Sustainable Tourism: Roam Wild Adventure Works to Save the Planet as its Trekkers Enjoy its Wonders

MAHWAH, NJ / ACCESSWIRE / December 14, 2022 / The terms carbon capture and fair wages may not be the first things to come to mind when you’re planning a more-than-week-long adventure to Africa, for a trek up the western slope of Mount Kilimanjaro.

But that’s exactly the frame of mind that informs Helen Soto’s every move as founder of Roam Wild Adventure. And it can be traced back to the first trip she made to Tanzania with a friend, to hike Africa’s highest point and the world’s tallest freestanding mountain.

As part of their trip, the two women brought school supplies and raised money for local girls’ schools geared toward computer skills; and they also raised money for youth development programs. Helen and her traveling companion spent time with program organizers and the children they were supporting and the entire experience left a colossal impact, one that continues to resonate today with her operation of Roam Wild Adventure.

“I love adventure,” she said. “But I love giving back. So how can I make a positive impact? Let me marry the two together, and the rest is history.” The vision of Roam Wild Adventure was born and responsible tourism became the company’s mission.

Roam Wild Adventure hosts trekkers from around the world who are eager to experience the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro, safaris on the Serengeti, and sojourns at the beach on Zanzibar Island. But Roam Wild Adventure is as much about sustainability, preserving the planet and leaving it better than it was found as it is about blowing out of Dodge City for a once-in-a-lifetime adventure immersed in some of the world’s most compelling destinations.

According to the United Nations, its World Tourism Organization defines sustainable tourism as “tourism that takes full account of its current and future economic, social and environmental impacts, addressing the needs of visitors, the industry, the environment and host communities.”

The impact of global tourism is such a pressing issue that the United Nations declared 2017 the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development.

“Throughout the year, UNWTO and the wider United Nations system worked to raise awareness of the contribution of sustainable tourism to development among public and private sector decision-makers and the public,” reads unwto.org. “At the same time, UNWTO took the lead to mobilize all stakeholders to work together in making tourism a catalyst for positive change.”

Taking a global issue, wrapping your arms around it and effecting change on a local level can be challenging. But Helen and the Roam Wild Adventure team believe they are having a positive impact on their industry and Tanzania, where their operations are based.

Along with the sweeping views, fulfilling adventures and the magic that can only come from waking up in a tent in the great outdoors, Roam Wild Adventure’s operational priorities include its partnership with Tomorrow’s Air, which removes carbon dioxide from the atmosphere through carbon capture technology. It’s a complex process, but in short, thisprocess involves mixing the pure carbon dioxide with water and then injecting it underground. This process is monitored closely and is very safe as the dense mixture is deep underground.

The reason for carbon capture and storage is simple, as spelled out on tomorrowsair.com-carbon dioxide has built up in the atmosphere, causing the planet to grow warmer.

This in turn has created extreme unpredictability when it comes to global climate and weather, leaving us at the mercy of storms, rising sea levels and spikes in temperature. The tragic results can leave the populations of entire cities homeless and disrupt regional economies while chipping away at the earth’s long-term health, making a very bad situation even worse.

Roam Wild Adventure, however, is playing as large a role as it can to support Tomorrow’s Air.

Incubated by the Adventure Travel Trade Association, Tomorrow’s Air works with ClimeWorks, which developed the carbon capture technology. Roam Wild Adventure has signed on to this initiative as a business partner, and gives its clients the opportunity to support the endeavor financially when signing up for a trek. Helen also makes a donation of up to $100 for each adventurer that signs on with Roam Wild Adventure, and she works to raise awareness through social media posts.

Helen said her company’s goal is not just to lessen its impact on Tanzania, but to proactively improve it for all involved-those who welcome her and her company, and those, like herself and her clients, who are guests.

Toward that end, Roam Wild Adventure is working towards joining the Kilimanjaro Porters Assistance Project, which lends mountain clothing to porters free of charge; advocates for fair wages and ethical treatment by companies climbing Kilimanjaro; and encourages adventurers to select climbing companies with responsible treatment practices towards their crew.

Soto’s faith in the future recently got a big boost when a travel group of seven women each laid out plans to use one of their flight-allotted pieces of luggage to haul items for porters from the U.S. to Tanzania. This effort was a true partnership between Soto and the adventurers, who asked how they could help Roam Wild Adventure in its sustainability efforts.

“It just made me very happy,” she said. “It validated how people care and want to do something good.”

Roam Wild Adventure has also had a forest planted in its name in Madagascar, with real-time growth metrics monitored through an online portal powered by a satellite.

“We really try to put our money where our mouth is,” Soto said. “These days, sustainability is a catch-phrase. Adventure tourism is a catch-phrase. We really strive to do the work.”

Interested in taking part in your own responsible tourism adventure? Visit roamwildadventure.com for information.

Contact Information:

Name: Helen Soto
Company: Roam Wild Adventure
Address: Mahwah, NJ
Website: https://roamwildadventure.com
Email: [email protected]

SOURCE: Roam Wild Adventure

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