Tahiti and her islands have been taking preventative actions to preserve its sacred flora and fauna through dedicated programs and associations. The goals are to minimize the negative impact on the environment, including our lagoons and oceans, and to raise awareness among the local Tahitian population.

Home to many “marae” temples and prestigious archeological sites, Tahiti is determined to protect its treasures and ecosystem through the promotion and education of recycling, energy efficiency and water conservation in the schools and within the community.

Hotels are also making a significant effort to minimize their environmental footprint, lower energy and water usage, and reduce solid waste. Ecological programs include energy efficient lighting and low-flow showers and toilets. In addition, many of the hotels participate in recycling programs and contribute to their local communities.

Several resorts in French Polynesia are Green Globe certified. Green Globe is a globally recognized organization that insures commitment to improve environmental and social outcomes for a more sustainable travel and tourism industry.

For many travelers, a Green Globe certified hotel is a guarantee that the environment is considered in its daily operations and the hotel is not abusive towards nature and its resources, while keeping the quality of its products and services at the best levels.

Sea Turtles Clinics

Te Mana O Te Moana is a state approved and recognized non-profit association founded by Dr. Cécile Gaspar in 2004. It is a proud member of the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

Through research, conversation, communication and educational activities, Te Mana O Te Moana strives to protect the marine environment of French Polynesia and educate the public.

The association implements programs for protecting and monitoring French Polynesian marine species (cetaceans, turtles, fish, coral.)

The association manages the Sea Turtle Clinic, which is located at the InterContinental Moorea Resort & Spa. The resort has kindly dedicated a part of its private lagoon to the Sea Turtle Turtle Clinic, which serves as a temporary hospital for injured turtles and a permanent home for severely injured turtles that would not survive outside the center.

To date, more than 50 turtles have been sheltered and 13 have been successfully released back into the wild.

Te Mana O Te Moana also promotes environmental awareness to the local Tahitian community through school programs and communication materials.

For more info, visit http://www.temanaotemoana.org

The Turtle Sanctuary in Bora Bora

Le Méridien Bora Bora stands out for its dedication to protecting the natural wonders that make Bora Bora so beautiful.

Located in the heart of Le Méridien Bora Bora’s private lagoon, the Turtle Sanctuary is managed by the resort and dedicates itself to the protection of marine turtles. It offers shelter to many vulnerable turtles and offers guests the privilege to swim with turtles in their natural environments.

The sanctuary was founded in order to educate the public about the evolution of the sea turtle, mating rituals, algae eating habits that turn sea turtles green, and sea turtle protection. It focuses mainly on green sea and hawksbill turtles because of their vulnerability towards predators. Unlike land turtles, sea turtles cannot tuck into their shells for protection.

During nesting season from October through February, hotel guests and volunteers search for turtle nests on the beaches of Bora Bora. The goal of this project is to collect, mark the eggs, and tag mothers for future identification. The nests are transported to the resort’s private beach for two months for safekeeping and then to the resort’s nursery for one year for maturation where they can safely be kept away from predators.

For more information, visit the official website of Le Méridien Bora Bora.

Tetiaroa: The Brando

Located on the atoll of Tetiaroa, and the fruition of the late Marlon Brando’s vision, construction on The Brando has officially begun with completion slated for late 2011.

The Brando will feature 47 deluxe bungalow villas, each with private plunge pools, a spa, fitness center, community pool, as well as various island activities including scuba diving and archaeological tours of royal Tahitian sites.

The construction of The Brando began with the building of a platform on the coral reef to provide logistical access to the island without causing any environmental damage. Additionally, the airstrip is being refurbished and extended to meet the government’s current safety standards.

The exclusive resort will be the only hotel on Tetiaroa, the former playground of Tahitian kings in French Polynesia’s idyllic islands. Purchased by Brando in 1965, Tetiaroa is a 13-island chain circled by a coral reef offering a tranquil and pure paradise only 35 miles from the island of Tahiti.

The Brando represents Marlon Brando’s vision to create a place that resonates with and allows the guests to know both the island of Tetiaroa and the people of French Polynesia. The project is being overseen by Tahiti Beachcomber SA, whose CEO, Richard Bailey, owner of several luxury resorts in French Polynesia, was a good friend of Brando’s and worked with him for many years to fulfill their joint vision to develop this environmentally sustainable resort. Bailey has vast experience with other sustainable projects in French Polynesia that utilize eco-friendly practices.

The hotel will operate with a “sea water air conditioning” system (SWAC), which draws on an inexhaustible supply of completely renewable clean energy. Bailey plans to use a deep-sea pipe to pump cold water from the depths of the ocean for the air conditioning in the hotel, which is the same system successfully implemented at the InterContinental Bora Bora Resort & Thalasso Spa.

