned all about organic farming and have received business training. The first recipient of the harvest is the hotel kitchen. So by staying at Pavilions Himalayas – The Farm, you are not only eating absolutely fresh food, you are also supporting the farmers and nature.

Green Initiatives

But it is not just the farming that makes the lodge sustainable. The electricity is generated by solar panels, there is a biogas plant on the property that produces energy for cooking, gray water is used and biodegradable cleaning products are produced.

“We set out to create one of the most environmentally friendly hotels in the world, and I think we’ve succeeded.” – Douglas Maclagan, interviewed by Nepali Times

Looking back on 30 years of helping children and 10 years of running a hotel

Douglas began working with the daycare centers in 1995, and Pavilions Himalayas – The Farm opened in 2015. In a press release in February 2025, they looked back on the project. They highlighted the now-completed Child Friendly School project, which has reached more than 14,000 students, and a new initiative to combat human trafficking. This initiative has already reached more than 4,400 young women and girls.

Travel and do good

Nepal attracts travelers from all over the world. But behind the breathtaking scenery lies a moving story. The Pavilions Himalayas – The Farm is not only a sustainable retreat for travelers, but also a source of support for the community.

Here you have the opportunity to have an unforgettable vacation in Nepal while doing something good for the environment and the local people.

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When fate strikes

A stroke of fate can happen to anyone. Like Karl Polaska-Auer, whose fourth child became seriously ill. That’s when the head of a successful PR agency for luxury hotels realized that “there is more to life than material success.” Together with his wife Krystyna, he founded the Global Family Charity Resort 17 years ago, which offers free vacations to families in difficult personal or financial situations. Since then, 300 hoteliers have hosted some 1,200 families. Three of these hotels are Green PearlsⓇ partners.

Global Family Partner Hotels of Green PearlsⓇ in Austria and Germany

The Biohotel Grafenast in Tyrol has been a partner for five years. Every year we receive three or four requests and then invite one or two families to stay with us for a week,” says owner Peter Unterlechner. The guests include single mothers in difficult situations or families with children who need a lot of care.

The family-run Biohotel Grafenast is located 1,330 meters above the Inn Valley. In summer, the Tyrolean mountains open up for hiking and nature experiences. In winter, the hotel is in the heart of the ski area, with a tobogganing hill and children’s ski school right outside the door.

“We provide the families with free room and board, as well as support with activities and services,” says host Peter Unterlechner. It is nice to see the families enjoying a carefree time and a break from their difficult everyday lives.

„Especially the children can hardly believe it and are overjoyed.“ – Biohotel Grafenast

Treat children to a luxury vacation

The luxurious yet sustainable 5-star Hotel Klosterbräu in Seefeld, Austria, is also a member of the Global Family. Family is very important to the hosts. The Seyrling family is now the sixth generation to run the wellness hotel within the 500-year-old monastery walls, and a total of nine family members actively look after guests in the popular Tyrolean vacation region.

For example, while parents relax in the pool or saunas, kids can hang out in the billiards room or visit the animals in the hotel’s petting zoo (read more about the hotel’s Kids Club in this blog post).

Relaxation in the Black Forest

Global Family’s partner in Germany is the Green PearlsⓇ Hotel SCHWARZWALD PANORAMA. The ecologically oriented hotel is located in the spa town of Bad Herrenalb, known for its fresh air, healing springs and thermal baths. There is also a thermal swimming pool directly in the wellness hotel. Furthermore, the beautiful Black Forest is the perfect setting for active nature experiences.

„We invite families to join us for a free vacation, thus enabling victims of violence, poverty, disasters, wars, persecution and terminal illnesses to have a vacation.” – SCHWARZWALD PANORAMA

Community engagement is sustainability

As we described in our blog post on social sustainability, the “three pillars of sustainability” model places social on an equal footing with ecology (environment) and economics (business).

“We see Global Family as an organization that is committed to human rights and aid projects in the tourism sector and that promotes sustainability,” says Karl Polaska-Auer in an interview with Green PearlsⓇ.

“Holidays for underprivileged families can have a lasting positive impact. For many of these families, it has been a stepping stone out of hardship, especially for victims of violence who were able to experience that humanity still exists.” – Karl Polaska-Auer

Instead of donating money, hotels can help directly by offering a free vacation. Global Family raises the money to cover the additional costs – especially travel – through fundraising events where celebrities rally support.

Each year, the Weihrerhof Hotel invites five families from the Peter Pan Children’s Cancer Fund

In South Tyrol, the Peter Pan Association supports children with cancer and their families. The Hotel Weihrerhof on Lake Costalovara in Renon is one of its partners. Lake Costalovara is one of the cleanest bathing lakes in Italy and is transformed into a giant ice rink in winter.

Every year, five families with children suffering from cancer receive a free vacation at the Hotel Weihrerhof. The Ritten Card also includes free use of all local transportation on the Ritten Plateau, including the cable car, and free admission to numerous museums.

Support the local parent-child center

The APIPURA hotel rinner is also committed to families and, as a partner of the Elki Ritten, provides free accommodation for the teachers of the parent-child center.

Become a holiday sponsor

As a traveler, you can also share your privilege with other families. Global Family has developed a vacation sponsorship concept where one family (who can afford it) invites another family (who normally cannot afford it) on a vacation. You then book the exact same thing for a second family, in addition to your own train tickets and accommodations. The organization will help you find out who might be a good match for you (and if you could get a grant for your project).

👉Learn more about holiday sponsorships here.

In the end, all participants report that they get “an incredible amount back” from giving. Tourism is particularly suited to such activities because it involves sharing and getting to know one another.

You know how important and beneficial a vacation can be – imagine if you never had one. Wouldn’t you wish for a door to open and make it possible?

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But simply avoiding the popular vacation destination will not solve the problem – tourism not only provides a livelihood for the majority of the island’s inhabitants, it also helps fund preservation projects. Here we introduce you to the Maldives and show you what a sustainable vacation in the Maldives can look like. In addition, we will introduce you to Gili Lankanfushi Eco Resort and other sustainable initiatives and projects.

The Maldives are in danger!

