It’s no secret that the way we holiday has changed drastically in recent years. Sustainability is at the forefront of our minds, the climate crisis is an ongoing issue, and travelling in a way that limits damage to the natural environment is also a major consideration when booking a trip.
So to help determine the best destinations for environmentally conscious people who want to balance their love of travel with their concern for nature, Forbes Advisor has come up with an Ecotourism Index that ranks the 50 best countries for nature lovers to visit.
The research measured a couple of key factors: the number of animal and plant species found in a country, the number of species per ten kmsq, the percentage of the country’s landmass that is protected, overall environmental performance (like air quality) and the number of UNESCO Natural Heritage Sites.
Brazil took out the top spot, and is considered the most biodiverse country of all the destinations involved – even despite large-scale deforestation in the Amazon. Mexico came in second, thanks to being home to more than 29,000 animal and plant species, including endangered animals like the Angel Island mouse and the fish-eating bat.
And coming in at third is our very own island nation. Australia is the only country in the top five located outside America, and it boasts 16 UNESCO Natural Heritage Sites – the highest number out of all 50 countries researched. Around 20 per cent of Australia’s landmass is protected, and 101 of its 27,000 species of animals and plants are too. Now that’s something to be proud of.
Here are the top 10 destinations for ecotourism, according to Forbes Advisor.
- Brazil (index score: 94.9)
- Mexico (index score: 86)
- Australia (index score: 84)
- Ecuador (index score: 82.1)
- Costa Rica (index score: 81.2)
- Bhutan (index score: 81)
- Peru (index score: 81)
- Indonesia (index score: 80.1)
- Panama (index score: 79.6)
- Tanzania (index score: 79.3)