The province of Palawan is a spectacular untamed region found on the western fringes of the Philippine Archipelago. Almost nowhere else can one simultaneously encounter two such intriguing, dynamic and diverse habitats as reefs and tropical rainforests. Rich in teeming jungles, tousled mangrove swamps and vibrant coral reefs, Palawan is truly one of the best examples in Asia of a species-rich, biologically diverse ecosystem.

“Watch where you’re stepping!” says our naturalist guide, Nikolas. I flinch. Slowly but surely I am learning the proper rules of etiquette in the Galápagos National Park and Marine Reserve as we carefully wind our way along narrow trails, some of them treacherous and slippery from water and shards of hard lava. “You see,” whispers Nikolas, “you might have stepped on their nests if you wandered off the trail.”

Scenic beauty, summer fog and a spectacular waterfront are just some of the natural highlights of San Francisco, California. That, along with progressive citizens committed to cleaning, greening and improving energy efficiency of their surroundings, certainly contributed to the city’s reputation as an incubator for some truly innovative environmental initiatives. Now, in the San Francisco ground transportation industry, one local company is helping set the standard for reducing dependence on fossil fuels: Green Carpet Limousine.