Hi rgallo,
I am the Commercial Director for Nature Air, and will answer your post here. FONAFIFO, is part of our Environmental Ministry and is a forestry financing platform using private and public sectors to support conservation and reforestation.
We have complete and total confidence in FONAFIFO, as do many other foreign governments like Norway and Sweden and France who support projects here as well as Conservation International and Rainforest Alliance.
Regards
Alexi
I would like to know , how you got Carbon Neutral certified as I understand it is a very expensive and lenghty process , done by very few entities in the world .
Also I understand that FONAFIFO is promoting the reforestation in Costa Rica with non native timber that can be cut down in five years, it doesnt seem to fit.
Also do you think that preserving 500 acres in the Osa Penninsula, where thousands of hectareas are being currently destroyed?
There are projects where users are trying to protect larger amounts of forests or reforest them, which takes an incredible amount of energy from the owners, it seems that just giving money to a questionable entity shoulnt be much of a merit toward conservation efforts.
In San Jose, Costa Rica, NatureAir was established in 2004 with its emphasis on 100% carbon free aviation program. This program is highly eco-friendly that the company has much concern about greenhouse gas emission and protections of tropical forests. It is better for environment that airline uses biodegradable fuels to reduce annually 160 tons of carbon dioxide emission in the air. The use of biodegradable fuels and education for kids about environmental issues has established the innovative initiative in order to address the issues of global warming. However, the use of biodegradable fuels was challenged by the increase of ticket prices, and educating customers about serious environmental issues would be critical that they need to understand the effect of carbon neutrality on the air pollution. More international airline companies should adopt the use of biodegradable fuels at least for the short-ranged flights in order to decrease carbon emission from airplanes. Eco-friendly focus of the NeutralAir has positive impacts on the environment as well as lives of people in the host community, such as preservation of tropical forest.
I read with interest the application for Nature Air.
They state that they have a 100% carbon neutral airline, leading the reader to believe that their planes do not have carbon emissions. However, in further reading, they 100% "offset" their carbon contribution to the environment by reforestation in Costa Rica and by powering their ground vehicles with biodegradable fuels.
I agree that they are practicing conservation and preservation with these efforts, but I initially felt misled.
The fact that the company has formed a "sustainable tourism committee" is encouraging, and hopefully, will encourage a further reduction of carbon emissions through more efficient plane fuel and through promoting their concepts internationally.
The impact of their innovation has many far-reaching applications for airlines to help protect and preserve the environment.
NatureAir’s initiative to limit its planes carbon emissions and reduce the company’s dependence on fuel while flying and on the ground is inspiring and impressive. With the airline industry contributing to 3% of global greenhouse gas emissions, it is essential that airlines take the effort to find ways to reduce their carbon emissions that are contributing to global warming. As an individual who is interested in global warming issues and considerate of making changes in everyday life to be as environmentally friendly as possible, I am impressed by NatureAir’s efforts and would gladly be willing to fly with the airline. The entry is very well written and extremely complete. The detailed answers to each question clearly explain the impact the airline’s initiative has in Costa Rica and the potential is has to influence other airlines around the world. The company’s efforts will also have long-term benefits since it is contributing to the fight against global warming. The video included in the entry is entertaining and serves as a good introduction to the information. I also think that NatureAir is a great example of how medium to larger size corporations can emphasize their power and influence to make a difference. Best of luck in the competition and with continued success.
Thank you Alex for your response , I have nothing against Fonafifo , its more I get a good payment for protecting close to 2000 acres of forest,of course it takes energy to protect it, i am against their new politics regarding reforestation as they are promoting the production of trees for timber, so they do produce oxygen for 5 years and then get cut down to bare land...
I do admire your compromise towards Carbon Neutrality , I however feel upset that with all the hard work and intention to protect , you have only saved 200 hectareas in the very threatened Osa Peninsula , I think there are other mechanisms in which you can have more impact .
