Although far from the island country of Palau, the Kingdom of Norway — which is located in Northern Europe, enriched with more than 44 national parks and encompassing picturesque mountains, glaciers, and deep coastal fjords — has also nature deeply rooted in its DNA. It represents a vital part of the local history and culture of both countries and the bond Norwegians have with nature is deemed a sacred one. To celebrate this connection and to strengthen it even more, Norwegian authorities introduced a unique passport design specially created to honor nature’s legacy. Within its pages, typical landscapes merge with the northern lights, which are revealed when the travel documents are put under UV light. Only after that, the stunning passports tell a magical story about the environment.
Just like Norway’s love towards the environment and adopting the ‘respect for nature’ concept on the official documents, the Republic of Palau has made a commitment to preserve its idyllic landscapes and beautiful shores of this small island country located in the western Pacific Ocean. The Palau Legacy Project (PLP) changes the state’s immigration policy in order to protect the ethereal beauty of the island’s surroundings.
Palau hosts more than 160,000 tourists every year, which is eight times higher than its own population. But it’s not the visitors’ presence which threatens the island. They are more than welcome to come and enjoy the surreal landscapes of the archipelago. Their ecological behavior is the one that makes a big part of the problem.
Written by the children living on the island and with the help of Host/Havas agency, the government created the ‘Palau Pledge’, an eco-friendly policy that asks visitors to make a promise within their passports to preserve the island’s extraordinary wonders before they enter the country. The purpose of the project is to defend the country from unpleasant effects of mass tourism and it works as a written agreement between the state authorities and each tourist.
In an interview with The Mag, the one-stop-shop for all things Havas, PLP said that it encountered many difficulties to get the legislation passed. But once approved, the eco-friendly law propelled the 13th smallest country in the world onto a list of other entities that promote a sustainable world. Therefore, Palau claims to be now the first country to update its immigration policy with an act that requires tourists to adequately treat its natural heritage by law.
The passport stamp is also available online on the webpage that hosts the green project. There, visitors can digitally sign the pledge, learn more about how to become an ethical tourist, and watch an inspiring video that leads the viewers into the middle of the problem, showing them how fragile Palau’s ecosystem is right now and how, through ecological education, it can be preserved so that the future generations can enjoy its wonders as well.
So far, the project gathered over 5000 online signatures. Moreover, the campaign spread beyond the local barriers and became global news. It caught the attention of some world-famous figures, such as actor Leonardo DiCaprio, former US Secretary of State John Kerry, and of the rock band Rolling Stones who, impressed by the government’s determination to preserve nature, have taken on the pledge.
Palau’s authorities do take this change seriously, so the violation of this law comes with a punishment: Those who disrespect it and break its conditions will get a fine of up to $1 million.
“Human impact on our earth’s environment is one of the biggest challenges facing our world today,” said Palau President Tommy E Remengesau Jr. who believes that everyone should readapt their habits and take responsibility regarding the environment. “As a small country, we feel the impact of these actions acutely. We hope that the Palau Pledge raises global awareness of the responsibility that this generation has to the next,” he added. Have you signed the pledge? Let us know in the comments!