The Maldives consists of 26 atolls with nearly 1,200 coral islands. The capital, Male, one of the highest points in the archipelago, is only 2.40 meters above sea level. The islands are threatened for several reasons:

• By 2050, about 80 percent of the Maldives could be uninhabitable. This is what the Maldivian ambassador to the EU, Omar Abdul Razzak, says in this interview with FR.
• Rising sea levels threaten a large part of the country’s territory. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) of the United Nations states in its IPCC report: “Sea levels will rise between 0.43m and 0.84m by 2100”. However, it also states that a rise of 2m by 2100 “cannot be ruled out”.
• Fresh water is extremely scarce in the Maldives. Natural freshwater is only available from freshwater lenses, which are drawn from wells. However, most freshwater is extracted from saltwater, which is an energy-intensive process. Rising sea levels and more extreme weather with flooding could make the few freshwater lenses salty and unusable.
• Earthquakes and tsunamis are a threat to the Maldives due to its geographical location (seismically active zone).
• Corals suffer from the warming of the oceans. Their death upsets the natural balance and affects the entire ecosystem.
• Marine debris is increasingly washing ashore in the Maldives, creating a huge garbage problem. (The NGO Parley, run by Shaahina Ali, is committed to tackling this problem).

As you can see, the problems of the Maldives are closely linked to climate change. So the most important thing you can do for the Maldives (even from home) is to live a generally sustainable life, keep your carbon footprint low, avoid waste and plastic, and support climate-friendly policies and projects.

Can a holiday in the Maldives be sustainable?

This question is probably asked by everyone who thinks about a trip to the Maldives. A long-haul flight to the islands in the Indian Ocean is an ecological problem. According to the German Federal Environment Agency, a flight from Germany to the Maldives and back has a “climate impact of about three tons of CO2 equivalents”. (This is the equivalent of driving a mid-range car about 15,000 kilometers). Nevertheless, we believe that travel to the Maldives should not be demonized.

Tourism is very important for the country. It is the main source of income. According to GIZ, the Maldives receives 90 percent of all tax and customs revenue from tourism. The money helps to clean the beaches of marine debris, build sea walls, promote renewable energy, etc.

Therefore, not traveling to the Maldives, or even banning travel to the Maldives, is not the answer. Instead, we advocate making a conscious decision to travel to the Maldives, addressing your impact as a tourist, and making your trip sustainable. We will show you how to do this using Gili Lankanfushi as an example.

Sustainable Maldives Vacation at Gili Lankanfushi

The sustainable luxury resort of Gili Lankanfushi consists of 45 eco-villas on the water and is committed to environmental protection (no disposable products, economical use of water and electricity) as well as social projects. These include purchasing local products, training staff, and supporting a school.

Maldives: A strong commitment to marine life

In addition to this commitment to everyday hotel life, there are many exciting environmental projects initiated and supported by the hotel. With Gili Veshi, Gili Lankanfushi has opened a marine biology center that promotes research and gives you the opportunity to get involved: Here you can participate in monthly coral reef clean-ups, help with seagrass planting, or assist with coral colonization.

If you want to learn more about Gili Lankanfushi’s sustainable diving projects, we already wrote about them on this blog article about sustainable diving vacation.

Close encounters with the greats of the sea

A special feature of the Maldives: With a bit of luck, even snorkelers can get close to whale sharks – at up to 13 meters in length, they are the largest sharks in the world – or be surrounded by majestic manta rays. One of the most famous sighting spots is Hanifaru Bay in Baa Atoll. During the western monsoon from May to November, plankton collects in the funnel-shaped lagoon and magically attracts the animals. Up to 200 manta rays and 20 whale sharks have been spotted here simultaneously! To protect the animals, resorts and dive centers in Baa Atoll have joined forces with the NGO BAARU, which sorts and disposes of marine debris.

Sustainable vacations in the Maldives: take action for the corals yourself

Without coral, the Maldives would not exist, as the islands are part of atolls, ring-shaped coral reefs. Only healthy reefs can help counteract the effects of rising sea levels and the sinking of islands into the sea. However, the effects of climate change and heavy pollution have already destroyed a large part of the reefs. As a result, some resorts are working on specific projects to help corals recover. At Gili Lankanfushi, you can watch marine biologists grow new corals and learn about these special creatures at regular lectures. As a scuba diver, you can also get involved underwater, for example by cleaning the Coral Lines.

Get to know the country and its people

Most travelers do not know how people live in the Maldives. This is not due to the ignorance of the diving and swimming tourists (as one might think), but is a political decision. Since the Islamic country opened up to tourism in 1972, a clear distinction has been made between islands for tourists and islands for locals.

Contrary to what is often assumed in the West, Islam itself is a very tolerant religion. The motto is “Lakum Dinakum, wa lia Din” (for you your religion/way of life, for us our religion/way of life). This means that you can enter the Maldives as an unmarried couple, sunbathe in a bikini, drink alcohol, etc.

Originally, tourists were not allowed on native islands, and natives were not allowed on tourist islands, except as workers. This has since been liberalized.

Gili Lankanfushi is located in the North Malé Atoll. If you want to meet the locals, you can either go to the capital Male or take a boat trip to Dhiffuhi Island. About 1,000 people live here. There are three mosques, two schools, shops, cafes, a hospital, farming and fishing. Alcohol is forbidden here and although there is no legal dress code, you should dress more modestly out of respect (Men: shorts up to the knees, women: shoulders, neckline and knees covered).

A sustainable vacation in the Maldives is not just a nice-to-have

Luxury, palm trees, white beaches and a turquoise sea are the hallmarks of the Maldives. But this image is being threatened by unscrupulous tourism and reckless travel decisions. Sustainable travel to the Maldives (and other island paradises) is an absolute must. So if you decide to travel to the Maldives, plan a longer stay and get involved in a country that definitely has too much to offer for you to just visit the beach in front of your hotel 😉 .

This article is an update of January 2018

Read more: THE JOURNEY IS THE REWARD: REACHING THESE 5 ECO-HOTELS IS AN ADVENTURE

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This is the eighth installment in our series “Tips for a sustainable weekend getaway“. Look for a new green idea every three weeks on our blog!

Workation days in the Allgäu

But what could a Workation weekend look like in detail? If you can’t think of anything right now, we’ve come up with something together with Das Rübezahl. 4 nights, inspiring surroundings, delicious food and mountain views – not only will you be able to work productively, but also come back feeling refreshed.

Wednesday (arrival):

After work, off it goes. Off to Füssen in the Allgäu – to the beautiful landscape of the German Alps and the fairytale panorama of the German royal castles of Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau.

For a sustainable trip, you should take the train. It also has the advantage of allowing you to leave the office earlier and get the rest of your work done during the trip. The Füssen train station is just 3 kilometers from the Hotel Das Rübezahl in Schwangau, and the hotel offers a free shuttle service to support a climate-friendly trip!

👉 Another environmentally friendly way to get to Füssen is to take the long-distance bus, as we described in this blog post.

After checking in (from 3pm) and exploring the hotel, you can enjoy dinner in the cozy Louis II restaurant until 9pm. The menu of the day is always made with fresh organic ingredients from the region, and there’s always a vegetarian/vegan option. (Personally, though, I would go for the Allgäuer Kässpatzen – the classic on the menu.)

