IMPLEMENTING THE YHAI ENVIRONMENTAL CHARTER

v    INTRODUCTION

For decades, environmentalists have been speaking about the consequences of depleting our natural resources and polluting the earth. More recently, governments and international agencies are publicly recognizing the fundamental importance of issues such as global warming, over population, deforestation, desertification and biodiversity.

The goal of saving the environment is a high priority for most, but people lack a practical understanding of what they can do on a personal level. There is a genuine need to provide examples of proper environmental household management, and opportunities for individuals personally to participate in conservation practices.

IYHF developed and formally adopted an Environmental Charter at its 1992 biennial Conference.

v    THE CHARTER

The YHAI seeks to encourage environmental awareness and good practice amongst its member Associations, so enabling the Youth Hostel movement to play its part in environmental conservation. In order to enable execution of this objective, the YHAI addressed seven basic areas which constitute the foundation of its environmental policy.

Ø      CONSUMPTION

Management and purchasing policies to avoid and minimize waste, facilitate recycling and minimize the use of materials harmful to the environment will be adopted. Water consumption will be reduced through measures to minimize water waste.

Ø      RECYCLING

Associations will commit themselves to use recycled or partially recycled products wherever feasible. They will also commit to recycling as many resources as possible, such as paper, glass, metal, plastic and organic materials, and develop the necessary changes in operations to implement comprehensive recycling practices.Where there are no available recycling facilities, emphasis will be placed on avoiding and minimizing waste.

Ø      POLLUTION

As the largest single source of pollution from the operation of hostels is disposal of waste, pollution will be minimized through the use of efficient and environmentally acceptable methods of waste reduction and disposal.

Ø      ENERGY CONSERVATION

Associations will monitor energy consumption and seek to minimize energy usage in its hostels and operations.IYHF will seek to encourage use of renewable energy resources and promote projects to this end where possible.

Ø      TRANSPORT

Associations will encourage use of available public transport and supply full information on public transport at all Youth Hostels. Alternatively, car sharing will be encouraged and hostellers using cars will be encouraged to discover surrounding areas by public transport, bicycle, or on foot.

Ø      NATURE

Environmental concerns will be taken into consideration when caring for hostel grounds. For hostels located in or near a specially designated nature area, Associations will encourage support and protection of those areas.

Ø      ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION

Activities and displays promoting the importance of adopting environmental practices, changing personal habits, and emphasising the individual's ability to influence change positively will be a featured part of the hostel experience. Associations will consider making suitable Youth Hostels into special environmental study centreswhere possible.

v    THE WORK PLAN

This Work Plan is intended to be a source of encouragement and suggestions for the implementation of the YHAI Environmental Charter. State Associations will be responsible for adapting this work plan into more specific implementation plans which are responsive to the needs of individual hostel wardens in their own states. Providing more detailed information - such as revised issue guidelines, time tables, approved products and local resources - is essential for successful implementation of the Charter.

There are guidelines below for each of the Charter's issue area. These guidelines are divided into minimum standards and advanced efforts for each issue. They provide a framework around which each State Association will be able to develop its own, more specific guidelines appropriate for its particular culture, climate and special circumstances. The guidelines gives guidance for Associations, the suggested actions listed in each issue area are intended to be implemented by individual hostel wardens.

GUIDELINES FOR THE CHARTER IMPLEMENTATION BY ISSUE AREA

This section lists minimum standards and advanced efforts for each issue area in the Charter. The Minimum Standards establish basic levels of environmental practices and set achievable goals for all hostels. The Advanced Efforts set goals for hostels, which have already met the basic standards, thus recognizing the achievement of these hostels, while providing incentives for further progress. For each level there are implemented examples from hostels in different climates and cultural areas.

