With over 115,000 acres of parks and conservation land, and over 22 miles of beaches, environmental sustainability and stewardship are a top priority for Martin County.

Explore this page to learn more about what the county is doing, and how each of us can also take part in protecting our paradise.

Here in Martin County, we have a strong love for nature. For many, it is what drew us here to begin with. From the pristine forests that seem to transport us back in time, to the blue waters that we can enjoy year-round, it’s hard to imagine Martin County without these incredible natural resources.

This is why we have decided to take the next step to ensure their preservation by partnering with Leave No Trace, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting responsible outdoor recreation and reducing the impact of tourism on natural areas.

Leave No Trace is an internationally recognized non-profit organization that aims to protect natural lands by educating people how to explore responsibly. Whether you’re a long-time resident or just visiting for the weekend, we all can play a part in helping to conserve our lands.

Sustainable Tourism 2030

Martin County, Florida is an undiscovered gem of South Florida, hosting 22 miles of uncrowded beaches, over 115,000+ acres of parks and conservation lands, and a small-town feel throughout. To help protect this destination that both residents and tourists view as paradise, the Martin County Office of Tourism and Marketing has signed the Sustainable Tourism 2030 Pledge to demonstrate the destination’s commitment to improving its sustainability performance between now and 2030.

The UN World Tourism Organization defines sustainable tourism as “tourism that takes full account of its current and future economic, social and environmental impacts, addressing the needs of visitors, the industry, the environment and host communities.” More than ever, Martin County understands the importance of implementing sustainable tourism strategies as it allows tourism to positively shape a destinations environment, community, and economy.

Martin County has been awarded as a Silver destination through GreenStep’s Sustainability Score, and we are excited to see how we can continue to develop as a sustainable destination moving forward.

Each year, the Martin County Office of Tourism and Marketing commits to measuring and improving the sustainability performance of our destination in the following ways:

Inform visitors on the destination’s natural environment, conservation, and responsible recreation practices on our 115,000+ acres of parks and conservation lands through hands-on educational programming, information on the destination’s website, and informational signage at sites
Encourage local tourism businesses to adopt sustainability standards and pursue certification programs
Promote sustainable certified businesses through our destination’s website and social media
Develop and maintain accessible tourism sites, facilities, services, and experiences throughout the destination
Manage tourism seasonality and mitigate variability by monitoring visitor arrivals and dedicating resources to promote year-round visitation
Maintain official partnership status with reputable environmental organizations such as Leave No Trace and the South Florida Reef Ambassador Initiative
Develop ongoing seasonal programming on Martin County’s public lands and offer free eco-tours for residents and visitors, ensuring the outdoors are accessible to everyone
Promote local sustainability efforts that the Martin County community is pursuing
Create original content highlighting ways Martin County visitors can practice sustainable tourism, such as through videos, blogs, and social media
Showcase ongoing voluntourism opportunities within Martin County

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The Leave No Trace Gold Standard Hospitality Program recognizes properties that are excelling in their implementation of Leave No Trace. Through education, signage, sustainability initiatives, and more, these Gold Standard properties are taking action to minimizing recreation-related impacts on Martin County’s natural areas.

Here in Martin County, we currently have two Leave No Trace Gold Standard designated hotels:

Comfort Suites Stuart-Hutchinson

Hutchinson Shores Resort & Spa

Book Now - Stay Green

What Does Paradise Look Like in Martin County?

Thought Leadership

Learn more about the tourism team’s collective success: from launching nationally recognized initiatives like Explore Natural Martin, to securing dozens of prestigious accolades for destination marketing, sustainability, communications, and community engagement.

Leadership in Action

Practice Leave No Trace

When exploring Martin County’s incredible natural environment, it is important to know how to minimize your impacts on those resources. That is why we have partnered with Leave No Trace.

Learn more about the 7 Leave No Trace Principles so that all can enjoy our nature for years to come.

Leave No Trace

Ecotourism in Martin County

Guided Nature Programs
Green Lodging Options
Voluntourism Opportunities
Environmental Partnerships
Sustainability Tips
Environmental Resources and Organizations

Learn More Here

Water Conditions

Click on the resources below to learn about the water conditions in Martin County

Reef Information

Click on the resources below to learn about the reefs in Martin County

Click below to learn about local preserves, outfitters, and guided activities to help you Explore Natural Martin.

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