Eco-Tourism

For all I knew Eco-tourism was using lowimpact forms of travel like mules or bikes and camping.  What I found out at first upset me, that it is travel to places that are some of the rare pristine environments left on earth.  I know for a fact that when I have met people who discover a new, great. beautiful. untouched by developers place, they keep it to themselves, so it doesn't get ruined with cars and people and trash and buildings.  But After reading a little deeper, I found that it is really a way to showing such places do exist and raise awareness for their protection, the low impact form of getting there, camel maybe, is simply an added bonus.
There are "developed" places for eco-tourism that are low impact buildings with values that rely highly on recycling, environmental education, and affirmative action towards cleaning up the environment.  Other places are just well known beautiful sites that attract those who are willing to tough the hike and camp under a tent instead of a climate controlled resort to enjoy it.
A great website that I found through a very simple google search is ecotourism.org and I found it to be something of a members only set up..  I am guilty of traveling somewhere, taking pictures and buying souvenirs, but I have also been that person to go the extra mile to hopefully not be the last person to see an area before it is destroyed.  People who are active ecotourists live a lifestyle of bettering the environment around then and preserving it for future generations to appreciate.
So there you go, a simplified version of a hugely important movement.  Take a look at www.ecotourism.org and see how you can help preserve and visit some of the most fragile and precious gifts nature has left to give.