When you travel, everything from your airplane to your tour operators to your souvenirs has an impact on the local economy, community and, ultimately, on the rest of the world—so when you choose to break away from home life, there’s no excuse to not travel responsibly.

We talked to staffers from World Wildlife Fund, who spend their days crisscrossing the globe in an effort to protect the planet’s wild places, to come up with a list of 12 must-do conservation tips for every world traveler. Whether on a hike, safari or visiting a local village, there’s a takeaway for everyone.

Slideshow: 12 Expert Tips for Sustainable Travel

A 900-Mile Solo Paddle: One with the Wildlife

A 900-Mile Solo Paddle: Learning to Navigate

A 900-Mile Solo Paddle: Getting Into the Inside Passage