The Canadian Rockies stretch through British Columbia supplying the region with a diverse range of astounding scenery and wildlife that inhabit areas protected for 100 years.
Images of snow capped mountains, forests as far as the eye can see and Grizzly Bears are conjured up from the Rocky Mountains, and what a better way to experience this wilderness than by train. But how responsible can train travel be?
Rocky Mountaineer Vacations offer four different routes through British Columbia. These pass through five protected areas Mount Revelstoke National Park, Glacier National Park, Yoho National Park, and the oldest and the largest of the Rockies parks, Banff and Jasper. Their attraction is not only the visual and relaxing experience, but their work behind the scenes. The Armstrong Group, owner and operator of the Rocky Mountaineer Vacations, pride themselves on their dedication to sustainable development.
Their policies are practiced through The Caretakers Program which was developed in 2003 and address sustainability by focusing on: Environmental Stewardship, Economic Sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibility.
Targeting economic sustainability involves putting money back into the communities in BC and Alberta that may be affected by the RMV tours. Local businesses and suppliers are used when ever possible and tourism contributes to the local economy by using accommodation, dining, shopping and visiting local attractions. The Fraser Discovery Route runs from Whistler to Jasper with one night’s stay in Quesnel, which has seen $1.5 million put into the town’s economy since the tour began in May 2006.
RMV routes follow some of the rivers inhabited by Pacific Salmon, but due to an increase in water temperature and unpredictable flows, believed to be caused by climate change, the salmon stocks have decreased naming them an endangered species. RMV have signed an eight year financial partnership with the Pacific Salmon Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation that is working to sustain the Pacific Salmon stocks. The eight year commitment is the equivalent of two salmon lifecycles.
Waste reduction is an important concern when it comes to tourism. RMV have set up an initiative to reduce its waste by 50% by the end of the 2009 operating season. They will achieve this by developing new policies and working with recycling operators in the communities the tours pas through. This year so far over 82% of meal trays were recycled and rubbish taken to the landfill was reduced by 10%.
New technology has also been installed onto the locomotives, which reduce fuel consumption, exhaust emissions and noise pollution.
Rosie Davis
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The Canadian Rockies stretch through British Columbia supplying the region with a diverse range of astounding scenery and wildlife that inhabit areas protected for 100 years.
