In the majestic mountains of the Himalaya, one man realised his ambition to be an engineer was less strong than his ambition to be a sustainability advocate.
Gede and Ayu: Kitchen Missionaries
Lao's Buffalo Gals
Sonam Wangchuk: Excellence before Accomplishment
In India, only a handful of students get to attend their dream universities, and unsuccessful applicants are often branded as failures. Worse, many so-called failures can often find no place at all in the conventional education system. But high up in the Himalayas there is an educational institute where failure is the sole criteria for admission. Sonam Wangchuk is its creator
Claire Ellis on Strengthening Ecotourism in Australia
After three decades, Ecotourism Australia keeps reinventing itself to be relevant to the changing needs of the ecotourism industry. Chairperson Claire Ellis spoke to Mallika Naguran on why Australia’s new sustainable destination certification is very much needed and on working with WWF to advance the interests of Australian ecotourism operators while rebuilding disaster affected areas.
Leah Penniman: Ending Food Apartheid
Masaru Takayama: Ecotourism After Coronavirus
With COVID-19 putting a pause or stop to tourism and travel globally, can ecotourism survive if not spring back stronger than before? Masaru Takayama, Chair and Founder of the Asian Ecotourism Network, shares with Mallika Naguran his thoughts on the positive and negative impacts of the coronavirus on tourism, and how ecotourism players should adapt to “the new normal”.
Albert Teo: How to Sustain Community Building in Ecotourism
Elephant Knowledge: Anna Songhurst and Ecoexist
Ian Rosenberger: Trash for Dignity
Katherine Connor: Sustainable Elephant Rescue
Andrew Sebastian: On Malaysia Ecotourism & Ecology
No stranger to bird lovers and forest trekkers in Malaysia, guide Andrew Sebastian has more tricks up his sleeves in promoting ecotourism and habitat conservation than anyone can imagine. Gaia Discovery’s Mallika Naguran catches up with the bird expert to find out more about the Wallace Project through Sebastian’s own NGO - Ecotourism & Conservation Society Malaysia, and about his views on how tourism can help raise ecological awareness.
Jin of Chickenfeet Travels: Adventure with Positive Impacts
Alexander Yee: Overcoming Turtle Conservation Challenges
It took vision, persistence and wisdom for conservationist Alexander Yee to be able to release his 30,000th turtle hatchling into the South China Sea after five years this March. He spoke to Mallika Naguran about how this highly effective turtle conservation programme came about but more importantly, how obstructive village practices were overcome to boost this aspect of marine life and ecotourism in Sabah.
Amala Menon: Genuine Indian Homestays With SaveAGram
Just how authentic can community-based tourism get? SaveAGram strives to raise the bar in not just capturing the authenticity of village tourism experience in the north and south of India, but also maintain responsibility in touring activities so as to uphold age-old traditions, culture, values and even the architecture of Indian villages.
Alex Tsuk: Rise of Responsible Tourism Community in Bali with BookGreener
A ground up, industry-led responsible tourism movement is picking up in Bali. Mallika Naguran speaks to the founder or 'Chief Alchemist' of Book Greener, Alex Tsuk, about this special group of operators and the role they play in dealing with crisis as volcano Agung continues to disrupt tourism in this island of paradise.
Masaru Takayama: A Stronger Asian Ecotourism Network for 2018
Kutch Adventures Seeks Out Remote Artisans
Professor Nguyen Viet Nhan: Helping Child Victims of Agent Orange Defoliation
Professor Nguyen Viet Nhan has dedicated his life to working with child victims of the US Air Force policy of spraying dioxin-based Agent Orange on large areas of Vietnamese countryside in order to kill vegetation that could hide Viet Cong soldiers. Although the war finished decades ago, Kayti Denham explains how his work continues.