I am glad to see Costa Rica's NatureAir airline committed to carbon neutral travel and leading the way for other airlines and intensely carbon-producing transportation channels to reduce their carbon emissions thru "cleaner" fuels of bio-diesel. I have been struggling with something I see in our sustainable tourism industry with its various awards given out annually for sustainability, eco-sensitivity, geo-tourism, world savers, etc., since I started learning about the various ways players in our industry actually "contribute" to solutions. I think there is a fundamental difference between offsetting carbon emissions vs actually reducing your own emissions, vs creating solutions to reduce emissions on a larger scale outside of your own operations/footprint/impact. All of these methods are valuable and have their place, especially in our current world of undeniably escalating climate change. When I see very large corporations who offset their carbon emissions by buying credits, ranked in the same set with small companies who actually build/maintain/ or manage carbon-reducing solutions (like purchasing 2000 acres or more of rainforest to protect it and not use it for potentially financially lucrative timber sales), I think there is enough of a difference to merit some different categories in the sustainable tourism consideration set. NatureAir is a smaller airline, aggressively and boldly doing what they can in the midst of the carbon they produce, but they are still at the end of the day adding to our world carbon issue. Why can't we get some subsets of categories that help consumers truly understand what each of us is doing in the larger climate protection body of work? Meanwhile, congrats to NatureAir and every company and organization who is working to reduce their impact and others' impact, on climate change. Change won't come from the top, let's keep working from the bottom up!
----------
Julie Thorner | WillowWorks, Inc.
Sustainable Businesses. Smart Marketing.
P.O. Box 978 | 141 Johnathan Lane
Bryson City, NC 28713
o: 828.488.3420 | m: 828.736.1695 | f: 828.488.5425 julie@willowworks.bz | www.willowworks.bz | skype: jmthorner
Mr.Alexi Huntley , llegue hasta Ud mis más sinceras felicitaciones y las de mis compañeros de equipo por estar entre las mejores innovaciones en éste desafío 2009. Nosotros compartimos plenamente su ideología.
Adelante con su proyecto!! y a las órdenes en Uruguay si algún dia desea visitar nuestra granja Abambaé.
Abrazo fraterno.
Lady Rodríguez www.biouruguay.org http://bio-uruguay.blogspot.com
what Nature Air is doing is amazing, not just in Costa Rica a mean around the world, they are triyng to protect our world againt the smoke that their plains produced. We must to be proud of them, they diserve our admiration.
On July 1, 2009 the judges reviewed the entries for the Changemakers “Geotourism Challenge 2009: Power of Place Sustaining the Future of Destinations” competition and would like to pass on the following feedback (listed below) for your entry. Thank you for applying and for your hard work in the field. We are excited to archive your entry to serve as a leading solution for the worldwide community of innovators. If possible, please take the time to respond to some of the provocative questions and issues that were raised by the judges. We wish you continued luck with your innovative, sustainable, and socially impactful initiatives.
All the best, The Changemakers Team.
“Brave, ambitious, and extremely innovative in one of the most challenging aspects of the industry. Bravo! This project was definitely sustainable and translatable for any airline, but the question is how do you adjust for intense airline competition? Can this airline project succeed for an international or major airline? It is absolutely valid that airlines could be doing more than they are to clean up carbon emissions.”
“Great resourcefulness! The combination of the private sector and government coming together at a solution is a very interesting direction. At a country level and local level this is a solution. Often the true innovation and the trend setting starts by targeting just at the local level and smaller scale then explodes with global replication. It has potential to spread. They have taken a stepping stone towards the global issue of climate change and have taken a leadership role in finding a global solution to the airline industry because we not there yet! If you consider that climate change is the largest impact on a destination, is there a way to measure how much progress has NatureAir has made? Also, can you tell me more about the social component?”
“When this project began in 2005 carbon offsets weren’t really the rage as they are now. This project was truly ahead of its time. By offsetting CO2 emissions and reusing kitchen waste, NatureAir is really effective in protecting the rainforest and the rivers in Costa Rica. Offsetting can only really work when we as tourists are more closely connected with the projects. The key is connecting passengers, consumers and tourists with the offset. Although the company may not get all of their passengers well educated, its innovation definitely deserves replication by other big air companies. While carbon offsetting is 'a good thing' it doesn't alter the fact that damage has been done. Are there plans for looking at more fuel efficient planes as it grows as well as its compulsory offsetting?”
- Changemakers “Geotourism Challenge 2009: Power of Place Sustaining the Future of Destinations ” Judges: National Geographic Society, United Nations Foundation, Tribe Wanted, The Green Belt Movement, Lonely Planet, Southwest
Every one that usually flies in Costa Rica knows all the work you are developing to protect the nature. Tourism is a positive answer of Costa Rican programs to protect the environment, and the economic growing like a fact of this, must be responsible on a equal balance, that what carbon neutral is: progress, developing, conservation, happiness, freedom, clear and healthy air to fly and live in.
Comentários
Hi rgallo,
I am the Commercial Director for Nature Air, and will answer your post here. FONAFIFO, is part of our Environmental Ministry and is a forestry financing platform using private and public sectors to support conservation and reforestation.
