From Europe to Thailand, the website ‘Mother Nature Network’ (MNN) has identified eight of what they consider to be the most eco-friendly beaches in the world. Many have gained their success and reputation through supportive governments and by limiting visitor numbers. Not surprisingly, nature reserves and remote islands feature regularly in the list but it’s great to see that even some major tourist such as Hawaii’s Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve, can sustain outstanding conservation efforts, alongside tourism and economic developments. MNN’s list includes:
- Whitehaven Beach, Whitsunday Islands, Australia (Photo): A top attraction in the area, which has won numerous environmental protection awards, as well as being crowned ‘Cleanest Beach in Queensland’. The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority Visitor limits numbers here and access is by registered tour guides only.
- Playa Matapalo, Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica: Around 250,000 species of flora and fauna are found here, where the Portalon National Wildlife Park is protected by the environment-conscious Costa Rican government.
- Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve, Oahu, Hawaii: Hawaii’s first Marine Life Conservation District has been protected since 1990 and its limited amount of visitors are required to watch an educational video before entry.
- Las Islas Cies, Galicia, Spain: A National Park Island where cars are prohibited and only camping is offered for accommodation.
- Sancho Bay, Fernando de Noronha, Brazil: A protected marine ecological reserve, visitor numbers to the island of Fernando are limited to 420 at a time. Access to Sancho Bay is naturally restricted to small numbers, as access is only possible by a ladder that’s wedged in a rock crevice.
For the full list, take a look at the MNN website
Photo taken from www.top-channel.tv
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