Thursday (Workation Day 1)

Wake up at the usual time – only not at home, but at the hotel, where you can enjoy your first coffee with a view of the mountains and a delicious breakfast buffet. It’s a completely different feeling when you open your work laptop, isn’t it?

It is this fusion of work and vacation (work + vacation = workation) that makes this type of travel so appealing. Instead of going to the office, you just find a nice spot in the hotel with your laptop and work materials. At Das Rübezahl you can choose between:

• The desk in the hotel room
• Terrace, balcony or conservatory of your hotel room (there are 54 individual rooms in total)
• The conference room of the hotel
• Outside in the wellness garden or garden barn
• In the pavilion with a mountain backdrop

After work, you can relax in the wellness area with panoramic sauna and natural swimming pond.

Friday (Workation Day 2)

If Thursday’s remote work went well, today is a special day – in the remote office on the mountain! (After all, you want your colleagues to be jealous, too. 🙂)

For this, you put the laptop in your backpack and climb up the Tegelberg to the Rohrkopfhütte right after breakfast. The hut at 1,320 meters is part of the hotel and as a Workation guest you can spend a whole day here in the mountains (with WLAN).

There are two hiking trails to the Rohrkopfhütte – we recommend the easy ascent via the road. Here you hike moderately uphill for about an hour.

Saturday (vacation day):

Your weekend begins differently this time, because even though you’ve been working for hours, you’re already in a vacation mood and settled into your hotel. You now have a number of options for Saturday:

• Hiking or cycling. The hotel offers bike rental at the reception (bikes and e-bikes) and guided hiking and biking tours with active guide Bergbaschdi.

👉 You can get to know the active guide Bergbaschdi in this interview.

• Visit the royal castles of Neuschwanstein, Hohenschwangau or the Museum of the Bavarian Kings in Hohenschwangau. Tickets are also available at the reception. Info: A visit to the castles is only possible in combination with a guided tour – it takes about 45 minutes.
• Spend a relaxing day in the wellness garden and maybe take a 10 minute walk to the Rübezahl apiary. On some days, the hotel’s own beekeeper, Sebastian, offers a tour of the apiary.

Sunday (departure day):

Check-out is possible until 11 a.m., allowing you to safely store your luggage until departure and continue to enjoy the spa and all hotel amenities.

When you return to the office on Monday, it will be like you were on vacation – without losing a single day of work!

7 tips for a sustainable workation

1. Leave your home without leaving appliances on standby to avoid unnecessary power consumption.
2. Choose a sustainable travel option such as train or long-distance bus.
3. Bring travel food from home and avoid the use of single-use packaging for food and beverages while on the road.
4. Bring your own slippers for the spa area so you don’t have to use the hotel’s disposable slippers.
5. Choose sustainable accommodations, such as the Hotel Das Rübezahl.
6. Send emails and messages without needlessly large images or videos. Here are some ways to reduce the carbon footprint of your emails.
7. Use your vacation time for environmentally friendly activities, such as hiking, and avoid less sustainable things (such as helicopter tours, to take an extreme example).

PS: The benefits of fresh air for the brain have been proven, for example, by this study from the Max Planck Institute for Human Development.

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Study: Migratory birds under threat

An estimated 50 billion migratory birds are on the move every year. Twice a year, they travel back and forth between their wintering and breeding grounds, covering impressive distances. But according to a British study published in 2022, an increasing number of migratory birds are not surviving their journeys – and humans are largely to blame!

The man-made threats to migratory birds are

• Loss of habitat (breeding, resting, wintering)
• Wind turbines
• High voltage power lines
• Glass panes
• Light pollution
• Climate change
• Hunting
• Electrosmog
• Pesticides in the soil

Here’s what you can learn about sustainable travel from migratory birds

Although we humans are migratory birds’ worst enemy (albeit unintentionally), there is much we can learn from them.

Save energy: The German Aerospace Center (DLR) announced in 2021 that it will study the resource-saving flight patterns of migratory birds for commercial aircraft. According to the DLR, migratory birds in a V formation not only fly in the slipstream of the lead bird, but also literally “surf” on the air vortex it creates. This saves enormous amounts of energy and is therefore very interesting for civil aviation.

Traveling light: A godwit holds the current world record for migratory birds: in just nine days, it flew 11,000 kilometers from Alaska to New Zealand without a single stop. Scientists figured that out with the help of a mini-transmitter. But they also discovered this: To reduce its “weight,” the godwit’s organs and even its heart shrink! (The sawed-off toothbrush in UL Trekking is nothing against it!)

Orientation: It is not well understood how migrating birds orient themselves. However, it seems that they do not rely on a single orientation system (as we do today with GPS), but use a combination. On the one hand, they have a stored map, and on the other hand, they orient themselves by the stars, the position of the sun and the earth’s magnetic field!

Swifts sleep in flight

Moving on to the different types of migratory birds, let’s start with one of my personal favorites: the swift! You could see them this summer in Germany. At STURM in the Rhön, they circle the STURM tower from spring to fall.

Swifts spend most of their lives in the air – they eat in the air (they catch insects in flight), they mate in the air and they sleep in the air. But when they sleep, one eye stays awake! In fact, these remarkable birds sleep with only one half of their brain while the other keeps watch.

Swifts nest on steep walls. They are helpless on the ground with their puny little feet. If you ever find a swift that has crashed, it is best to take it to a professional bird rescue center, as feeding them is especially complicated.

Goldfinches wintering in Germany

When the swifts have left for Africa in the fall, the goldfinches come from Northern and Eastern Europe and spend the winter in Western Europe. Germany is warm enough for them, and they find plenty of food in STURM’s extensive hotel garden (birder’s tip: goldfinches prefer to sit in the treetops).

“Our last count in April/May 2023 showed 17 different bird species in the hotel garden” – STURM

In general, the Rhön Biosphere Reserve is an excellent area for bird watching and is also home to the “Thuringian Rhön” bird sanctuary, which covers almost 20,000 ha.

Cranes resting on the Baltic Sea

A well-known highlight for birdwatchers is the crane resting on the Baltic Sea. During the fall migration, thousands of cranes migrate from Sweden to Spain and rest at the Baltic Sea for several weeks between September and October. This is where the family-friendly cottages of Gut Nisdorf are located.

“The flocks of cranes fly low over our manor almost every day. There is no better place to watch cranes.” – Gut Nisdorf

Many tourists travel specifically for this event, and you can also book guided boat trips to see the cranes or attend lectures if you are interested.

