A few guidelines...

Sustainable tourism concerns us all

Sustainable tourism aims at creating a balance between the tourism industry and the preservation of the natural and cultural ecosystems. Each individual influences his/her environment through his/her actions. A few responsible efforts can help us reduce our impact on the environment.

These environmentally-friendly attitudes may appear insignificant in day-to-day activities, however they contribute to protecting our island. It's the French hummingbird metaphor: each individual contributes through his/her actions, at his/her scale, to preserve the environment, that which is common to us all.

A few guidelines for reducing your impact and preserving nature

In Corsica, respect ecosystems and preserve protected species

• Do not gather wild plants
• Respect the fauna, do not fish or hunt in protected areas
• When hiking, stick to the marked pathways so as not to damage the flora
• When boating, cast anchor on sandy seabeds so as not to uproot posidonia meadows

Be careful with fires: in very dry summers, a single spark is all that is needed to set fire to Corsica

• Barbecues, incinerations and camp fires are prohibited from 1 July to 30 September
• Do not throw cigarette butts, glass or glass bottles on the ground. Glass shards can cause fires by acting as a magnifying glass
• In the event of a fire, immediately dial 18

Water

• Do not leave the water running when not in use (avoid long showers and washing dishes under running water, etc.)
• Prioritise showers (50 litres) over baths (150 litres)
• Turn off the tap when brushing your teeth. You can save 12 litres of water/minute by doing this; 18 litres for shaving "under running water"
• Use the semi/double flushing mechanism
• Water plants with water used to rinse fruit and vegetables
• Water plants in the evening or early morning to prevent evaporation
• Immediately report any water leaks to the technical department

Electricity

• Turn out the lights when absent
• Do not leave the lights on in an empty room
• Turn out the lights when you can comfortably read using natural daylight
• Avoid using the air conditioning system: air in the morning when it is cooler, then close off rooms during the day. Persian blinds help provide natural air conditioning: they let the air in but keep the heat out
• Close all doors and windows in air-conditioned rooms
• Consume energy with moderation (19 °C for heating and 24 °C for air-conditioning are satisfactory temperatures)
• In summer, close the curtains to prevent overheating, maintain a more comfortable room temperature and reduce the use of the air-conditioning system
• Unplug televisions and computers as even on stand-by, they consume up to 40 % of their operating power
• Choose rechargeable batteries and solar-powered chargers

Pollution

• Don't throw or pour anything into the lagoon. No fats, fluids or solids must be disposed of in the lagoon as they may damage the aerator and endanger the flora and fauna
• Avoid using toxic household products (particularly bleach); prioritise biodegradable detergents
• Limit the use of wipes and prioritise microfibre cloths
• Limit car journeys within the Domain
• Use the car pooling service: this reduces gas emissions, generates savings and is much more friendly!

Nature

• Preserve the dunes by using existing passageways
• Do not damage trees
• Do not cut, uproot or trample plants and flowers (which are mostly endemic species and must be protected)
• In the sea, do not uproot posidonia and preserve the undersea environment
• Give leftover bread and fruit and vegetable peelings to the lamas

Waste

• Sort waste and throw away in suitable recipients (containers for household waste as well as for glass, paper and packaging can be found at each waste collection point; you can leave your used batteries at Reception in the box provided)
• Avoid using disposable crockery
• Drain WCs and tanks at dedicated points
• Don't dispose of anything in the environment (ground, sea, rivers). No paper, bottles or plastic bags... Absolutely nothing! Plastic bags attract turtles and dolphins, which they confuse with jellyfish, causing them to suffocate when eating them. 450 years, the time required for a plastic bag to break down in the environment. This is 100 years for a tin can. 5 years for chewing gum. If others are careless enough to do this, please play your part in keeping the site clean and pick up any refuse and place it in a bin…

On our plates, prioritise the use of...

• Products grown through organic farming methods, without the use of pesticides, chemical fertilisers or GMOs. This helps preserve nature and the diversity of bird, plant and beetle species
• Farmed fish or meat from organic livestock farms.
• Regional products, seasonal fruit and vegetables grown locally. Products imported from distant countries or grown in heated greenhouses etc. consume a lot of energy
• Products sold in bulk. Less packaging means less energy consumed during production and less waste after consumption