We have complete and total confidence in FONAFIFO, as do many other foreign governments like Norway and Sweden and France who support projects here as well as Conservation International and Rainforest Alliance.
Regards
Alexi
I would like to know , how you got Carbon Neutral certified as I understand it is a very expensive and lenghty process , done by very few entities in the world .
Also I understand that FONAFIFO is promoting the reforestation in Costa Rica with non native timber that can be cut down in five years, it doesnt seem to fit.
Also do you think that preserving 500 acres in the Osa Penninsula, where thousands of hectareas are being currently destroyed?
There are projects where users are trying to protect larger amounts of forests or reforest them, which takes an incredible amount of energy from the owners, it seems that just giving money to a questionable entity shoulnt be much of a merit toward conservation efforts.
Maybe I just dont get it
In San Jose, Costa Rica, NatureAir was established in 2004 with its emphasis on 100% carbon free aviation program. This program is highly eco-friendly that the company has much concern about greenhouse gas emission and protections of tropical forests. It is better for environment that airline uses biodegradable fuels to reduce annually 160 tons of carbon dioxide emission in the air. The use of biodegradable fuels and education for kids about environmental issues has established the innovative initiative in order to address the issues of global warming. However, the use of biodegradable fuels was challenged by the increase of ticket prices, and educating customers about serious environmental issues would be critical that they need to understand the effect of carbon neutrality on the air pollution. More international airline companies should adopt the use of biodegradable fuels at least for the short-ranged flights in order to decrease carbon emission from airplanes. Eco-friendly focus of the NeutralAir has positive impacts on the environment as well as lives of people in the host community, such as preservation of tropical forest.
I read with interest the application for Nature Air.
They state that they have a 100% carbon neutral airline, leading the reader to believe that their planes do not have carbon emissions. However, in further reading, they 100% "offset" their carbon contribution to the environment by reforestation in Costa Rica and by powering their ground vehicles with biodegradable fuels.
I agree that they are practicing conservation and preservation with these efforts, but I initially felt misled.
The fact that the company has formed a "sustainable tourism committee" is encouraging, and hopefully, will encourage a further reduction of carbon emissions through more efficient plane fuel and through promoting their concepts internationally.
The impact of their innovation has many far-reaching applications for airlines to help protect and preserve the environment.
NatureAir’s initiative to limit its planes carbon emissions and reduce the company’s dependence on fuel while flying and on the ground is inspiring and impressive. With the airline industry contributing to 3% of global greenhouse gas emissions, it is essential that airlines take the effort to find ways to reduce their carbon emissions that are contributing to global warming. As an individual who is interested in global warming issues and considerate of making changes in everyday life to be as environmentally friendly as possible, I am impressed by NatureAir’s efforts and would gladly be willing to fly with the airline. The entry is very well written and extremely complete. The detailed answers to each question clearly explain the impact the airline’s initiative has in Costa Rica and the potential is has to influence other airlines around the world. The company’s efforts will also have long-term benefits since it is contributing to the fight against global warming. The video included in the entry is entertaining and serves as a good introduction to the information. I also think that NatureAir is a great example of how medium to larger size corporations can emphasize their power and influence to make a difference. Best of luck in the competition and with continued success.
Thank you Alex for your response , I have nothing against Fonafifo , its more I get a good payment for protecting close to 2000 acres of forest,of course it takes energy to protect it, i am against their new politics regarding reforestation as they are promoting the production of trees for timber, so they do produce oxygen for 5 years and then get cut down to bare land...
I do admire your compromise towards Carbon Neutrality , I however feel upset that with all the hard work and intention to protect , you have only saved 200 hectareas in the very threatened Osa Peninsula , I think there are other mechanisms in which you can have more impact .
I am glad to see Costa Rica's NatureAir airline committed to carbon neutral travel and leading the way for other airlines and intensely carbon-producing transportation channels to reduce their carbon emissions thru "cleaner" fuels of bio-diesel. I have been struggling with something I see in our sustainable tourism industry with its various awards given out annually for sustainability, eco-sensitivity, geo-tourism, world savers, etc., since I started learning about the various ways players in our industry actually "contribute" to solutions. I think there is a fundamental difference between offsetting carbon emissions vs actually reducing your own emissions, vs creating solutions to reduce emissions on a larger scale outside of your own operations/footprint/impact. All of these methods are valuable and have their place, especially in our current world of undeniably escalating climate change. When I see very large corporations who offset their carbon emissions by buying credits, ranked in the same set with small companies who actually build/maintain/ or manage carbon-reducing solutions (like purchasing 2000 acres or more of rainforest to protect it and not use it for potentially financially lucrative timber sales), I think there is enough of a difference to merit some different categories in the sustainable tourism consideration set. NatureAir is a smaller airline, aggressively and boldly doing what they can in the midst of the carbon they produce, but they are still at the end of the day adding to our world carbon issue. Why can't we get some subsets of categories that help consumers truly understand what each of us is doing in the larger climate protection body of work? Meanwhile, congrats to NatureAir and every company and organization who is working to reduce their impact and others' impact, on climate change. Change won't come from the top, let's keep working from the bottom up!
