The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel off sets environmental impact of Island Treasures Tour

LEE COUNTY, FL – In keeping with its mission of preserving the destination for future visitors, The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel in southwest Florida has offset the environmental impact of its Island Treasures Tour promotional road show by purchasing carbon credits through Go ZeroSM, a program to combat global warming launched by The Conservation Fund.

Go Zero has helped the Lee County Visitor & Convention Bureau (VCB) measure its overall carbon dioxide emissions, including those for the road show, and the Conservation Fund has offset that impact by planting native trees that absorb carbon dioxide as they grow. In addition, the crew of the recreational vehicle (RV) will recycle as much as possible, plus promote recycling to consumers by providing bins at all stops on the tour. Futhermore, they are using eco-friendly cleaning supplies and a solar charger for the RV’s battery.

“Environmental stewardship is a cornerstone of The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel,” said Tamara Pigott, VCB deputy director. “The main reason people visit us is to enjoy our pristine natural resources, so it’s absolutely critical that we do everything within our power to preserve and manage those resources to the best of our ability. Going green is only fitting for our destination.”

In calculating carbon credits, the Conservation Fund uses standards set forth by The Greenhouse Gas Protocol Initiative (GHG Protocol), which aims to harmonize GHG accounting and reporting standards internationally to ensure that different trading platforms and other climate-related initiatives adopt consistent approaches to GHG accounting. The Conservation Fund also uses averages and information provided by the Environmental Protection Agency and Energy Information Administration. The organization has been a leader in carbon replacement through reforestation for the past six years, adhering to the most rigorous environmental and scientific principles.

Based on the data provided by the VCB, the Fund estimated that approximately 400 tons of CO2 resulted from energy use, auto and air travel by the organization’s staff for the 2006/2007 fiscal year. The VCB is offsetting the environmental impact of these activities with a $2,000 donation to The Conservation Fund, which is zeroing-out these emissions by restoring land and planting approximately 301 trees in national wildlife refuges and protected parks across the United States.

The Conservation Fund’s newly restored habitats, which are made possible by the purchase of carbon credits by the VCB and other environmentally conscious organizations, do more than just address climate change. They leave a lasting legacy by restoring important wildlife habitat, improving air and water quality and enhancing outdoor recreational areas.
Since 2000, The Conservation Fund has restored nearly 20,000 acres and planted 8 million trees through its carbon sequestration program. Over the next 100 years, these new forests will capture an estimated 9.5 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalent from the atmosphere.

The Conversation Fund

The Conservation Fund is the nation’s foremost environmental nonprofit dedicated to protecting America’s land and water legacy for current and future generations. Seeking innovative conservation solutions for the 21st century, the Fund works to integrate economic and environmental goals. Since its founding in 1985, the Fund has helped its partners safeguard wildlife habitats, working landscapes, community “greenspace,” and historic sites totaling more than 5.9 million acres nationwide. With 1 percent fundraising costs and 96 percent program allocation, The Conservation Fund is recognized as the nation’s top rated environmental nonprofit by both the American Institute of Philanthropy and Charity Navigator. www.conservationfund.org.