In the previous sections, we focused on companies and hotels and their power to make a difference regarding today’s environmental challenges. Although they hold an important part in the success of such actions, you, as a traveler, but also as a consumer of nature’s resources, can help as well and change the impact you create daily on the environment that surrounds you.

In the Climate Change section, we talk about possible actions that can be taken at home to reduce your impact on the climate. Here, we offer some options to minimize your impact on the environment and natural resources through simple actions. There are many more, and we invite you to explore the Internet to find out about them, as well as ecological companies like the Rainforest Alliance (See Smart Voyager section) dedicated to sustainable tourism development.

In the meantime, here are some ideas we thought could be of good relevance:

- When vacationing, support ecotourism. Ecotourism revenues directly benefit the environment and the communities you visit. The Rainforest Alliance certifies tour operations in Ecuador's Galapagos Islands through its SmartVoyager program.

- Choose Rainforest Alliance sustainably grown foods. Buy Chiquita and Favorita bananas and Rainforest Alliance sustainable coffee to support agriculture that is safe and healthy for the environment and workers.

- Ask your school and workplace to purchase environmentally friendly paper. Use paper that has a FSC/Rainforest Alliance Certified label to ensure that your paper is coming from sustainably managed forests. Another way to help is to only buy recycled paper.

- Teach your children about tropical conservation.

- Adopt a rainforest, through the Adopt-A-Rainforest program to aid small conservative groups based in tropical countries that are working to stop rainforest destruction.

Check out our Smart Voyager section for extended details and information, as well as the Rainforest-Alliance web page for complete coverage.