----------
Julie Thorner | WillowWorks, Inc.
Sustainable Businesses. Smart Marketing.
P.O. Box 978 | 141 Johnathan Lane
Bryson City, NC 28713
o: 828.488.3420 | m: 828.736.1695 | f: 828.488.5425
julie@willowworks.bz | www.willowworks.bz | skype: jmthorner
Mr.Alexi Huntley , llegue hasta Ud mis más sinceras felicitaciones y las de mis compañeros de equipo por estar entre las mejores innovaciones en éste desafío 2009. Nosotros compartimos plenamente su ideología.
Adelante con su proyecto!! y a las órdenes en Uruguay si algún dia desea visitar nuestra granja Abambaé.
Abrazo fraterno.
Lady Rodríguez
www.biouruguay.org
http://bio-uruguay.blogspot.com
what Nature Air is doing is amazing, not just in Costa Rica a mean around the world, they are triyng to protect our world againt the smoke that their plains produced. We must to be proud of them, they diserve our admiration.
On July 1, 2009 the judges reviewed the entries for the Changemakers “Geotourism Challenge 2009: Power of Place Sustaining the Future of Destinations” competition and would like to pass on the following feedback (listed below) for your entry. Thank you for applying and for your hard work in the field. We are excited to archive your entry to serve as a leading solution for the worldwide community of innovators. If possible, please take the time to respond to some of the provocative questions and issues that were raised by the judges. We wish you continued luck with your innovative, sustainable, and socially impactful initiatives.
All the best, The Changemakers Team.
“Brave, ambitious, and extremely innovative in one of the most challenging aspects of the industry. Bravo! This project was definitely sustainable and translatable for any airline, but the question is how do you adjust for intense airline competition? Can this airline project succeed for an international or major airline? It is absolutely valid that airlines could be doing more than they are to clean up carbon emissions.”
“Great resourcefulness! The combination of the private sector and government coming together at a solution is a very interesting direction. At a country level and local level this is a solution. Often the true innovation and the trend setting starts by targeting just at the local level and smaller scale then explodes with global replication. It has potential to spread. They have taken a stepping stone towards the global issue of climate change and have taken a leadership role in finding a global solution to the airline industry because we not there yet! If you consider that climate change is the largest impact on a destination, is there a way to measure how much progress has NatureAir has made? Also, can you tell me more about the social component?”
“When this project began in 2005 carbon offsets weren’t really the rage as they are now. This project was truly ahead of its time. By offsetting CO2 emissions and reusing kitchen waste, NatureAir is really effective in protecting the rainforest and the rivers in Costa Rica. Offsetting can only really work when we as tourists are more closely connected with the projects. The key is connecting passengers, consumers and tourists with the offset. Although the company may not get all of their passengers well educated, its innovation definitely deserves replication by other big air companies. While carbon offsetting is 'a good thing' it doesn't alter the fact that damage has been done. Are there plans for looking at more fuel efficient planes as it grows as well as its compulsory offsetting?”
- Changemakers “Geotourism Challenge 2009: Power of Place Sustaining the Future of Destinations ” Judges: National Geographic Society, United Nations Foundation, Tribe Wanted, The Green Belt Movement, Lonely Planet, Southwest
Always ready to serve your needs, with safety coming first.
We had the pleasure flying to Tambor - it was the best airplane ride I ever had. so good to know they are carbon neutral.
Every one that usually flies in Costa Rica knows all the work you are developing to protect the nature. Tourism is a positive answer of Costa Rican programs to protect the environment, and the economic growing like a fact of this, must be responsible on a equal balance, that what carbon neutral is: progress, developing, conservation, happiness, freedom, clear and healthy air to fly and live in.
Viva Costa Rica, Pura Vida!!
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i am mohamed from libya
hfilk@yahoo.com
www.Smraaljanoob.com
hello dear/Mr. Alexi Huntley
You are agree with me in many things, thank you
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i am mohamed from libya
hfilk@yahoo.com
www.Smraaljanoob.com
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