Eco Tourism Policy

Hymany Way Eco Tourism Policy

Definition of Ecotourism by The International Ecotourism Society: “Responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and sustains the well-being of local people.”

Eco Code

 We pledge to be a partner in conducting responsible and sustainable tourism with minimal impact on the physical, cultural and social environment of the area.

Hymany Way Eco Adventures is firmly committed to preserving our fragile environment. All Hymany Way tours follow a strict eco-code that involves everyone, starting from the office, to our clients, the adventure staff on field and the local community.

Our commitment is to offer experiences that have minimum impact on the local environment, culture and resources. We are also committed to ensuring that local communities benefit from our business.

To put into pratice our ideas we have adopted several strategies:

  • As far as possible we use local people to act in support of our eco adventures.
  • Our staff ensure our clients are given clear guidance on dealing with litter, toilet issues, on prevention of water pollution, firewood usage and personal hygiene.
  • Discussing with staff and client groups how to interact with local people they meet, eg with regard to awareness of local customs, introductions, employment, photography, handling children, gifts.
  • Ensuring we use operators who provide good quality of equipment for their staff and clients and ensure that their staff have acceptable work loads.

We ask our clients to respect local environments and promote local projects, products and producers. In particular:

  • Assist local economies by purchasing local products.
  • Not to remove any natural objects such as flora or fauna.
  • Not to harass wildlife or marine life.
  • Not to leave litter. Please take all litter with you unless responsibly disposed of by your tour guides.
  • Water is precious – please use it sparingly.
  • Please ask before taking photos of people or private houses.
  • Not to give presents of money to children nor to accept services from unlicensed people.

Where possible we try to help local communities and involve them in our programs. For this reason guides are recruited from the locality of the eco adventure being arranged. We are actively involved in conservation of the local area, including bog conservation and the River Suck Callows.

Minimal impact code of practice where applicable:

Walking – all walking tours are done along marked Hymany Way trails, an established walking trail that is part of the Bearer Breifne Way and are well publicized regarding “Leave No Trace”.

Bog Visits – the local bog has a newly built boardwalk that allows visitors the opportunity to see the bog without trampling the flora and fauna.

Conservation – We participate in bog conservation through membership of Irish Peatland Conservation Council and provide the opportunity for guests to channel funds to them through a donation box.

MINIMUM IMPACT GUIDELINES FOR ECOTOURISTS

Before you go on your holiday read about the places you are about to visit and choose your ecotour operator AFTER asking the following questions:

  • Does the operator comply with the accepted norms for ecotourism and conservation?
  • Is there economic benefit going back to, or staying in, the local community?
  • Does the operator use local tour guides, services and supplies where possible?

 While you are on tour minimise the negative social, environmental and economical impacts of your visit.  The Leave No Trace message is all about helping outdoor enthusiasts to minimise their impact on the environment.

Leave No Trace is based on a set of seven core principles.

Plan ahead and prepare

  • Before you go check, where possible, if access is allowed and your activity is permitted in the area you wish to visit.
  • Respect any signs, regulations, policies and special concerns for the area that you wish to visit. Permits may sometimes be needed for activities on public lands.
  • Where possible travel by public transport or share cars; consider the availability of parking.
  • Ensure you have the skills and equipment needed for your activity and to cope with emergencies that could arise.
  • Check the weather forecast and always be prepared for changing weather conditions.
  • For environmental and safety reasons, and to minimise your impact on other users, keep group numbers small; split larger parties into smaller groups.

 Be considerate of others

  • Respect the people who live and work in the countryside.
  • Park appropriately – avoid blocking gateways, forest entrances or narrow roads. Remember that farm machinery, local residents and the emergency services may need access at all times.
  • Take care not to damage property, especially walls, fences and crops.
  • Respect other visitors and protect the quality of their experience.
  • Let nature’s sounds prevail. Keep noise to a minimum.

Respect wildlife and farm animals

  • Dogs should be kept under close control and should only be brought onto hills or farmland with the landowner’s permission. Some public areas stipulate that dogs must be kept on a lead at all times, please adhere to local guidelines.
  • Observe wild animals and birds from a distance. Avoid disturbing them, particularly at sensitive times: mating, nesting and raising young (mostly between spring and early summer).
  • Keep wildlife wild, don’t feed wild animals or birds – our foods damage their health and leave them vulnerable to predators.
  • Farm animals are not pets; remain at a safe distance.

Travel and camp on durable ground

Durable ground includes established tracks and campsites, rock, gravel, dry grasses or snow.

In popular areas:

  • Concentrate use on existing tracks and campsites.
  • To avoid further erosion, travel in single file in the middle of the track even when wet or muddy.

In more remote areas:

  • Disperse use to prevent the creation of new tracks and campsites.
  • Avoid places where impacts are just beginning to show.

If camping:

  • Protect water quality by camping at least 30m from lakes and streams.
  • Keep campsites small and discreet.
  • Aim to leave your campsite as you found it, or better.

Leave what you find

  • Respect property. For example, farming or forestry machinery, fences, stone walls etc. Leave gates as you find them (open or closed).
  • Preserve the past: examine – without damaging – archaeological structures, old walls and heritage artefacts e.g. holy wells, mine workings, monuments.
  • Conserve the present: leave rocks, flowers, plants, animals and all natural habitats as you find them. Fallen trees are a valuable wildlife habitat; do not remove or use for firewood.
  • Avoid introducing non-native plants and animals e.g. zebra mussels in rivers and lakes.
  • Do not build rock cairns, structures or shelters

Dispose of waste properly

  • “If You Bring It In, Take It Out” – take home all litter and leftover food (including tea bags, fruit peels and other biodegradable foods).
  • To dispose of solid human waste, dig a hole 15-20cms deep and at least 30m from water, campsites and tracks. Cover and disguise the hole when finished.
  • Bring home toilet paper and hygiene products.
  • Wash yourself or your dishes 30m away from streams or lakes and if necessary use small amounts of biodegradable soap. Bring home any solids and scatter strained dishwater.

Minimize the effects of fire

  • Fires can cause lasting impacts and be devastating to forests, natural habitats and farmland. Therefore when camping use a lightweight stove for cooking.
  • Where fires are permitted: Use established fire rings, barbecues or create a mound fire.
  • Keep fires small. Only use sticks from the ground that can be broken by hand. Do not use growing vegetation for use as firewood.
  • Avoid burning plastics or other substances: which emit toxic fumes.
  • Burn all fires to ash, put out fires completely, and then scatter cool ashes.

Practising a Leave No Trace ethic is very simple: Make it hard for others to see or hear you and LEAVE NO TRACE of your visit.