In response to Al Gore’s ‘Challenge to Repower America‘, what better time to introduce a solution than now. Last week, Mr. Gore challenged Americans to become carbon-independent within the next ten years. Of course, the first response from many people is that this challenge is ‘too ambitious’ or that ‘it can’t be done’. Well, my response is that it CAN be done and plans have ALREADY been progressing in San Francisco to implement measures that can achieve Mr.Gore’s goal.

Since October 2007, a sustainable tourism program has been brought forth as one such solution for San Francisco. Tourism is the largest industry in San Francisco, that also directly and indirectly reaches EVERY other industry sector. In addition, San Francisco is world-renown for its innovative and progressive environmental conservation programs. However, no direct measures are taken to incorporate the tourism industry with the municipal conservation programs. But, by integrating the conservation and tourism sectors, the result is a sustainable industry with far-reaching impacts on the success of environmental programs. In addition to tourism’s cross-sector influence, the nature of tourism provides outreach and grassroots opportunities to impact and instill change among tourists and residents. Therefore, no other industry provides an all-encompassing opportunity to catalyze change on the scale that Mr. Gore has presented to the American community. By making San Francisco’s tourism industry sustainable - it can in turn make San Francisco a 100% clean-energy city. San Francisco has the capacity to be the city to catalzye change in the United States’ tourism industry and meet Mr. Gore’s landmark challenge.

To date, the proposed sustainable tourism program, Travel Tree, has been presented to key stakeholders such as the SF Mayor’s Office and The San Francisco Convention and Visitor’s Bureau (SFCVB). Stanford’s Center on Ecotourism and Sustainable Development (CESD) has partnered with Travel Tree, in providing support to research and develop the program for San Francisco. If you are interested in finding out more or supporting Travel Tree, visit www.traveltree.org or contact Rosalyn at rsalters@traveltree.org.

It appears I live in a walkers’ paradise. According to Seattle based walkscore.com San Francisco was rated the most walkable city in the country. This may come as a suprise to people who live outside this seven-by-seven-mile square of cool and foggy hills. How often would you walk in these conditions? Chances are if you live or have visited San Francisco this comes as no surprise. Walking in San Francisco is one of the most enjoyable experiences. With skyrocketing gas prices and elusive parking spaces many of my neighbors, myself included have turned on a new engine - our own two feet. Great views and easy accessibility make this means of transportation worthwhile for my heart, pocket and most importantly the environment. Is your city walk friendly? Check out walkscore.com and sign the petition to support walking and biking your city today.

Present day San Francisco has altered dramatically since the time of the Ohlones. The landscape, climate, wildlife, residents and way of life have dramatically transformed to the metropolis we know today.

Know More

Today, many of the birds and animals from the time of the Ohlones are no longer present while other species have diminished in number. Suisun Marsh and a few other wetlands are the only remnants of the abundant swamp-life that once existed in the Bay Area. Even the animals’ behavior has changed from fearless of the early European explorers to present-day aversion of human contact. Many of the native plants and animals have been replaced by invasive species. Scotch broom is an example of an invader that has aggressively taken over native habitats and is causing environmental, health and economic harm. The NRDC states, “the San Francisco Bay-Delta is the most invaded aquatic ecosystem in North America, and may be the most invaded estuary in the world.”

The altered landscape is most evident by the manmade metropolis that now covers what, at one time, was a vast expanse of untouched land. However, in comparison with green areas in other cities, San Francisco prides itself on an abundance of parks and open space. The ‘green network’ includes; Golden Gate Park which spans 1000 acres, the 991 acres of open space in the Presidio, over 1 million acres of protected open space in the surrounding Greenbelt and many other sites.

The homogenous Ohlone have been replaced with a plethora of cultures spanning from all continents of the world. Currently, residents of American Indian or Alaska Native descent constitute 0.6% of the City’s population and own 0.5% of the businesses. Tribal groups representative in and surrounding the Bay Area include Ohlone, Miwok, Yokuts, Maidu, Wintun, Pomo, Wappo and those of other tribal affiliations that have relocated to the region. The ethnic and cultural diversity of San Francisco also includes; Chinese, Hispanic, Japanese, Russian, Arabic, Croatian-American, African-American, Lesbian/Bi/Gay, and many more. The professional and economic diversity is as diverse as the residents. While modern-times no longer mandate hunting and gathering, the professions of San Franciscans range in variety including the arts, medicine, education, finance, medical science, technology and tourism.

Prior to European exploration, what we know as San Francisco was once inhabited by indigenous people. Only 200 years ago, the Bay Area was an untouched wilderness, abundant in wildlife and home for the Ohlone. What was life like during the time of the original inhabitants?

Know More

Prior to the first ‘significant’ European intrusion into the Bay Area in 1767, the physical environment and lifestyle of the original inhabitants differed vastly from how it is today. Only 200 years ago, the Bay Area was an untouched landscape abundant in wildlife. Preceding the advent of invasive species, shoulder-high native grasses spread across vast meadowlands and savannahs. Thousands of acres of marshland outlined the Bay while thick oak and redwood forests filled the hills. The richness of ecological habitats allowed prolific varieties of wildlife to thrive in the region. According to accounts from European explorers and missionaries, the plentiful amounts of wildlife were incomparable to other parts of the globe. The diversity of wildlife included; elk, antelope, deer, rabbits, mountain lions, bobcats, wolves, grizzly bears, bald eagles, giant condors, sea otters, seabirds and other species.