Northern Birds Cross the Black Forest in Fall Migration

According to the sustainable hotel SCHWARZWALD PANORAMA, the Black Forest National Park is the perfect place to watch the fall migration of Nordic birds. Most of them cross the Black Forest without stopping. However, species such as the starling, the chaffinch or the wood pigeon can be easily observed as they fly in large flocks during the day. The nightingale or the cuckoo, on the other hand, are difficult to spot because they fly alone and travel at night.

Whinchat resting in the Black Forest

One bird that rests in the Black Forest on its flight from Finland to Africa is the whinchat. The whinchat is the “NABU Bird of the Year 2023” and an endangered species. This is mainly because the whinchat builds its nests on the ground in meadows and feeds on insects from the ground. Meadows are disappearing in favor of farmland, and the use of pesticides deprives it of its food source.

 

Waterfowl sanctuaries along the Lech

The fall migration can also be easily observed in the Allgäu region. Hotel Das Rübezahl is located in the middle of mountains, lakes and the royal castles of Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau. Here, the fall migration is “always something special,” they tell us. “Many flocks of birds rest right in front of our fields. There are also 18 waterfowl sanctuaries on the nearby Lech River.

A much-traveled winter guest in the Lech Valley, for example, is the whooper swan. Its breeding grounds are in the Siberian taiga. Unlike other swans, the Whooper Swan has a large vocal repertoire. Its call is often compared to a trombone.

The largest bird of prey in the Lech Valley is the eagle owl. It feeds on the waterfowl that winter here.

Seabird watching in Tenerife

While Germany is warm enough for some migratory birds, most migrate to even warmer areas – preferably as far away as Africa. The Canary Islands (home of my personal favorite bird: the canary – bright yellow and a master of song) is also a popular winter home. As the bird watching signs outside the OCÉANO Health Spa Hotel in Tenerife tell us, very few of the seabirds there breed on the island. Instead, migratory birds such as the heron winter here off the west coast of Africa and find their food in the Atlantic Ocean. The national government of Tenerife has established a total of 39 bird sanctuaries to protect both the local bird population and migratory birds.

According to the Green PearlsⓇ partner, as many as 200 species of migratory birds fly over the Canary Islands every year. One bird that is very common in Tenerife and can be observed from the OCÉANO Health Spa Hotel is the Monarch Swift. This is related to the swift mentioned above!

Bird sanctuary in Sicily

If you are wondering how you can help migratory birds, there is the Foundation Pro Biodiversity foundation in Bielefeld, Germany. For four million euros in donations, they bought a 390-hectare wetland in Sicily, which is an important resting and wintering place for many migratory birds (such as the flamingo). Due to illegal dumping, hunting, chemicals and poor water management, this migratory bird hotspot had become completely unsafe for plumage. In addition, about 40 volunteers in the southwest of the island protect Bonelli’s eagles from raptor poachers.

Our partner, the ADLER Spa Resort SICILIA, is located on the southern side of the Italian island. This resort is right on a wild beach that is also a bird sanctuary. The staff here also clean the beach daily from washed up marine plastic – another problem for water birds and thus another important step in preserving the biodiversity of our planet.

What do you think? Do you enjoy watching migratory birds? As always, we welcome your tips and comments!

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Everything is suddenly carbon-neutral

What was “sustainable” a few years ago is now “carbon-neutral”. However, the inflationary use of the term does not mean that all companies are suddenly actively protecting the climate and aware of their responsibility. Climate-neutral products simply sell better because we as consumers are becoming more sensitive to the climate and want to do our part to protect it. And since we can hardly do without toothpaste, we reach for the climate-neutral version.

Why is carbon-neutral not necessarily sustainable and environmentally friendly?

Being carbon-neutral does not automatically mean that a company is sustainable or environmentally friendly. It doesn’t even mean that they have actually taken action to protect the climate. Instead, a company can call itself carbon-neutral if it offsets the emissions it causes.

To put it bluntly, all a car manufacturer has to do is plant enough trees and its car is carbon-neutral.

How do I know which companies are truly carbon-neutral?

Of course, there are manufacturers, producers, and service providers (and hotels, of course) that are actually trying to make a positive difference. That means they’re not just planting trees or investing in renewable energy projects on the African continent. Climate neutrality starts at home, in the company.

One example of successful climate protection is the Creativhotel Luise in the Bavarian city of Erlangen. Before planting any trees, hotel manager Ben Förtsch and his team look for ways to reduce emissions. To accomplish this, the hotel’s carbon footprint is calculated annually and the potential for savings is examined. For example, the hotel has its own photovoltaic system for electricity. The rest of the electricity comes from hydroelectric power plants.

Like the Creativhotel, the Naturresort Schindelbruch has been awarded the Viabono environmental seal. Viabono is an independent seal of approval for environmentally, climate and nature-friendly hotels with a special focus on climate protection. As a Climate Hotel Partner, the Naturresort Schindelbruch also determines its CO2 footprint annually – and regularly ranks among the best.. This is only possible if the hotel’s own emissions have been reduced as far as possible, for example through renewable energies (photovoltaics, geothermal energy, hydropower), but also through heat recovery, energy-saving lighting, and efficient thermal insulation.

First reduce, then offset

It is not possible to completely avoid CO2 emissions. In virtually all areas of our lives, there are unavoidable emissions that cannot be eliminated. But it is only now that compensation (also known as tree planting) comes into play. That is after you have done everything you can to reduce your own emissions as much as possible. Then the question doesn’t arise whether offsetting is a kind of modern indulgence trade to ease one’s conscience.

How can you offset your emissions?

You have probably heard of organizations like Atmosfair and ClimatePartner. They are often mentioned in connection with air travel and carbon offsetting because we as private citizens can also offset our emissions.

We do not want to go into the topic of flying and the related discussion of whether to fly, where to fly, how long to fly, etc. in this article. However, if you’re interested in learning more about it, you might want to check out this blog post where we looked at the socio-economic impacts of air tourism.

Emissions can be offset in a number of ways. The best known is planting trees. But there is also the possibility that the money you spend on offsetting is invested in renewable energy projects. Berghotel Rehlegg, for example, offsets some of its emissions by building humus (i.e. storing CO2 in the soil). This has the double effect of making agriculturally depleted soils usable again.

How useful is planting trees to offset CO2?

All three featured hotels offset some or all of their emissions by planting trees in the Climate Forest in Panama. In this way, the local rainforest is protected and expanded. This is a gold standard project of Klima-Hotels, an association of hotels that are actively involved in climate protection. The Creativhotel Luise and the Naturresort Schindelbruch have even planted more trees than they actually need and can therefore call themselves climate positive. They compensate for more emissions than they cause.

