Pacific Northwest-born Frances Lalas is now living and working in sunny Mendoza, Argentina, at the Vines of Mendoza, overseeing the development of the new Vines Resort & Spa, a five-star resort on 1,000 acres at the base of the Andes set to open at the end of 2013. She is also spearheading the company’s corporate social responsibility initiatives — an important measure for a resort that defines itself by being so close with nature. One eco-measure the soon-to-open resort has taken is the extraordinary use of locally sourced building materials

“Part of [The Vines'] vision is a commitment to the environment,” Lalas explains. “It’s really simple: We love this land, we think it’s beautiful, and we want to do what we can to take care of it.”

Editor/writer Ron Geatz profiled Australia’s Fish River Station, a 700-sq.-mi. former ranch that was purchased with the expressed intent of returning it to its aboriginal communities, in a recent Nature Conservancy magazine article entitled “Home Country.” Geatz explains that this is the first time that land has been purchased for this purpose, but it may be a sign of things to come.

“There is a real appreciation for the fact that aboriginal management can help restore the land to help itself,” Geatz says. “What we’re seeing [across Australia] are these massive wildfires, which are destructive to people, livestock [and] native plants and animals. That is probably the biggest effect that ranching has had on Australia.”

David A. Thompson, Director of Environmental Affairs at Panasonic Corporation of North America, returns to Green is Good to discuss his nearly 30-year environmental journey with the company. In the past, Thompson has worked on initiatives on recycling batteries and curbing the growing e-waste problem. This has led to an increased focus on green education.

“We have a corporate goal of making educational materials and opportunities available to students around the world,” Thompson says. “Kids are the next generation. They will determine how sustainable our future is. What they will decide will depend on the type of education they receive.”