Defining Sustainability in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem

Abstract

Because of the normative and subjective nature of the terms sustainability and sustainable development, solutions tend to be applicable for specific regions but not the whole of society. Thus, it is imperative understand better how community stakeholders and decision makers define the concept of sustainability. Not only will greater understanding of such definitions add to our understanding of nature-society relations, but also in certain contexts, this understanding may help to promote realistic and effective decision-making at local levels. The objective of this study was to determine how amenity-driven gateway communities surrounding Yellowstone and Grand Teton National parks define, conceptualize, and perceive sustainability, and if those perceptions varied between time in residence, community of origin, or role within the community. Thirty-five key informant interviews were conducted with decision makers within the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem to meet the study objectives. Throughout study communities, definitions of sustainability focused on the environment, the economy, and multi-generational thinking, and it is believed that these similarities can be the starting point for communication and collaboration among gateway communities, the long-term sustainability of their individual communities, and the collective resource upon which they all depend, the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.

Embedded in Nature: Challenges to Sustainability in Communities of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem

“…The results from this study and previous studies [10,41,89] also indicate that a transition toward sustainability is manifested differently in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, and potentially other communities adjacent to protected lands, than it is in other areas because of its unique milieu. While the close proximity of federal lands, and thus extra-local decision-making, may complicate the sustainability discourse at times, these same federal lands may also favor a transition toward sustainability in amenity-driven gateway communities [41].…”

Rural sustainability methods, drivers, and outcomes: A systematic review

“…For quantitative analyses, the methods include descriptive statistics analyses (e.g., Nnadi et al, 2020), expert survey comparison analysis (e.g., König et al, 2015), spatial econometrics model (Hwang et al, 2018), structural equation modeling/path analysis (e.g., McShane et al, 2013) and matched difference‐in‐differences (Zhao, 2020). The mixed methods studies mainly involve survey questionnaires or administrative data coupled with interviews, archival analysis, and focus groups (e.g., Bergstrom, 2012; Bi & Haight, 2007; Moreno‐Penaranda, 2008). We note that, among these quantitative and mixed methods studies, only the Zhao (2020) study employs a strong quasi‐experimental design that provides causal evidence, specifically on the effects of land consolidation in rural households in China.…”

Grizzly bear restoration and economic restructuring in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem

“…The past history of commodity development in the Rocky Mountains demonstrated that over-exploitation often results in degraded landscapes for people and nature. Current energy and mineral development efforts in the West seems destined to mirror the past, but such commodity development typically does not result in long-term sustainable rural economies (Power 1980;Johnson 1998;Rudzitis 1999, Power andBarrett 2001;Bergstrom 2018).…”

“…During the years of grizzly recovery, between 1970 and 2015, the population of the Greater Yellowstone region more than doubled (+111.6%) and the number of homes tripled from 79,128 in 1970 to 227,687 in 2015 (Hansen and Phillips 2018). New arrivals to the region are attracted by a variety of attributes, including good air transport, a thriving economy (much of it in tech), high-quality recreation, clean and safe communities, and scenic beauty (Dillman 1979;Power 1991;Johnson and Rasker 1995;Johnson and Beale 1999;Rudzitis 1999, Rasker andHansen 2000;Power and Barrett 2001;Hansen, Rasker et al 2002;Johnson, Maxwell, and Aspinall 2003;Gude et al 2006;Bergstrom 2012;Cortes, Davidsson, and McKinnis 2015;Swanson 2016;Bergstrom 2018, Rappaport 2018. Housing needs for the expanding population has spurred a growth in construction trades, materials, and producer services, such as architecture, interior design, and maintenance.…”

“…In terms of human prosperity, while the general trends are positive; housing costs/affordability, structural poverty, and recreation overcrowding potentially compromise the qualitative amenities that attract increasing numbers of in-migrants to the region (Johnson 1998;Johnson, Maxwell, and Aspinall 2003;Bergstrom 2012Bergstrom , 2018. In-migration to the region outpaces natural population increases, and some counties are among the highest in rural areas of the US; following those increases, home density is expected to double in the next 30 years (Hansen and Phillips 2018).…”