But are trees the most sensible way to offset CO2? At first glance, it would seem so. But trees only store CO2 as long as they grow. This means that when trees are planted, they need care for the first few years to grow and thrive. If the tree dies, there is no compensation unless it is replaced. Furthermore, in the event of a forest fire, for example, the stored CO2 is released again.

As you can see, planting trees for climate protection is a double-edged sword. However, in Panama, in addition to climate protection, it also has the function of creating jobs and educational opportunities for the local population, as well as preserving the rainforest and creating a new habitat for animals and plants.

Get informed!

Carbon-neutral is a word that often promises more than it delivers. Not everything is climate neutral. So take a closer look at the product, research the company, and find out what the company’s commitment to climate protection really is, and whether the product is also convincing in other respects (recycling, fair production). Seals and labels such as Viabono or Green Pearls® can help you. With Green Pearls®, you will also find the protective measures of our partners clearly listed on the respective microsite. So, you have everything at a glance 😉

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Even in (water)rich countries like Germany, summers are getting drier and drier. And using precious drinking water from the tap to water the garden? That’s expensive and very wasteful.

Many of our Green PearlsⓇ partners have realized that sustainable water management is one of the most important challenges of our time. Here we show you how sustainable hotels and vacation rentals use graywater and rainwater, and what you can do yourself.

The World in Water Stress

Quick Facts:

• According to UN-Water, 2.3 billion people currently live in countries experiencing “water stress”. This means that more freshwater is needed than is available.
• Water-stressed countries either tap their groundwater reserves or extract their freshwater from saltwater, which requires a lot of energy and resources.
• Flooding and sea-level rise can contaminate land and drinking water resources and make them too salty for agriculture.
• Many rivers are fed by glaciers, ice, and snowfields – global warming has a significant impact on these and affects many people.
• Droughts lead to forest fires. These threaten the lives of local people and animals. In addition, forest areas are lost as CO2 reservoirs. Burned soil can produce less groundwater.
• Reduced groundwater levels exacerbate water scarcity and food insecurity.
• Global water demand is increasing by 1% per year. According to the United Nations, water consumption increased sixfold between 1930 and 2000. About 70% is used by agriculture and 20% by industry.

“Sustainable water management is essential (…) Everyone has a role to play – action at the individual and household level is crucial”

– UN-Water

Rainwater harvesting: We show you three options

The simplest solution: a rain barrel

Plants love rain. Not only is soft rainwater free, but it’s also better for plants than hard tap water. The easiest way to use rainwater for your garden is with a rain barrel. The Hotel Klosterbräu in Seefeld, Tyrol, has placed several 100-liter containers on its grounds and uses the collected water for garden and balcony plantings.

Tip: The most effective way to use a rain barrel is in combination with a rain gutter, which collects roof runoff and directs it into the barrel.

Harvesting rainwater using cisterns and water basins

The Naturhotel Outside in East Tyrol already has a large natural swimming pond and a Kneipp path in the outdoor area. In addition, the next excavation in the garden (expected in 2024) will include a cistern to collect rainwater for use in the garden.

If you have a large garden to water, or if you want to use rainwater for domestic purposes (such as flushing toilets), it’s worth considering a cistern. A cistern is buried in the ground and has an inlet through the roof gutter. The water first goes through a filter and is then collected. Typically, you can draw the collected rainwater from a faucet in the garden or connect it to the domestic water system in the house.

At STURM in the Rhön Biosphere Reserve, there are two cisterns that help to sustainably manage the 20,000 square meters of gardens. Only native and climate-resistant plants have been planted, and there are many hiding places and shelters for insects and animals. Another of the hotel’s measures is to avoid sealed surfaces (for example, the STURM has a gravel parking lot instead of a paved one). According to the German Federal Environmental Agency, sealing soil leads to the loss of “important soil functions”. The most important of these are “water permeability and soil fertility”.

Cisterns and IBC containers (“grid tanks”) at the Creativhotel Luise in Erlangen, Germany, can be used not only for watering the garden and microforest but also for flushing toilets.

“Cities are particularly threatened by climate change because the heat has a more extreme effect there,” says owner Ben Förtsch. “So we planted a microforest in our backyard to create a better microclimate, more biodiversity, and better air quality.”

Underground Water Treatment

Some of our Green PearlsⓇ partners have even invested in sophisticated underground water treatment systems. Especially in warm climates. At the ADLER Spa Resort SICILIA in Sicily, both rainwater and graywater are treated and reused to irrigate the large garden. By 2024, water reclamation and energy autonomy will be increased through further solar installations.

At the Eco Aparthotel The Dreamer’s Club on the island of Korcula, Croatia, the cistern system even provides water for washing machines and showers. Planting in the garden is deliberately limited to native (or indigenous) plants that require little water. “In this way, we not only use less water but also promote local biodiversity and support the health of our ecosystem,” says the eco-apartment hotel.

Effects of water shortage and countermeasures

Dried up rivers

As a result of climate change, rivers in many places are drying up, having low water levels, or disappearing altogether. In the drought summer of 2022, inland navigation was impossible on several European rivers.

Researchers cite two reasons for dwindling rivers:

• Climate Change
• People

One example is the Schwarza River in Lower Austria. Along the river, there are about 30 small power plants that own water rights and take water from the river, criticized the Schwarza water association a few years ago. The Schwarza also flows through the Gut Guntrams property. The sustainable accommodation Green PearlsⓇ is located about 60 kilometers from Vienna. The river bed of the Schwarza remains dry most of the year, the owners report.

Plants that need little water

Gut Guntrams has therefore begun to replant the riverbed with drought-resistant plants. On the estate itself, which has its own organic farm in addition to exceptional vacation accommodations, there are now a growing number of plants that can survive without water. Recently, many wild shrubs have been added, such as Rowan berries. Drip irrigation has been chosen as the form of irrigation, which is very water efficient compared to sprinkler systems.

In Gran Canaria, where our partner Casa León Royal Retreat is located, there is very little rainfall anyway. However, even the small amount of rainwater from the cistern is enough to water the garden of the 10,000 square meter property. Because of the remoteness of the Canary Islands, many endemic plants grow here. These include the Canary Island palm (Phoenix canariensis), which can grow up to 30 meters high, and various species of cactus.

Water scarcity despite rainy season

In Thailand, the weather situation is quite different. Between May and October is rainy season, where you can expect up to 24 days of rain per month. Nevertheless, the tropical country has a water problem, which is mainly related to the massive extraction of groundwater. According to the magazine “Der Spiegel”, Thailand now extracts twice as much groundwater as it did 60 years ago. “Tourism is depleting the island’s public water supply,” says the team at Keemala on Phuket. The sustainable luxury resort has an exemplary water management system that makes it 100 percent self-sufficient by collecting, filtering, and reusing both rainwater and graywater.

