It's impossible to read about ecotour operators in the Gulf Coast and not feel touched by their stories. Ecotourism operators usually take pride in their ability to provide sustainable travel, both for the environment and for local populations.

And yet, the very environments they care about so deeply are in jeopardy. From ecotour operators like Capt. Jason Sine and Capt. Rich Smith in Florida all the way to people like Capt. Michael Dorie in the Delta.

"I cannot imagine the anxiety they must be feeling," says James Hoke, president of TourGuy.com, LLC. "The challenge for ecotour operators is that even if and when the oil is cleaned up, the environment may be too fragile to visit during recovery."

But that is only part of the problem. Many operators, even in areas not affected by the spill, are suffering because most are usually secondary tourism choices among travelers.

"In Las Vegas, ecotourism is second to gaming. In places like Florida, it's second to beaches," explains Hoke. "When the primary tourism industry suffers, all of the secondary activities are threatened too. Except, in these cases, some operators might not rebound as quickly as the primary attraction."

Hoke says this is one of the reasons he hopes to encourage more people to work together. So, rather than focus on the deserved anger people feel toward BP, he suggests taking positive action.

How You Can Help In The Gulf Coast.

1. Report Incidents To Deepwater Horizon Response.
If you live along the coast, you can report oiled shorelines by calling 886-448-5816 and oiled wildlife by calling 866-557-1401. It is very important to keep the lines open, so please do not call these numbers for any other reason. The same Deepwater Horizon Response page includes a local number for members of the media who have been denied access to any area.

2. Volunteer Your Time To Be Part Of The Solution.
Part of the reason that Gulf Coast volunteer efforts have been slow is because the cleanup requires special training. Handling oil and handling oiled wildlife can cause injury or health problems. Organizations coordinating efforts include:

• Tri-State Bird Rescue & Research (bird clean up)
• Audubon Volunteer Response Center (limited to local residents)
• Louisiana Gulf Response (registration only)
• Deepwater Horizon Response (state links)

Some state sites also offer local numbers to report oil damage or oiled wildlife. There will be more opportunities to volunteer in the near future.

3. Make A Donation To Help Organizations.
While BP has pledged to pay claims related to the spill, many organizations need funding to provide immediate support. There is also some concern that not all claims will be paid or paid in full.

• National Audubon Society.
• National Wildlife Federation
• Manomet Center For Conservation Sciences.
• International Bird Rescue Research Center.
• Support The Dawn Wildlife Effort.

4. Use Less Oil And Leave No Trace Behind.
By using public transportation, carpooling, and biking, you can contribute to a more environmentally conscious nation. You can also support ecotourism, which reduces the impact to the environment more than independent visits to natural attractions.

If you do visit parks or national assets on your own, try to observe the same rules of the road that ecotourists do. Leave No Trace principles include choosing the right paths, leaving anything you find behind, picking up any trash, being careful with fire, and showing a general respect for wildlife.

Also, a special thanks to all the bloggers who participated in the Bloggers Unite Initiative. There are many well written and thoughtful posts there.