Jackson Hole & Yellowstone Sustainable Destination Program
USA
The Jackson Hole & Yellowstone Sustainable Destination Program was created by the Riverwind Foundation to strengthen and unify the programs, policies, and practices for environmental stewardship, social responsibility, and economic vitality in Teton County, Wyoming. The Program was created to address:
– The results of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council Destination Criteria Early Adopters Program in 2012
– The resolution passed by the Town of Jackson and Teton County for Jackson Hole to be a world-leading sustainable community and destination in 2017
– The findings from EarthCheck Destination Certification Program in 2019 and 2020
WHAT
The Riverwind Foundation is the coordinator of the Jackson Hole & Yellowstone Sustainable Destination Program. The Program has a seven-member working team, twelve-member tactical steering committee, and 57-member strategic council. The Program establishes partnerships on a project-by-project basis and has engaged over 300 businesses, nonprofit organizations, government agencies, and schools. These projects include sustainability training and technical assistance, assessments and certification, and resident and visitor outreach and education. Ultimately, the Program will assist the communities that comprise Jackson Hole in integrating sustainability policy in economic recover plans and creating a Tourism Management Plan in 2021-22 that focuses on resident and visitor management and sustainability
HOW
Financial support for the Riverwind Foundation’s Jackson Hole & Yellowstone Sustainable Destination Program comes from government grants (23%), private foundation grants and donations (73%), and program receipts (4%). The projects supported by this funding have accomplished the following:
– Train and assist over 300 businesses in sustainability planning and practices
– Inventory the sustainability activities of over 120 local stakeholders
– Create or enhance 53 local green collar jobs and educate over 250 students
– Double the RRR Business Leaders to over 200 and TripAdvisor Green Leaders to 43 through the Hotshots Program
– Create the Business Emerald Sustainability Tier (BEST) Program for increasing the sustainability performance and recognition of the most committed RRR BLs and assist 8 of the top RRR Business Leaders to achieve BEST Certification
– Create & distribute the Jackson Hole Sustainability Code of Conduct to over 100,000
– Create & distribute the first five issues of Green Matters in Jackson Hole to 3,000+
– Create & distribute the first annual Jackson Hole Sustainability Report Card to 7,800+
WHY
Tourism visitation to Jackson Hole has increased from 2.8 million in 2014 to 3.1 million in 2015, to a record-breaking 3.3 million in 2016 and more in 2017-2019, representing a total increase of 20% since 2014. Negative impacts of this increased visitation include traffic congestion, vehicle-wildlife collisions and human-wildlife incidents, increased waste and littering, degradation of natural sites, stressed human services and public infrastructure, and reduced quality of life and visitor experience. The Jackson Hole & Yellowstone Sustainable Destination Program is being conducted to create a formally-recognized destination management organization which will oversee the development and implementation of a destination management plan that unites efforts to minimize resident and visitor impacts on the Greater Yellowstone ecosystem now and for future generations.
Jackson Hole & Yellowstone Sustainable Destination Program has been accredited as a Sustainable Destination by Earth Check following the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) criteria.