1) Consumption

i)       Management and purchasing policies should be adopted that avoid waste, facilitate recycling and minimize the use of materials harmful to the environment. Consistent with health and safety, packing should be minimized and, where possible, re-used.

ii)     Wardens must exercise care when purchasing other products, which might be convenient but are also environmentally destructive. Some products may seem harmless, but using them can actually result in damaging the environment due to the production methods used or disposal of the product. Purchase supplies, which earn environmental certification from government or credible independent agencies, where possible.

b)    Minimum Standards

i)       Review and implement management policies and purchasing policies with a view to avoiding waste.

ii)     Research and implement maintenance and cleaning methods which use non-toxic, multipurpose products where possible.

iii)   Prevent water waste by regular maintenance on plumbing.

iv)  Educate hostellers about the necessity of reducing consumption and of wisely choosing what we consume through signs and by example.

c)    Advanced Efforts

i)       Establish and implement higher levels of minimum standards 1.1.1 and 1.1.2.

ii)     Reduce water usage by installing simple water saving devices and/or replacing fixtures with those that use less water.

iii)   Feature the use of abundant, environmentally safe, natural or recycled local building materials whenever possible.

iv)  Offer local, organically produced food whenever possible.

2) Recycling

i)       Recycling minimizes waste, reduces the need for raw materials, saves energy and makes good economic sense.

ii)     Although recycling systems may not be provided at national/local levels in some areas, these guidelines are intended to encourage as much recycling as possible and to promote the principle. Where there are no accessible recycling facilities, more emphasis should be placed on avoiding and minimizing waste.

iii)   Recycling in hostels requires a reliable infrastructure. Staff must be appropriately trained to optimize the benefits of recycling and to maintain efficient hostel operation.

b)    Minimum Standards

i)       Develop a recycling plan and monitoring system:

c)    recycle as many resources as possible

d)    train hostel staff

i)       Purchase products made from recycled materials where possible.

ii)     Educate hostellers about proper recycling through signs and by example

e)    Advanced Efforts

i)       Recycle the following materials where possible:

i.       glass plastic

ii.     aluminium batteries

iii.   mixed metals textiles

iv.  paper

ii)     Compost organic material where possible.

iii)   Use recyclable products where possible.

iv)  Initiate and support actions by other organizations to promote recycling.

3) Pollution

i)       The largest single potential source of pollution is the solid waste from the operation of hostels. Avoiding the production of waste is most important. Waste materials do not disappear; they only change forms in the waste disposal cycle.

ii)     Whatever the type and location of the hostel, a plan should be established for handling and disposing of waste.

b)    Minimum Standards

i)       Develop a solid waste management plan to achieve measurable reductions with specific goals.

ii)     Reduce unnecessary packaging waste by purchasing from suppliers that minimize packing materials and reuse or recycle containers.

iii)   Avoid the use of cleaning materials which contain harmful chemicals. Where they must be used, ensure thestaff are trained to use and dispose of them properly.

iv)  Educate hostellers about pollution caused by waste through signs and by example.

c)    Advanced Efforts

i)       Collect and properly dispose of all wastes, and particularly toxic waste such as batteries, oil, paint, etc.

ii)     Treat, by filtration or other means, liquid waste not connected to sewage or purification systems.

iii)   Initiate and support actions by the government and by other organizations to reduce pollution.

4)  Energy Conservation

i)       Conserving energy leads to saving non-renewable resources, decreasing acid rain, reducing radioactive waste and reducing the greenhouse effect. There will be less developmental pressure on land and water resources as a result of decreasing the use of energy.

ii)     Energy conservation also make economic sense. Finding and eliminating sources of wasted energy can help lower the cost of operating a hostel substantially. The energy conservation standards listed below are designed first to identify the areas where the hostel consumes the most energy, and then to determine how to decrease the consumption of energy most efficiently and economically.

b)    Minimum Standards

i)       Conduct an internal energy audit to identify the sources of the greatest expenditures of energy.

ii)     Formulate an energy conservation plan to reduce these expenditures.

iii)   Install energy efficient lighting where lights are used for long periods of time.

iv)  Properly control, maintain and improve heating/cooling units and appliances for optimal performance. Take advantage of natural ventilation.

v)    Promote energy conservation to hostellers through signs and by example.

c)    Advanced Efforts

i)       Install energy efficient lighting and/or suitable controls.

ii)     Utilize renewable energy resources such as solar power.

iii)   Replace old or inefficient heating/cooling units and appliances with energy efficient ones.

iv)  Install insulation where appropriate eg double glazed windows.

v)    Swith off the lights as you leave the room with eclectronic swith of system.

