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SUSTAINABLE RECREATION IN BRIDGER-TETON NATIONAL FOREST
NEW FRAMEWORK FOR SUSTAINABLE RECREATION GUIDES BRIDGER-TETON NATIONAL FOREST
By Linda Merigliano, Bridger-Teton National Forest
Sustainability. The concept is simple: meeting the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. The goal is to seek the sweet spot at the intersection of environment, social, and economic considerations. In Bridger-Teton National Forest, this pursuit is ongoing.
Challenged by declining budgets, aging infrastructure, and changing visitor needs and expectations, early sustainability efforts within the Forest Service focused on campgrounds and buildings. Talk of sustainable trails referred only to the level of erosion and how well they functioned for their intended use. This narrow lens fell short of addressing sustainable recreation as a whole. In 2010, shifts in traditional ideology gave birth to an updated and more dynamic Framework for Sustainable Recreation.
This new approach was a way to align the entire recreation program. Sustainable recreation explores how we can provide opportunities for people to connect with the land and enjoy the benefits of being outdoors, while also ensuring ecological, social, and economic sustainability for present and future generations. Sustainable recreation acknowledges the hard truths and challenges we face, but also provides optimism that there is a path forward. It requires changing our collective focus from ME to WE. It changes how we approach our work internally and emphasizes public engagement and partnerships to create a focused vision for the future and
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shared action to steward the land and water we all love. The path towards a sustainable future begins with understanding the Forest’s history and role in the larger landscape. Did you Know that the Bridger-Teton National Forest... · Contains 3.4 million acres that are integral to the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem? · Is home to numerous wildlife migration corridors, 315 miles of Wild and Scenic rivers, 3 national system trails, and over 2 million acres of wilderness and backcountry? · Provides a wide range of diverse recreation opportunities? · Attracts 2.2 million annual visitors who contribute substantially to the local economy through outfitterguide services, guest ranches, mountain resorts, and those here to, “live the dream” or fulfill a livelihood that is in their blood?
The Forest’s history and role are embodied in its vision:
Within this vision, the Forest contains very diverse landscapes, each with its own history, assets, and values. Consider the Wind River Mountains known for stunning peaks and large glacial lakes, the Wyoming Range known for mule deer hunting and cutthroat trout fishing, areas valued by snowmobilers or skiers for powder snow, the Teton Wilderness’s ability to absorb multi-day pack trips, and areas adjacent to town providing accessible backyard adventures. Lessons learned from other managed areas suggest that a focused and well-aligned program is a sustainable program, thus the first step is to develop clear focus and priorities for each unique landscape.
The next step is to assess where we are now. How are we doing relative to resource protection, providing quality visitors experiences, and economic capacity to meet basic operational tasks and deliver public benefits? The recreation program is multi-faceted, so sustainability needs to be assessed for a variety of program areas such as access (roads and trails), dispersed summer and winter recreation, river and lakes, and wilderness.
Even after this initial assessment work, important questions will remain. For example, how will we address gaps and opportunities identified in the assessment? What new workforce skills and training are necessary? What does success look like and what metrics will be used to measure it? How will we adapt over time to evolving recreation trends?
As we begin the journey towards a more sustainable future, one thing is clear. Our National Forest System of public lands is a treasured resource owned by all of us. As celebration of the 50th anniversary of Earth Day continues, we encourage robust public conversation around sustainable recreation guided by a collective sense of the legacy we hope to leave for future generations.
CONNECTING people with their natural and cultural heritage.
Promoting BENEFITS through outdoor recreation.
INTEGRATING with other uses and resource values to derive sustainable recreation outcomes.
ENGAGING the public.
Considering the BROADER LANDSCAPE.
Understanding the 3 interconnected aspects of SUSTAINABILITY: ecological, social, and economic.
FUN FACT: We all know Yellowstone as the first National Park, but did you know that part of the Bridger-Teton and Shoshone comprised the first national forest established in 1891?
Photo Credit: JH Wildlife Foundation
AUTHOR BIO
Linda Merigliano is a Recreation/Wilderness program manager on the Bridger-Teton National Forest where she has worked for the past 30 years. She also serves as a member of the Interagency Visitor Use Management Council.
For more information contact: Linda Merigliano, Bridger-Teton National Forest linda.merigliano@usda.gov|(307) 739-5500 www.fs.usda.gov/main/btnf/home 17
