Top 10 ethical travel destinations

New to California-based Ethical Traveler's annual list of most ethical destinations, Samoa recently co-signed a $1 million project for improving biodiversity and managing threats of climate change.

Famed for a ritual in which locals with vines tied around their legs jump off platforms, Vanuatu made progress with land reform that supports indigenous rights.

In 2015, Ha'aapai will become Tonga's first island to institute organic farming. It aims to reduce 50% of its diesel importation by 2020.

Chile scored highest in environmental protection among all 10 ethical destinations. It approved the first carbon tax in South America, to take effect in 2018.

Lithuania's renewable energy use is currently at 22%, well ahead of schedule toward a goal of 23% by 2020. It also scored the highest on this year's UN Development Program's Human Development Index.

Cape Verde has one of Africa's highest scores for social welfare, according to the Heritage Foundation's Economic Freedom Index. It received a perfect score on a Freedom House report on civil and political rights.

Dominica gets high marks for a clean energy initiative and concern for wildlife, including continued resistance to commercial whaling.

Palau was designated an "Environmental Star" by the Small Island Developing States for its extensive care of marine and terrestrial areas.

Loved for its white beaches, Mauritius has embarked on a campaign to plant 200,000 trees by the end of 2014. In terms of social services, it's praised for being the only African country that has comprehensive income security programs for citizens over 60.

Uruguay hopes to see electric buses and taxis on its streets by 2015, says Ethical Traveler. In Colonia del Sacramento, tourists can already cruise the UNESCO World Heritage site by electric car.

• Nonprofit group Ethical Traveler's annual list highlights developing nations with promising human rights records


• Vanuatu, Samoa and Tonga are new to the 2015 list


• Ethical Traveler's research focuses on four categories: environmental protection, social welfare, human rights, animal welfare

(CNN) -- With so many developing destinations fighting it out for international tourists, it's not surprising that some travelers make a point of avoiding the ones with weak human rights and environmental records.

This can make it challenging to figure out which up-and-coming countries are actually worthy of your tourist coin.

Once again, help comes via nonprofit Ethical Traveler, which this week released its annual list of the countries that are doing the most to promote human rights, preserve their environments and support social welfare -- all while fostering a lively, community-based tourism industry.

Every year, the California-based organization reviews policies and practices in the developing world to select its top 10.

"By visiting these countries, we can use our economic leverage to reward good works and support best practices," says the report.

In alphabetical order, the 2015 top 10 are:

1. Cape Verde

2. Chile

3. Dominica

4. Lithuania

5. Mauritius

6. Palau

7. Samoa

8. Tonga

9. Uruguay

10. Vanuatu

Vanuatu, Samoa and Tonga are this year's new entries to the list.

"Eight of this year's 10 countries are island nations, indicating a trend in our winners' circle," says the report.

"Climate change affects islands dramatically, so they tend to be very aware of the importance of effective environmental policies.

"Chile and Uruguay are the only two mainland winners."

As in 2014, no developing Asian country qualified this year.

"All betrayed too many human rights abuses, and showed too little movement toward sustainability," says the report.

Choosing the top 10

Ethical Traveler's research focuses on four categories: environmental protection, social welfare, human rights and animal welfare.

"For each of these categories we look at information past and present so that we understand not only the current state of a country, but how it has changed over time," says Ethical Traveler.

Can't wait to get to Tonga? Neither can Ethical Traveler.

"This helps us select nations that are actively improving the state of their people, government and environment."

Information sources include Freedom House, the Millennium Challenge Corporation, Reporters Without Borders, UNICEF, LGBT resources and the World Bank.

"After identifying about two dozen 'short list' performers, we turn to detailed case research, focusing on actions these governments have taken over the year to improve (or in some cases, weaken) practices and circumstances in the countries," says the report.

The chosen destinations also have to have something to offer tourists.

Each "best ethical destination" offers opportunities to check out incredible natural beauty, enjoy great outdoor activities and have interactions with local people and cultures in a meaningful, mutually enriching way, says Ethical Traveler.

Researchers stress that just because these destinations made the list, none scored perfect marks.

"One issue that plagues nearly every country on our list is a high level of gender-based violence," says Ethical Traveler.

"Chile has the highest rate in Latin America, and in Samoa it is so commonplace that most people simply accept it as a way of life.

"Samoa, however, does seem to be making headway on this issue. In 2013 the legislature passed an amended Crimes Act that outlawed spousal rape and improved measures against domestic violence."

Also, many countries on the list remain in the Tier 2 designation of the U.S. State Department's Trafficking in Persons Report for 2014, which means their "governments do not fully comply with the TVPA's (Trafficking Victims Protection Act) minimum standards."

"We encourage these countries -- Cabo Verde, Lithuania, Mauritius, Palau, Tonga and Uruguay -- to do whatever is necessary to improve conditions," says the report.

"We are especially concerned with Uruguay, which is in danger of falling to Tier 3 if significant improvements are not seen in 2015."

The full report, in PDF form, can be found on the Ethical Traveler website.