If you love to travel, then no doubt you become excited with each new stamp that makes its way into your passport. But there is one new passport stamp that will make you smile and warm your heart.

The Island nation of the Republic of Palau in the West Pacific have created a new passport stamp after concerns about tourists making a negative impact on their fragile ecosystem. 

The nation is made up of 200 volcanic islands and coastal reefs and the locals have come up with an innovative way to educate and keep tourists in check.

Home to just 20,000 people, the Palau receives more than 160,000 visitors each year, and to ensure they all have the island’s environment at heart, a new passport stamp pledge has been created.

Stamped into the passport of each tourist that arrives, the stamp includes a pledge that all visitors must uphold, promising to preserve the environtment before entering the country with a signature.

The pledge was created with the help of the children of Palau and invites travellers to take environmental sustainability and over-tourism seriously. It reads:

I take this pledge,
as your guest,
to preserve and protect,
your beautiful and unique,
island home.

I vow to tread lightly,
act kindly and
explore mindfully.

I shall not take
what is not given.

I shall not harm
what does not harm me.

The only footprints
that I shall leave are those
that will wash away.

Take a look at this wonderful pledge below: