Ecotour Providers: Biking - Hiking - Canoeing - Kayaking*
To be DLITE certified, ecotour providers must satisfy the following:
No wildlife (with the exception of invasive species) is harmed or harassed
during trips
Operations do not involve alterations to habitat that will result in
alterations to natural wildlife population dynamics
Operations do not disturb wildlife to the extent of altering future population dynamics
Trips involve ecosystem and wildlife interpretation
A 'carry-in, carry-out' policy is used for all litter and waste
Operations do not result in eutrophication, sedimentation, or chemical contamination of waterways
Ecotour providers must also score at least 48 out of 80 points:
______ Each biking, hiking, canoeing, kayaking tour has no more than 20 customers per guide (4)
______ Each motorboat tour has no more than 50 customers per guide (3)
______ Private land is used as part of the nature tour (with permission) (3)
______ Guides are trained in LOCAL wildlife/ecosystem interpretation (5)
______ Guides discuss local environmental problems and solutions to them during tours (4)
______ Tour does not cause wildlife to change its behavior, e.g., fly away, runaway etc. (3)
______ All staff are given training and information on the local ecosystem (3)
______ All staff have specific awareness of measures that must be undertaken to insure the operation is ecologically sustainable (3)
______ Tour sites avoid rare, threatened and endangered species habitat (4)
______ All paper used in operation is recycled paper (2)
______ Aluminum is recycled (3)
______ Paper is recycled (3)
______ Plastic is recycled (2)
______ All environmental violations encountered during tours are reported to the appropriate regulatory agencies (4)
______ Chemical-free cleaning products are used on boats, bikes, etc. (3)
______ Printed information on the local ecosystem and how to protect it is
provided to customers (4)
______ Noise levels from operation do not exceed 10% of background noise (3)
______ 4-stroke rather than 2-stroke engines are used (3)
______ Smoking is not permitted on any vehicles, vessels, or aircraft (2)
______ Wildlife data is recorded and provided to scientific entities (3)
______ Customers are kept to designated hiking/biking trails (4)
______ Oil, grease, contaminated bilge water and sewage is properly disposed of on shore and never in water bodies (4)
______ The entity supports local conservation efforts via financial or in-kind assistance (4)
______ Guides can identify 75% of mammal, bird, crab, fish, reptile, and amphibian species (4)
______ TOTAL
* Snorkeling, horseback riding, and airplane ride providers will also be considered.
For more information contact:
Delmarva LITE
P.O. Box 669, Salisbury, MD 21803
Phone Number: 443-944-8097
Email: dlitedirector@comcast.net
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