ECO TOURS - Each year tens of thousands of travelers embark on what might be the most exciting adventure of their lives - traveling to some wild place on Earth, and experiencing the natural beauty, wildlife, and traditional culture of the area.

But in some situations, even ecotourism can be "too much" for very vulnerable habitats and species. Ecotourism has trendy appeal, and in some areas it is used as a cover for operations that have negative environmental impacts, and only serve to enrich a few people who live far from the ecotour destinations.

These are important distinctions to understand. In this series, we'll take an in-depth look at ecotour destinations on different continents. Through the eyes of our host and “fellow travelers”, we’ll learn about protecting sensitive habitats against the pressures of economic development. We’ll get a glimpse into how native cultures respond to foreign ways. This format is designed to excite the imagination and take a close look at the promises of ecotourism: travel that is enjoyable, environmentally sensitive, and economically responsible.

THE LAST ROUNDUP “It’s wild and it’s wide and it’s lonesome Where the dreams of first blood still survive And it beckons to those can bid adios To the comfort of 8 to 5 lives.” -- Anonymous Cowboy Poet

For over two hundred years ranch families in the West have been part of America’s heritage. These hardy souls embody our nation’s traditional values hard-work, perseverance though adversity, and a genuine respect for land and nature. Ranching men and women are not Hollywood’s cowboys-they come from a broad range of cultural and ethnic backgrounds. They struggle with debt, undependable markets, soaring land prices, the vagaries of nature, and death taxes. In The Last Roundup, stories of a half-dozen multi-ethnic ranch families from Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, Montana and South Dakota will provide a beautiful and intimate look at the relationship these families have with the land, why they ranch, why their children want to ranch, and the creative ways these families are finding to preserve their unique way of life and their land for future generations.