The Italian Island of Tavolara, pictured here from across the waters of the Gulf of Olbia, is beautiful nature at its best. It lies off the coast of the town of Olbia on the northeast coast of Sardinia. Olbia is the main destination for ferries arriving from mainland Italy, so Tavolara is often among the first sights seen by visitors to Sardinia.

Word Environment Day, a celebration since 1972 of positive action for the environment, is commemorated every year on 5 June. In keeping with its aim of raising awareness of environmental issues and inciting action, we have assembled a selection of notable projects flagged by our local partners that showcase how things can be done.

As anyone involved in the ecotourism industry can tell you, there are conservation and environmental challenges in every tourist destination. In Zimbabwe, troubles have surfaced in the area surrounding the majestic Victoria Falls, one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World and a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site. In recent years, many native animal species have suffered from an increase in poaching.

The stunning natural landscape of the Pacific Northwest of the United States is an ideal spawning ground for ecologically minded enterprises. If verdant forests, crystal-clear waterways and statuesque mountains don’t get you thinking about this beautiful planet of ours, it’s doubtful anything will. The region has certainly worked its magic on the eco-conscious folk at Seattle-based EverGreen Escapes.

Where will you head when the wild calls? Where should we look for tour operators eager to join forces to make a positive impact on their surroundings through community development and environmental conservation projects? For inspiration, we turned to the Adventure Tourism Development Index.