5) Transport

i)       Generally public transport causes leas pollution. Hostellers should be encouraged to reduce the use of private vehicles and increase use of public transport. Information about public transport should be prominently displayed. The intent is to offer the choice of exploring an area in a more relaxed way, one which reduces harmful impacts on the environment.

b)    Minimum Standards

i)       Provide accurate, up-to-date, public transportation information in the form of timetables, routes and maps.

ii)     Provide information on alternative transportation such as bicycle rental, hiking trails, car sharing, etc.

c)    Advanced Efforts

i)       Sell public transportation tickets at hostels served by public transport.

ii)     Offer or facilitate long term parking.

iii)   Support public transportation awareness campaigns and interest groups.

6) Nature

i)       Hostel maintenance extends beyond the physical structure to include the area surrounding the hostel. The same conservation criteria that apply to the hostel building should be applied to the hostel grounds. This includes garden planning, lawn and garden maintenance products, watering systems, even outdoor lighting.

ii)     In addition, if the hostel is located in or near a nature reserve, park or other specially designated area, hostellers should be encouraged to support and protect the park system. Planned activities and displays for hostellers are a good beginning for this process.

b)    Minimum Standards

i)       Maintain hostel garden and grounds, where they exist, with environmentally safe products and techniques.

ii)     Support the continued protection of nature reserves, parks and other specially protected areas.

iii)   Educate hostellers about local environmental preservation initiatives through signs, maps and other displays.

c)    Advanced Efforts

i)       Restore hostel grounds, where they exist, to a low maintenance or natural growth garden.

ii)     Grow organic fruits, vegetables and/or herbs.

iii)   Be involved in local development plans to improve the hostel surroundings.

7) Environmental Education

i)       The goal of environmental education is to influence people: to make them aware of the environment as an indivisible whole; to enable them to recognize environmental problems; and, to provide them with the tools to make educated decisions that protect the environment.

ii)     In environmental education, learning by example is indispensable. Hostels are ideally situated to provide an opportunity to learn by example because hostelling, by nature, is co-operative and interactive. However, it is essential to be consistent. If a hostel markets itself as a centre of good conservation practices, the operation of the hostel must be consistent with its message.

iii)   The hostel wardens should be willing and enthusiastic participants. Instituting conservation practices, adjusting behaviour of hostel staff and encouraging this behaviour modification among hostel guests are examples of the critically important role that hostel wardens will be called on to play.

iv)  Activities and displays emphasizing the importance of adopting conservation and preservation practices (rather than maintaining the current state of affairs), developing personal responsibility, and highlighting the individual's ability to positively influence change should be a featured part of the hostel experience.

b)    Minimum Standards

i)       Stress environmental issues and implementation of the Charter on every possible occasion.

ii)     Encourage staff to educate guests in environmental awareness. This is further expanded in the Minimum Standards for other issues.

c)    Advanced Efforts

i)       Develop presentations on the environmental practices used by specific hostels.

ii)     Offer hostel-based, environmental education programmes to hostellers and members of the community such as nature activities, seminars, discussions, displays, etc.

iii)   Co-operate with local organizations, schools and universities in the design and implementation of hostel environmental programmes.

iv)  Establish selected hostels as environmental study centres by providing classrooms, laboratory facilities, instructors and a curriculum.