For additional information, please visit The Brando's official website: www.thebrando.com

SPM Resorts Hotels and Spa

The Green Globe advisory board has granted a first-time certification to three of the SPM Resorts, Hotels and Spa properties.

The Bora Bora Pearl Beach Resort & Spa, Le Taha’a Island Resort & Spa and the Manihi Pearl Beach Resort & Spa were honored for their impeccable commitment to sustainable practices.

The Bora Bora Pearl Beach Resort & Spa was recognized for its recycling, energy and water saving practices, and community commitment to ecological principles. The resort’s sustainable practices include the To’a Nui, which is dedicated to the preservation of coral nurseries and marine life.

The underwater nursery aims at safeguarding endangered coral and allowing it to grow in a protected environment. The To’a Nui also offers the opportunity for guests to understand and discover this ecosystem in the best possible conditions.

In June 2001, artificial concrete reefs were immersed to become the support of coral colonies and slow down the effects of deep-sea currents. Today, more than 129 reefs, including 50 under the bungalows, have been installed, hosting more than 4,000 coral colonies.

Le Taha’a Island Resort & Spa was recognized for its water saving and recycling practices.The property serves as a model for environmental and economic sustainability. It encourages its guests to visit the coral garden for lessons on preserving the Polynesian ecosystem and also distributes power cards to save on energy consumption.

Manihi Pearl Beach Resort & Spa was recognized for its conscientious energy and water savings. The property uses biogenic- biodegradable cleaning products to protect the property’s water and lagoon and also favors collecting rainwater to cut water waste.

For more information on the SPM Resorts Hotels and Spa properties, please click here.

InterContinental Resorts French Polynesia

The four InterContinental Resort and Spa hotels of French Polynesia have acquired the Green Globe certification. The InterContinental team strives daily to preserve the Polynesian environment and ecosystem for future generation to benefit from this heavenly place.

The InterContinental Moorea Resort & Spa is home to the Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Center, which serves as a temporary hospital for injured turtles and a permanent home for severely injured turtles that would not survive outside the center.

The resort is also home to the Moorea Dolphin Center, where employees devote their time to care for the bottlenose dolphins. As part of their continuous efforts to raise environment awareness and practices, the InterContinental Resorts French Polynesia honors Earth Day. Seminars on climate change, waste and environment were organized in French Polynesia as well as a conference on climate change in the Pacific and its consequences.

Richard Bailey, owner of InterContinental Hotels in French Polynesia, pioneered some of the principles first advanced by Marlon Brando, at the InterContinental Bora Bora Resort & Thalasso Spa, in particular the use of the deep seawater for cooling and refrigeration system.

This eco-resort pumps icy seawater from the world’s deepest ocean pipe, 7,874 feet below the sea, to help power the air-conditioning system. This saves the resort over 660,000 gallons of fuel oil per year, which is a 90 percent energy savings.

In addition, the Deep Ocean Spa Bora Bora, is the first spa in the world to draw the virgin sea water from the depth of the pacific ocean to aid and complement the well-being treatments rich in active marine ingredients.

For more information on the InterContinental Resorts of French Polynesia, please click here.

Le Maitai Polynesia Bora Bora

Le Maitai Polynesia Bora Bora was recently awarded the Silver Green Globe certification. This certification puts the hotel in the leading worldwide group of sustainable tourism operators, certified by the internationally recognized Green Globe Company Standard.

The hotel general manager, Ms. Catherine Savatier, initiated the certification process last April by reaching the bronze level.

She has pursued the next level with the implementation of additional practices to improve the compliance criteria considered for the certification, include level of water and energy consumption, environment preservation, staff commitment, communications inside the hotel and with third parties, and participation in the cultural and local community life.

Visit le Maitai Polynesia Bora Bora for more information.

Four Seasons Resort Bora Bora

With over 12 years of professional experience, and a lifetime of practical experience, Oliver Martin joined the Four Seasons Resort Bora Bora in 2008 with the goal of teaching guests about the marine environment around the resort.

Olivier represents Pae Tai Pae Uta (PTOU), which is committed to learning more about the changing marine environment, and working to conserve it.

Some of his work at Four Seasons Resort Bora Bora involves using part of the resort’s lagoon as a testing ground, where larvae are captured, coral grafting are explored, fish behavior is studied, and more.

Guest education and interaction is a large part of Oliver’s work, all in effort to preserve the environment for generations to come.

Visit the official website of the Four Seasons Resort Bora Bora.

Hilton Resorts French Polynesia

For more information on the Hilton French Polynesia properties, please click here.