Plants as water filters

Another unique feature of Keemala is that special aquatic plants are grown to naturally filter and keep clean the water in the river and waterfall.

Tip: You can also use plants as pond filters in your garden. Find out which pond plants work as filters in your area. In Germany, for example, it is duckweed.

Use gray water for toilet flushing

As you probably know, the bathroom is where we use the most water. Even a modern toilet flush uses between 3 and 6 liters of water per flush, which quickly adds up to 30 liters (per person) per day. A 5-minute shower uses about 50 liters of drinking water (depending on the shower head and water pressure). For drinking, however, we only need 2 liters per day.

The use of gray water can prevent so much precious drinking water from being flushed down the toilet. At Paradiso Pure.Living on the Alpe di Siusi in South Tyrol, Italy, a special gray water system is currently being installed. In the first construction phase, the new sanitary facilities have already been equipped with additional pipes. Once the second phase is completed, the cleaned and filtered wastewater from showers and baths, known as gray water, will be used to flush toilets in the Japanese washlets.

Gray water use private

You can also install a gray water system in your home. If you are planning to build or renovate a house, there might be even state or local grant programs.

The Environmental Advisory Service of Bremen, Germany, states: “Drinking water (…) is by no means available in unlimited quantities”, which is why it is important to “conserve drinking water resources”. Furthermore, the population is urged to use rainwater for gardening and toilet flushing – this could replace almost 40 percent of the drinking water in a private household (which is not even needed for this purpose in drinking water quality).

You can find out more about the water projects of our Green PearlsⓇ partners here:

• • Precious Drinking Water: Social Projects in Hotels
  • Sustainable Drinking Water Concepts
  • Precious Water in Paradise: Water Treatment at Gili Lankanfushi in the Maldives

We hope we could give you some inspiration on how to save precious drinking water by using rainwater. How do you do it at home?

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What is sustainable about social engagement?

Sustainability involves thinking about tomorrow. It is the opposite of the deluge after me. Many people initially think of resource conservation, species protection, or preserving the ozone layer as conservation goals. Fair payments and the reduction of poverty are not initially associated with them. Is it different for you?

Sustainability or sustainable travel not only protects the environment and counteracts climate change. It also helps to build a society with respect and without exploitation, and keeps the rich and poor from getting even more separated.

Social sustainability in tourism works externally (assuming social responsibility in the region and towards marginalized groups in society) and internally (towards employees).

The social aspect must be equal to the eco aspect on vacation

Based on the pillars of sustainability model, which has been an international guideline since the World Summit in Johannesburg in 2002, the social aspect is of equal importance to the pillars of ecology and economy. Sustainability can only be achieved if environmental, economic and social goals are implemented simultaneously with equal weighting.

Concrete social aspects in the tourism industry

• fair payment
• permanent contracts
• Education and training opportunities
• Health insurance / health protection
• Child Protection
• Integration
• Inclusion
• Promotion of regional crafts
• Promotion of regional art and culture

What we can do ourselves | Small things to travel socially sustainably

Buy instead of donate

 A good experience for me was when I was traveling near Hebron, Palestine, about 15 years ago for a report. A few women tried to sell me their embroidered shawls. I didn’t like the dusty and musty “store” in the small Bedouin village. I would rather not purchase anything. Likewise, I sent a monetary donation when I returned to Germany a month later because of the warm-hearted people there. At that moment, I realized: I would have been better off buying the scarves! Especially the minimalists of us don’t like to buy just anything. Keychains, fridge magnets, scented papers … Meanwhile, I like to buy things from people and give them away at the next opportunity (unless it’s the last plastic junk)

Think about who you spend your money with

Imagine you buy a cuckoo clock in the Black Forest, and it says, “Made in China” on it.  That would be rather foolish, wouldn’t it? Especially if you’re happy to see real woodcarving workshops in the village, apart from big chains and franchises. In the SCHWARZWALD PANORAMA in Bad Herrenalb, there is a small store right in the hotel selling local products (including cuckoo clocks). The promotion of local crafts is also evidence of social responsibility.

Do not get annoyed with tourist nonsense

 My experience is that German tourists are especially afraid of being ripped off by market traders, cab drivers, and souvenir sellers. It is, of course, frustrating when you buy something for 20 dollars and then hear later that locals pay only 2 dollars.

But what if we change our attitude towards such situations? I no longer ask myself: How much does it cost here? But rather: How much is it worth to me? For example, I was once laughed at because I paid 30 euros for a decorative pillow. Then I said: 30 euros for needlework is not much money. And the cushion was worth it to me!

Should I give money to begging children?

Especially if you are traveling in poorer countries, you will inevitably be confronted at some point with children who want to sell you little things or beg. A really difficult situation.

Tourism Watch and SOS Children’s Villages recommend not buying anything and not giving money. This would only increase the number of children who are on the streets  and who are instrumentalized by adults  tobeg or sell drugs. Support targeted projects and NGOs that work on behalf of children in the country is recommended by the two organizations. These could be local sports clubs, schools or community centers, for example.

You should familiarize yourself with the conditions in the country beforehand. In Palestine, for example, you are directly supporting the family and siblings by buying from children. If I actually weaken, then I try to pretend that I would really like to have these chewy sweets now. At least for the moment, the kids are happy. However, this behavior should not become the rule. Then I’d rather donate to a project that I can perhaps even see on site.

Support projects on site

Making conscious choices helps you travel in a socially sustainable and responsible way. For example, by choosing your accommodation, you can support projects that work for the local community, hire local employees, or engage in other social activities.

Farmhouse Smiling Gecko in Cambodia

Our partner, the Smiling Gecko Farmhouse in Cambodia, for example, creates prospects by offering training and jobs. Poverty, and child poverty in particular, is a major problem in Cambodia. According to Humanitarian, 10% of children do not go to school. Only 20% of girls attend secondary school. Many people are malnourished, there is a lack of clean drinking water for the rural population, and there is a lack of health care. Searching for work, many children are sexually exploited. In such a system, where the state cannot sufficiently protect the children, the future, private initiatives like Smiling Gecko are enormously important. The initiative includes training centers for various trades, such as bakers or carpenters. Some of them also have the opportunity to later work directly at the Smiling Gecko farmhouse, where 40 workers currently enjoy above-average pay and a secure livelihood.

Social sustainability in tourism in Thailand

The local population is committed to the luxury resort Keemala on the island of Phuket. Keemala deliberately buys food from local fishermen and farmers. They also support the on-site child development center and provide jobs for the region.

