We live in an increasingly fragile planet. Wilderness areas are shrinking, global temperatures are rising and more and more people are clamoring to access once seemingly remote and pristine areas.

Everyone is entitled to visit these wild places. In fact, visitors and tourist dollars are key to ensuring that national parks remain open and land conservation remains a priority for governments.

So how do we go about minimizing our impact?

1. Fly Less

This is the hardest. To access many of these places, it is essential to fly. In doing so, we each contribute a significant amount of carbon to the atmosphere. So how do we reduce our carbon emissions through flight? We can choose to carbon offset our tickets and ensure pressure remains on airlines to find ways to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions through carbon offset schemes and investment in better technology. Most importantly, we can try to reduce the distance we travel and the number of long-haul flights we take. Want to travel to Europe to visit Iceland? Why not find somewhere closer to home? Ever wondered what a train journey is like? Now is the time to found out.

2. Avoid the Algorithm

I read an article recently describing the death of the bucket list. Not from the lack of people want to tick off the list, but from the convergence of ideas. Everyone now wants to visit the same set of destination thanks to the advent of algorithms and AI. The result is European cities heaving at the seams during summer, hundreds of thousands of visitors packing cruise ships to theAntarctic each year and Japanese cities choosing to block off views of Mount Fuji to stop tourists from congregating. The solution? Look for more authentic locations away from the algorithms. Follow local guides and simply look for and try new places. Great photos can be found everywhere, even close to home.

3. Choose Reputable and Sustainable Travel Providers

Recently I watched a video of hundreds of game drive vehicles blocking one of the crossing points on the Mara River during the African wildebeest migration. This video prompted outrage and debate not just for the callous disregard shown but also in terms of the question of how tourism can remain sustainable in fragile ecosystems already under immense human pressure. So how can we contribute to good practices and not inadvertently be part of the problem?

Travel wisely. Choose tourism providers that give back to their communities and don't just bus you from one Instagram spot to another. Look for providers that showcase something different, somewhere off the beaten path, away from the crowds. Ensure the providers hire local employees and people with a vested interest in protecting their communities. Most importantly, take the time to learn something from the places and the people you visit.

4. Stay on the Path, Leave Only Footprints

Lastly, stay on path and leave only your footprints. I have been to so many once beautiful areas that have been trampled to death by tourists eager to find the best vantage point or balance a set of rocks one on top of another. If you visit a place and spend most of your time staring at it through the back of your phone or your camera, you are doing yourself and the place you visit a disservice. Take the time to look and feel. Leave nothing but your footprints (and take your rubbish with you).

It is cliche but there is a saying, be a traveler and not a tourist. It is something I try and take to heart on every journey. In doing so, it has brought great reward and helped me on my photographic journey.

Cheers,

Russell