Koror ( Pacific Not e ) ? As a media producer here in Palau I have either visited or flown over , taken pictures or video in all 16 states . From a cameraman ? s perspective , I can say that each state is blessed with unparalleled natural beauty . Palau ? s wealth and strength lie in this diversity of environments and diversity within the environments .
Some fun trivia to ponder : Our species have existed on this planet for about 200,000 years and have observed and studied the environments . It is estimated that 70,000 years ago the world had a population of less than 15,000 . About 2,500 years ago , the Greek civilization coined the word ? eco ,? which meant ? house ? or ? environment .? Ecology became the study of the environment .
Nowadays the world ? s population is approaching 8 billion and the word ? eco ? is used as a prefix to anything that its sellers want to associate with the environment . Along with words like ? green ,? it ? s easy enough to do ; just slap the three letter word in-front of your product and you suddenly appear like you understand or care about the world we live in .
It is a cheap marketing trick and a thin veil over what could well be a pig in a wedding dress . If we are to use the term Eco to describe our activities or products the term needs to be understood in its full implications and the product needs to deliver to discerning clients what they expect .
Going eco or building eco is not just about using wood to make it look natural , or adopting a leaf as a logo ; it ? s about caring for the environment and human interaction with it in your heart . It ? s about integrity . Francis Toribiong once told me in an interview , ? If you don ? t have the environment in your heart and your head , you will forget about it all the time .?
Palau ? s greatest asset is its unspoiled environment . However , you cannot have a functioning 21st century economy without disturbing the environment .
Going eco in Palau
The key to developing a 21st century economy without destroying the environment is finding balance between the needs and the wants and minimizing our negative impact on the spaces we frequent , utilize or occupy .
Building an eco-resort means having minimal impact on the environment . Building materials are from a sustainable source , so no Amazonian hardwoods .
Your waste water and solids are processed to ensure they have minimal impact on the surroundings . So no overflowing septic pit . Your buildings blend in with the landscape using local building materials , stone etc . So no blasting out half a Rock Island to construct a concrete eyesore .
You aim to use as much alternative energy production technology as possible . Given Palau ? s tropical location there is no reason to heat water using electricity from burning fossil fuels .
Your property development causes minimal chances of landslip , soil erosion or other geological hazards that affect areas downhill or downstream . Original trees and vegetation are kept in place as much as possible . Top soil is stabilized .
Likewise , the activities that guests of the resort partake in should have minimal to zero negative impact on the environment . So taking tourists out every night to go fishing on the local reefs to catch undersized fish is a no as is installing a cacophonous monorail that scares away the wildlife .
What you can do is build small numbers of bungalows in key locations around Babeldaob and the southern islands , in traditional styles , using local labor and expertise , in settings that maximize the positives and minimize the negatives . Food is available at each employing locals to harvest and prepare from sustainable sources . Standards and cost per night are high .
Renewable energy production is maximized to remove the facilities from the grid as much as possible . A network is then created of accommodations near attractions and activities that are environmentally conscious . Hiking , bird watching , river or mangrove kayaking , catch and release fishing , snorkeling , diving , star gazing , craft markets , mountain biking , camping etc .
Each activity is guided to ensure the guests get the best experience possible without having a negative impact on the areas they are visiting . Trails are built that minimize negative environmental impacts .
This approach employs more locals who are trained in their respective fields to ensure a high quality experience and service . You are not bundled into a tour bus with 30 other people for the selfie opportunity experience like 100,000 other people every year . You have an individually catered educational and enlightening experience . This network is marketed as a whole , a diverse , interconnected and co-operative tourism experience for those wishing to experience Palau in this way . It can be expanded upon but everything must adhere to strict guidelines and these guidelines must be enforced .
This brings me back to the pig-in-a-wedding dress analogy . On one hand The Pristine Paradise label is used to promote Palau and various environmental / conservation initiatives are applauded . On the other hand , environmentally sensitive land is being sold off to developers at an alarming rate and businesses flout already established conservation laws with impunity .
It ? s not possible to sincerely market an eco-product while turning a blind eye to your environment being irreparably damaged purely for individual profit . It ? s time to walk the talk .
Richard Brooks owns Lightning Strike Production , which covers everything from underwater to aerials . See his work at www . lightningstrikeproduction . co . uk
9