Additionally, Zeavola Resort on Ko Phi Phi supports the local Baan Laem Tong School. The remote location makes it hard to get public funding, so Zeavola’s help is critical. Three dollars per guest are donated to a lunch program that guests can also attend on-site. Zeavola cooks for students and teachers on Fridays, while teachers do the cooking on other days. It is especially cool that the children have a say in the menu. In a vote, they express their preferences. A vote is taken after five or six suggestions are made.

The gap between rich and poor is also widening in Europe

Every four years, the German government examines the development of poverty and wealth in Germany. The latest report from 2021 shows that (as in all industrialized countries) the poor are getting poorer and the rich are getting richer. This means that social sustainability is also an important issue here.

Inclusion of people with disabilities

A clear example of a socially sustainable tourism concept in Germany is the Green City Hotel Vauban in Freiburg. It is run by a non-profit company and employs 50% people with disabilities. Inclusion and fairness are also considered with partners and suppliers.

Waiver of seasonal workers

Our Green Pearls® accommodations work with a permanent staff out of conviction and deliberately do not employ (cheaper) seasonal workers. To name just a few examples: At the Zermatt Hotel Bella Vista in the Swiss Alps, the hotel is run by a family, and you get the feeling that the staff has also become part of this family.

The Bavarian Hotel Klosterhof employs around 100 people and focuses on long-term employment and further training measures. Seasonal workers, temporary workers and cheap labor do not exist here.

Support local artists

Van Gogh or Leonardo da Vinci were undeniably great artists, but we prefer to admire their paintings in the original in the museum, rather than as a copied poster in the hotel room, right?

Instead, many hotels take the opportunity to support contemporary and regional artists and offer them a platform. At Hotel Das Rübezahl in the Allgäu, for example, you will find art objects by the artist Bernhard Czeschlick in the garden. His workshop and gallery Eigenart is about 25 minutes by car from the hotel and the Thurm family will be happy to organize a tour for you.

You can read more about the collaboration between artists and sustainable hotels in this blog article.

Closing thoughts – Social sustainability in tourism

There are many opportunities in the tourism industry – on the one hand, you see that life can be quite different, and on the other hand – it has to be said – there is a lot of money involved. If you don’t leave the money in the big hotel chains, but support accommodations with social commitment or local projects, this is a contribution to a more social tourism and thus also to a better world.

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Well, in this blog article, we’d like to take you on a foray through a few of the Green Pearls. Discover together the artists behind the artworks and find out what all this has to do with sustainability.

Artists and Artworks from the region

Rather than display impersonal prints many Green Pearls® partners opt to support the regional art scene which has several positive effects. On one hand, artists have income and exhibition space where people from all over the world can view their work and maybe even take one home. On the other hand, the hotel is decorated with unique works of art that often blend seamlessly into the interior design and architecture. Simultaneously, art brings guests closer to the region, whether it’s paintings, sculptures, or photographs. The Green Pearls® hotels demonstrate what this can look like.

Regional art at the Biohotel Sturm

The Biohotel Sturm features beautiful sculptures by the sculptor Klaus Metz. Simple and elegant, they fit naturally into the overall concept of the hotel and will invariably turn your walk into a discovery tour. Retired artist Klaus Metz and his wife Heike live in the Franconian Rhön region. His studio is less than 50 kilometers away from the hotel and can be visited spontaneously. Perhaps one or the other work of art will even move into your home? The artist regularly participates in various exhibitions. It is well worth visiting them. More information can be found on his website, or you can ask him during your stay at the Biohotel Sturm.

A symbiosis of hotel and artist in the Naturhotel Outside

The paintings on the walls of the Tyrolean Naturhotel Outside catch the “soul” of the region. Hikers on rocky cliffs, mountaineers on crevasses and ski tourers on their way to the summit—the artist Othmar Trost succeeds in stirring up the wanderlust of guests with his paintings. When visiting one of his exhibitions, you will be amazed to discover that he not only knows how to paint almost photorealistic landscapes, but also enjoys occasional excursions into pop art. So, if you have had enough of the Tyrolean mountains for half a day (it is said to happen), you should see if Othmar Trost is currently exhibiting somewhere.

Vegetarian art at the Naturhotel Aufatmen

The Naturhotel Aufatmen in the Leutasch Valley specifically set out to find an artist who can capture their philosophy in pictures. The Hamburg-based artist and blogger Mr. Grün, alias Manfred Zimmer, proved to be the right choice. Using pen and vegetables, Zimmer creates small works of art that regularly delight the guests of the Naturhotel. The sketch-like drawings transform the vegetables into a part of a picture that invites you to look at it for a longer time and smile. A guarantee of good mood in the hallway of the Hotel Aufatmen, and hopefully for you as well when reading this blog. 

Wood and sand in the Bio-Seehotel Zeulenroda

You may have already visited Bio Seehotel Zeulenroda. If you have, you will have noticed the unique Zodiac Path, adorned by twelve wooden sculptures. They were created by different artists during a wood symposium a few years ago. You will surely discover the handwriting of each of them if you take a closer look at the individual works. Again and again there are such artist meetings in the Bio-Seehotel, where they carve, shape, design or, as last time, work with sand together. By the way: Sand was used for the sand sculptures, in which grains interlock through pressure and moisture. If at some point the portrait falls apart, it can be easily reused for the next work.

Flipflop art at the SCHWARZWALD PANORAMA

At SCHWARZWALD PANORAMA, the restaurant, and lobby walls are decorated with changing paintings by artist Birgit Eberhardt. Your favorite paintings can even be purchased directly. The hotel’s own shop offers other works by regional and international artists and initiatives. You will find, for example, the hand-painted soul stones by Anke Sandra Kessinger, which are meant to convey harmony of soul to those who look at them. As you browse, you’re sure to notice the accessories and sculptures by the Kenyan artist group Ocean Sole. Using flip-flops collected on beaches, they design sculptures, bracelets, shoes, and yoga blocks while creating jobs for the people of Nairobi, Kenya’s capital.

Art steles as eye-catchers in the room

 Connecting and central elements are the works of art in the Klosterhof in Bayerisch Gmain. Contemporary steles in many rooms catch the eye of those entering the room immediately and act as the center of the room. The bar, restaurant, and lobby are all part of a changing, lively gallery by artist Wolfgang Gerner. Together with the historic walls of the former monastery farmhouse, these modern works create an inspiring atmosphere that is hard to resist.

Other Green Pearls® partners with artist collaborations:

Italy’s Relais del Maro has handmade textiles by Elisabetta Barba from a neighboring town. For several years, the hotel, and the artist have been working together, offering you the opportunity to take home a unique souvenir.

