Responsible Business Practice
Eco & Adventure tours of Mountain Trails are premeditated
to preserve the character of the destinations we visit. We
concede that our business will impact native cultures and
the environment. However, we have reconciled this impact based
on the belief that our trips can provide meaningful and important
ways for local peoples to create sustainable economic development
- which lessen the pressure on primary natural resources.
The following description summarizes some of Mountain Trails's
ongoing efforts to be a responsible business. We're pleased
to share this information with others and welcome suggestions
on how we can further improve our operations.
Partnerships With Local Environmental
We work closely with local environmental, cultural and educational organizations on conservation, upliftment of local economy and education. Many Mountain Trails travellers return from their trip with the desire to contribute to local conservation efforts. Our staffs have worked closely with organizations, which produced results in the field.
Trip-Based Efforts
The basis of our least impact program is the selection of local operators, hotel properties, airlines, ground transportation, resident staff and trip managers. For our Eco & Adventure programs we venture to develop partnerships with local companies and individuals that are committed to preserve their cultural and natural resources. We also work with the indigenous peoples to preserve significant resources.
We work with each land operator to minimize the impact our
groups have on the host culture and ecology. In field, we
not only invented the whole notion of trekking, but have also
set the standard for the selection, training and supervision
of local staff; design of trip itineraries to reduce impact,
selection and maintenance of equipment, and minimum impact
standards for trekking. On our treks we not only use exclusively
the kerosene fuel for cooking but also give a good supply
to porters and Yak mans, in alpine areas, all non-burnable
waste from our treks is transported to the trailhead for recycling,
and the placement of camps are suitably chosen for least impact
on immediate environ.
Every client participating in Eco & Adventure program
receives comprehensive pre-departure notes; detailing the
ways a trip member can reduce his/her impact on host cultures
and the environment.
Our motto is, "Leave nothing but footprints, and Take nothing but photographs". |