Travelling "Green"

National Wildlife Federation to offer carbon neutral expeditions in 2008 In a busy world where an internet search for "wildlife tours" can yield over 750,000 results, the National Wildlife Federation (NWF) offers a valuable and unique travel service. After reviewing hundreds of itineraries to nearly every major wildlife-viewing spot on the globe, NWF has selected the best trips for our Expeditions Travel Program. Each trip selected highlights NWF's core organizational commitments: restoring wildlife and habitats, confronting global warming, and connecting people with nature. The offerings for 2008-34 in all-range from assisting researchers in Yellowstone to a family safari in Kenya to a Christmas river cruise down the Amazon. Travel and still be 'green' However, as America's conservation organization protecting wildlife for our children's future, NWF is doing more than just selecting the best tour operators, the best destinations, and the best values. In keeping with its mission to travel responsibly, NWF has teamed up with NativeEnergy to offset the carbon releases from all 2008 trips. NativeEnergy is a privately held Native American-owned renewable energy company that has been successfully supporting renewable development since November 2001. Native Energy provides renewable energy credits (RECs) and carbon dioxide offsets from wind, solar, farm methane and other renewable energy projects, certified by Green-e and/or the Climate Neutral Network, with an emphasis on projects that support the sustainable development of tribal and farmer communities and Alaska Native villages. NWF remains committed to connecting people with nature and giving travelers unique opportunities to discover wildlife first-hand; the partnership with NativeEnergy is our way of balancing responsible, inspirational travel with the reality that travel contributes to greenhouse gas emissions. A first among conservation programs Further, this dramatic step towards a carbon-neutral travel program is unprecedented among conservation organizations. Why? Not only is NWF offsetting the carbon footprint of all 2008 Expeditions travelers, it is doing so without raising the cost of the trips. Instead, NWF is committing existing resources to ensuring all Expeditions in 2008 are carbon-neutral, to make a statement about the importance of carbon offsets as an opportunity to help finance new renewable energy projects. By offsetting the impact we make through travel-related activities, NWF is hoping to set an example for others in the battle against global warming. For complete details about NWF's Expeditions, call 800-606-9563, e-mail expeditions@nwf.orgexpeditions@nwf.org or visit www.nwf.org/expeditionswww.nwf.org/expeditions .