The REC broke new ground in promoting a unique form of eco-tourism last month. More than 20 staff members took a tour of the new head office as a part of an ongoing process to "green the REC." Staff toured the offices and conference center room-by-room, entering offices, kitchens, toilets and conference facilities, all in an effort to generate ideas to reduce, reuse and recycle. Simply put, REC staff feel strongly about practicing what they preach, by integrating the principles of environment and sustainable development into their daily working environment.The REC Sustainable Office Strategy (REC-SOS) is a staff initiative to conduct an "environmental audit" of the REC and determine what a "green" office could mean. So far they have generated a list of over 100 concrete suggestions for how they personally can change their work habits and how the REC as a whole can reduce consumption and promote recycling: from energy efficient light bulbs to "green" cleaning supplies to waste composting and double-sided copying and printing. REC's Executive Director has thrown his weight behind the effort, recognizing the REC-SOS as an official staff committee, and committing himself to assist the group in implementing its recommendations.
REC staff is also developing a strategy for operating a "green" conference center. Likewise, the Hungarian Ornithological Society is working with REC to turn the grounds of the site into a mini-environmental park. With the help of local school children, the Society recently placed bird nests in the small pine woods of the park and will come regularly to clean the nests and care for the trees. Resources permitting, REC will plant endemic shrub species in the park with berries to attract birds and transform an old fountain into a small natural pond. The REC hopes these changes will also encourage the use of the park as an outdoor education tool for local schools.