The CERVO Mountain Resort cooperates with women’s cooperatives from Marrakech and offers their works for sale at the “Bazaar”. The special: Like in a real bazaar, you can bargain for the price of the artworks.

Have you ever paid attention to the pictures hanging on the walls or the sculptures lining the lobby of a hotel? If not, you should start now. Maybe your next trip will take you to the artist’s studio.

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Sustainable Tourism as a guarantee for the survival of the coral reefs 

The survival of the corals is vital for the Maldives, so sustainability and the preservation of biodiversity are officially promoted. Marine biologists in the atolls are important for monitoring and protecting the ecosystems. 

Did you know?

1. The island state is made up of over 1196 coral islands lined up like a string of pearls over 26 atolls, covering an area of 90,000 square kilometers.  Only 220 of these are inhabited, while 144 are used for tourism. 
2. More than 2000 species of fish and over 200 species of corals and 190 different bird species have been spotted in the Maldives so far. 
3. The Maldives consists of 99% water. In  a north-south direction the islands, some of them tiny, spread over a distance of 850 kilometers. 
4. The Maldives are home to the world’s largest population of reef manta rays. The Manta Trust estimates that approximately 5000 manta rays live in the waters around the Maldives, 3000 have already been identified. 

The marine biologists working at our Green Pearls® partner, Gili Lankanfushi, have a much better understanding of this. Hayley Hardstaff and Jocelyn Panjikaran have been monitoring the tropical nature around the resort for two years, looking after the reforestation of the coral reefs and also cooperating with other organizations in the Maldives. 

What makes working at the Gili Lankanfushi special?

Jocelyn: The calming natural beauty of Gili Lankanfushi is captivating. We are surrounded by diverse marine ecosystems. Gili Lankanfushi’s commitment towards Sustainability and Marine Conservation enable us to thrive here. It’s very exciting to work with like-minded colleagues whose focus aligns towards sustainability.

Hayley: There are many fantastic things about working at Gili Lankanfushi. From a marine biology perspective, we are incredibly privileged in that there are multiple marine ecosystems to experience right here on the island from the sandy lagoon system, seagrass meadows to the different coral systems of our outer house reef and inner lagoon by the spa. This means that we can be a considerable diversity of fish and other marine species, often seeing new species every time we go snorkeling. Gili Lankanfushi has also historically been a pioneer among Maldivian resorts in its marine conservation initiatives. We were the first to adopt the coral lines method of propagating corals, and we were also one of the first resorts to pledge to stop removing the seagrass from our lagoon, allowing it to flourish. Thus, we have been provided with a great foundation to continue our conservation projects, with an extensive backlog of data to help direct the future of our initiatives.

As well as the ecosystems here on our doorstop, we are lucky enough to have access to a variety of boat excursions operated by the resort. This means that we get opportunities to experience the marine life of reefs on other islands and even atolls. For example, Gili Lankanfushi offers guests a whale sharks excursion to South Ari Atoll. When we join such trips, we can gather valuable data on the marine megafauna we see, which we can share with local Maldivian organizations and networks such as the Maldivian Whale shark Research Project and Olive Ridley Project. Being connected to these projects allows us to contribute to a giant dataset, providing valuable information on the movements and behaviors of marine animals of interest so that we may better protect them from anthropogenic and climate related threats.

What makes this place so special to you ?

Besides the fantastic opportunities to do meaningful marine biology projects and collect valuable data, there are also many characteristics of Gili Lankanfushi to make it a fantastic place to live in while working. The climate is always temperate, the views are beautiful, and we get to experience the perks, privacy, and peace of remote island life while being only 20 minutes from Male so that we don’t feel too disconnected from the outside world (but we can if we’d like to!)

Finally, the people who work on the island are all incredibly friendly. There’s a great variety of staff who bring with them different cultures, expertise and wisdom, which we also get to benefit from. 

Which changes could you observe in maritime life in the last few years?

Jocelyn:This is my first time to the Maldives, I’m taken aback by the beauty and diversity around us. Each time we go snorkeling or diving, there is always something new we see.

Hayley:In 2016, there was an El Niño event, where the water temperatures of the Pacific rose for a prolonged period of time. This El Niño lasted longer than normal and came with higher temperatures due to climate change. A huge amount of coral bleaching occurred during this period, and it’s estimated that the Maldives lost 60 to 80% of its corals during this event. Thus, we have several guests who visit us now, who had visited in the past, who say that there are sadly far fewer corals now than there were then. However, we still have a fantastic abundance of fish. Furthermore, our coral lines project has grown over the last 8 years. The corals that the previous marine biologists have successfully propagated have been transplanted to a rock bommie  (Bombora is an indigenous Australian term indicating an area with high waves breaking over a shallow area, such as a submerged rocky outcrop, reef, or sandbar some distance from the shoreline and surf. Colloquially, it is called a bommie). in the lagoon, which is now flourishing with corals, fish life and a resident turtle!

What can everybody do to protect the sea and environment?

Jocelyn:Plastic pollution is one of the major treats to these beautiful marine systems. A basic step would be to stop using single use plastic

Hayley: Being aware of your consumption and waste is a considerable part of protecting the ocean. Not only must we be careful to segregate and recycle our different types of litter but most importantly reduce the amount of litter we produce in the first place. This stems from being careful on what types of products we buy and how much we buy. For example, growing our own fruit and veg in the garden can help reduce the packaging involved in buying such products from the supermarket. We can also all do litter picks, on the beach or inland where waste can make its way to rivers, and then eventually the sea. Taking actions like these will reduce the amount of plastic and toxic chemical waste that ends up in the ocean.

Also acting to reduce climate change, such as reducing electric, fuel and red meat consumption, will help to reduce ocean acidification and warming, to help our ocean ecosystems remain as stable as possible.

On a more local scale, we can protect the sea by behaving responsibly when doing activities in or on it. From wearing reef-safe sun cream, to avoiding anchoring boats in seagrass meadows or standing on corals.

What was the most impressive experience you had in (or around) the resort?

Jocelyn: I have not been here long, but recently, I got a chance to snorkel with Manta Rays, a 20-min boat ride away from the resort. It was truly magical to swim up close with these gentle giants.

Hayley: There are almost too many to pick just one. Seeing a mobula ray glide past the house reef through blooms of flashing plankton or watching a hawks bill turtle munching enthusiastically on a sea anemone are great ones! Also, at a nearby surf break, we were surrounded by huge mantas gliding through the surf!

Have you ever been to the Maldives? What experiences have you had?

 

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Der Beitrag Interview with the marine biologists of Gili Lankanfushi, Maldives erschien zuerst auf GREEN TRAVEL BLOG.