Preservation
Palladius Street in Byzantine Beit Shean National Park. Photo: Tonya Fitzpatrick
“We abuse land because we regard it as a commodity belonging to us. When we see land as a community to which we belong, we may begin to use it with love and respect.”
Traveling to see the buildings and artifacts of human history that would otherwise be lost to father time has inspired a travel niche built around preservation and conservation.
Whether enjoying a stay at a Medieval castle or a historic hotel in a city or town—or exploring a historic district or cemetery—communities and countries around the world are finding that preservation of the past can sustain tourism.
Preserving our cultural treasures helps maintain these gems for future generations, and it provides a way for culture and history to flourish.
Kaikoura is a town of 4,000 people located about 110 miles north of Christchurch, on New Zealand’s South Island. It is tucked away on a beautiful peninsula, backed by the snow-capped peaks of the Seaward Kaikoura Range.
The Maldives islands are home to more than a thousand coral reefs, vibrant ecosystems that provide a home for marine life.
The United Kingdom is a country with a long and varied history, so it’s no surprise that it has a significant number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Aran Mor is arguably the most significant example that comes to mind and an island on which you can learn about the past, while enjoying everything it has to offer in the present.
While many of my friends have turned to books or television documentaries, I have been exploring the world of culinary travel — but not just for cooking recipes. I found inspiration in the preservation of Indigenous food. And that has me planning my next adventure.
According to the Worldwide Wildlife Foundation, the United Kingdom (UK) is one of the regions in the world where nature is diminishing. This has led to the dwindling of wildlife in the UK with several species of wildlife nearing extinction. The Bison is a species that is nearing extinction in the UK. Its closest relative, the Steppe bison which inhabited the UK West Blean woods near Canterbury, England for thousands of years is currently extinct. The bison last roamed the same woodlands 6,000 years before and now Kent Wildlife and Wildwood Trusts are on the verge of bringing the bison back to the woods. Human activities on earth are responsible for the depletion of natural resources and nature. Efforts should, therefore, be made to restore nature and resources that are important for the survival of wildlife and mankind. Tree planting is one way of conserving the environment and habitats. However, [...]
Imagine a bi-partisan dinner with U.S. Senators and Representatives at the Library of Congress with leading contemporary historians and a billionaire patriotic philanthropist. Then image an evening of enlightened discussions about American history without the presence of media or political jockeying.
As Australia’s wildfires continue to rage on, the massive blaze may have an impact on the entire world. While the rainfall the area received was celebrated, NASA expects the fires’ smoke will make a complete circle around the world. It’s already being seen in the New Zealand region, turning the sky into an ashy color and discoloring glaciers. By Jan. 8, the smoke had made its way to South America, where skies became hazy with technicolor sunsets and sunrises. NASA believes the clouds that developed will make its way all the way back to Australia. For now, the fires don’t appear to be slowing down. To date, over 17 million acres of land have been scorched, nearly 30 people killed, endangered 500 million animals and destroyed hundreds to thousands of buildings (homes and businesses). If you plan to visit Australia, there is no reason to cancel the trip. In [...]
On gorilla treks tourists are always advised to take photos from a safe distance and not worry about the Gram because they are leaving more than footprints. Curious adventure travelers are not heeding the rules many continue to get close to gorillas for the Gram but these irresponsible travelers are also infecting the endangered species. There are close to 650 Instagram images of people getting about 20 feet away from the gorillas, with some of them touching these primates. This proximity means the gorillas as becoming infected, which can be deadly to them. There has been a rise in the number of infectious cases in the gorilla population with the most recent example of human metapneumovirus infecting 11 apes in Rwanda. Two apes died due to the infection. The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Uganda and Rwanda have labeled the mountain gorillas as being endangered and estimated there are just [...]
The iconic white marble mausoleum intricately decorated with motifs and calligraphy may be one of the world’s most recognisable sights, but being such a beautiful building comes with its own set of problems. Overcrowding has long been an issue for the Taj Mahal in Agra, India, but will opening the site to the public at night – as the tourism ministry has announced – help reduce this issue?
Uluru is not just the geographical heart of Australia; it is considered by Indigenous Australians to be the spiritual heart as well.
Since 1972, and under the designation of UNESCO World Heritage sites, the United Nations has been tirelessly working to protect many beautiful spots across the globe. Now, the list gets even bigger with new sites in Canada, India and Japan, in which the UNESCO dubs them as belonging to the people of Earth no matter where they are located.