Living in coexistence with the rich land, the Ohlone occupied the current area of San Francisco, extending east to Berkeley and as far south as Monterey. A thriving population of thirty to forty permanent villages and dozens of temporary camps outlined the fringes of the San Francisco Bay. Archaeological evidence indicates the likelihood that the Ohlone lived in a relatively peaceful and stable state for hundreds of years. When the Spaniards found this region at the end of the eighteenth century, they were confronted by direct descendants of people living undisturbed for centuries (at the minimum 1,200 to a maximum of 4,500 years). The Ohlone way of life is not fully known, but speculation from existing information provides a glimpse into their world.

The villages comprised of about 15 dome-shaped tule houses encircling a cleared central area, in addition to a sweat house for prayer and earth mounds for cemeteries. They followed ancient subsistence patterns of hunting and gathering with a diet comprised of insects, lizards, gophers, rabbits, quail, deer, elk and a variety of other small and large game. They were a “Stone-Age’ people in regards to their use of flint or obsidian-tipped arrows, stone mortars and pestles, and tools made of bones, shell and wood. Women sang songs as they ground acorns or wove baskets while men sang and prepared themselves, in the sweat house, for the next day’s hunt. As clothing was not a necessity, the few garments (women’s skirts and men’s cloaks) were made of tule reeds, deer and rabbit skin and lack of footwear was evident from their hardened feet (accustomed to going barefoot). Their muscular bodies were adorned in face tattoos, nose and ear piercings, and jewelry made from shells and feathers. The chief governed the people while the shaman provided sacred counsel. Trade was an important business practice and was conducted out of a sense of sharing and generosity. They married, bore children, defended their way of life, skillfully hunted, danced, prayed and lived in a sacred realm of magic and power. The Ohlone relationship with the natural world was one of coexistence, living intimately as a component of the web of life.

Are you aware that San Francisco’s #1 industry is tourism? Keeping that in mind, think about what makes this city a top destination and the influence tourism has on other industries, society, daily life and the environment.

Know More:

Often, I sit in my living room and feel part of some live exhibit, as the Trolley Hop full of curious tourists drives past the window. This modified safari-style tour is just one of the many eclectic and unique ways to tour San Francisco. Statistics indicate the high popularity of this destination, but what really intrigues the business woman from Portland or British family to travel to this location? Perhaps one is drawn by the city’s distinct image as a small, hilly, culturally diverse and picturesque location. The exquisite scenery and atmosphere is attributed to the Victorian architecture, moderate climate and abundance of natural landscapes located within and surrounding the city. Signature attractions that allure travelers include; the Golden Gate Bridge, Golden Gate Park, Alcatraz, cable cars, Fisherman’s Wharf, Lombard Street and Muir Woods. Additionally, the City comprises a plethora of festivals, music, performing arts, conferences and other activities. The abundance of attractions and activities, in combination with the transcendent atmosphere, captivates anyone who visits San Francisco.

San Francisco is often referred to as ‘everybody’s favorite city.’ According to a poll in the Travel and Leisure magazine, the city ranks third for favorite American cities to visit. For many San Franciscans, it is surprising to know that tourism is the City’s largest employer and supports more jobs than finance, insurance, information and legal services. The SFCVB Research Foundation’s recent 2006 information shows that visitor volume generated $7.76 billion from the 15.8 million annual visitors. Where does all of this money go? Well, the immense quantity of visitor dollars is directly siphoned to local hotels, shops, restaurants, transportation, entertainment and cultural establishments. Indirectly, tourism revenue augments the majority of other economic sectors and also contributes to government finances. On a whole, San Francisco’s internationally acclaimed status and high quality of life for residents, is due in large part to the thriving tourism industry.

However, the underlying component often overlooked in past tourism initiatives is the industry’s integration with environment-based sectors. The natural and physical environment is the base on which tourism relies, yet is often neglected and negatively impacted. According to the United Nations Environment Programme, “tourism’s three main impact areas are natural resources, pollution and physical impacts.” All three impact areas are contributors to a superseding concern - tourism’s affect on climate change. The consumption of fossil fuels and energy is the most significant environmental problem related to tourism. As Lund University scientists state, “transport contributes over proportionally to the overall environmental impact of leisure-tourism; between 60% and 95% at the journey level, and including local transport, accommodation and activities.” Therefore, as we research tourism’s impact on climate change, each city and major destination must incorporate mitigation measures as a central component of operations. For regions dominated by tourism, such as San Francisco, this substantiates the urgency to implement this crucial oversight. As reinforced by the United Nations during the recent Davos Declaration, the UN urges the international tourism sector to respond promptly to climate change.

My Know How:

Ironically, tourism is the main economic generator in San Francisco yet is not incorporated in climate change measures (a slight oversight but not entirely despondent). So, what should be done to ensure San Francisco will remain a wonderful place to visit and live? How can we guarantee what provides most for the City’s economic wellbeing does not hinder the welfare for future generations? One conjecture of certainty is the fact that continual environmental damage will diminish the quality of San Francisco - thus, no longer remaining “everybody’s favorite city’.