 

 

 

 

ENVIRONMENT CHARTER ON TREKKING PROGRAMMES

(a)   Participants to be made aware about the environment of the Camp, i.e. introduction to the (i) flora – fauna; (ii) Rules and Regulations; and (iii) General Cleanliness measures to be taken at the base camp and subsequent camps.

(b)   Management to use environment friendly food stuffs and minimize the use of pollution creating stuffs at the source itself:

(i)                        The Garbage produced at site to be segregated at camp;

(ii)                      Disposal made by scientific means like making of landfills and recycle by sending non-biodegradable back after camp

(iii)                    To declare the camps as “Polythene free zones”

(c)    Drinking water to be separated from the water used for washing purpose. Minimize waste by using proper means like better taps/containers.

(d)   Waste water disposal to be made by way of temporary septic/soakage pits adjacent to camp sites and avoid any sort of disposal to the Natural water source

- Septic/soakage to be covered at the end of the camp

(e)   Polluting of camp atmosphere by use of smoking, drugs, alcohol, spiting etc. to be avoided strictly.

(f)     Awareness hoarding/posters/slogans about environment protection to be enhanced and encouraged through participants at the camp sites.

(g)   Participants to avoid disturbing any sort of flora and fauna around the camps or on treks

(h)   Participants should not go too close to any insect, reptile, wild animals or other animals around the camps or on trek for the safety of the flora and fauna and the participants himself.

(i)      Swimming and bathing in natural rivers/streams/beaches is prohibited in camps.

(j)     Any sort of health problem to be reported immediately to the camp leader by the participants.

(k)   On the trek from one camp to another, there should be no disturbance to the local flora and fauna;

(l)      Participants during trekking should respect and observe the culture and traditions of the local communities

(m)No garbage throwing of any kind on the trek, instead to bring back the wrappers, polythene bags etc found on way to the camp site.

(n)   To check sound pollution during the trekking programmes

(o)   To use only the stipulated routes/trails and avoid any short cut which will endanger the environment or the participant.

(p)   Use of wood in camp fire is prohibited

(q)   To give cloth bags to the participants

(r)     A booklet to be prepared for Do’s and Don’ts of trekking.

 

 

ENVIRONMENT CHARTER ON OFFICES

Our habitat is the special environment where we all grow. Therefore, it is our duty to protect the environment around us from pollution.

As we spend most of our time in our Office, it is our utmost responsibility to protect the environment there. We request you to implement these guidelines in your Offices at National, State and Unit levels:

1. Recycling

·         Recycled paper visiting cards, letter heads, certificates, envelops, packing paper, file folders and other stationery as far as possible should be used;

·         Recycled paper bag should be provided in the meetings;

·         Posters and pamphlets of different programmes may be made of hand made papers;

·         Magazines and Membership cards for one, two and junior members may be printed on recycled paper;

·         For communication between National, State and Unit level, the both sides of the papers should be used;

·         We can also use both sides of the papers at the time of printing;

·         Each Unit and State Branch should use e-mail for faster communication, time and stationery saving;

·         Recycled papers in packing and decoration should be used.

2. Noise Pollution

·         PA system should only be used where it is absolutely necessary

3. Air Pollution

·         Smoking should be strictly prohibited

·         Proper ventilation should be provided

4. Water Pollution and Conservation

·         Filtered water/installation of aqua-guards for protecting against Becteria should be provided;

·         Storage tanks should be regularly cleaned and checked,

·         Leakage of taps to be repaired immediately

·         Use water judiciously

5. Electricity Conservation

·         Switching to CFL bulbs in fixtures where bright lighting is not needed;

·         Use Fluorescent lighting as much as possible. They are initially more expensive, but less energy is used and lasts longer;

·         Switching off unwanted lights in rooms, security lights and other electricity items after day breaks and during lunch break;

·         One solar light to be used in the office

6. Land Pollution

·         People should use a dustbin in office;

·         Original Flower and ornamental plants should be used wherever possible. Artificial flowers should be avoided.