Beartooth Ranger DistrictYellowstone Business Partnership
Here to describe a Federal – Private alignment in promoting sustainable operations that I believe is:
• A good model• Easily replicated• Holds participants accountable – but at a scale of their choosing• Promotes Sustainability Leadership • Rewarding!• Expanding
WHO ARE WE?
Beartooth Ranger District (Custer NF) in GYA map Yellowstone Business Partnership map
HOME OF MOUNTAINEERS
First ascent of Granite Peak,highest point in Montana
Elers KochForest Supervisor Ferguson,
and JC WhithamAugust 19, 1923
Last of the state highpointsto be climbed
Doug Chabot
Climber –
Director, Gallatin Avalanche Center
Co-founder, with Genevieve Chabot, of the Iqra Fund
onHellroaring Icefall, Beartooths
Headwall Skiing
Beartooth Basin
formerlyThe Red Lodge International Ski and Snowboard Camp,
Beartooth Pass
at nearly 11,000’ elevationopen Memorial Day to July 4
“You could call it backcountry skiing with a lift.”
INSPIRING RANGES
Greater Yellowstone Area
What’s at risk??
WHAT OPPORTUNITIES DO WE HAVE?
Definition of Sustainable Development:
"Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs".
WHAT OPPORTUNITIES DO WE HAVE?We can accomplish more together -
Federal side:Greater Yellowstone Coordinating Committee (GYCC )
Formed in 1964 = core federal lands in the Greater Yellowstone area:2 National Parks Yellowstone NP Grand Teton NP6 National Forests Shoshone, Bridger-Teton, Caribou-Targhee, Gallatin, and portions of the Beaverhead-Dearlodge and Custer National Forests2 National Wildlife Refuges Elk Refuge in Jackson Hole Red Rocksand more recently, adjacent BLM Resource Areas.
Beartooth Ranger District (Custer NF) in GYA map Yellowstone Business Partnership map
Greater Yellowstone Coordinating Committee (GYCC)
Sub-Committees to address various resource issues in common, such as invasive speciesfire managementfisheries issuesair quality, climate change, and sustainable operations.
GYCC Sustainable Operation Subcommittee Cultivating Change Today, Growing Environmental Stewardship for Tomorrow Focus Areas — SOS:
• Water Conservation
• Recycling and Waste Stream Reduction
• Energy Conservation
• Employee, Visitor and Community Education
• Green Purchasing
• Fleet and Transportation Management
Strategic Vision:
As stewards of this very special place, our objective is to cultivate a behavioral shift amongst permittees, concessionaires, employees, and visitors that will promote a heightened awareness of our connectivity to and responsibility for the environment. The SOS through the support of the GYCC will continue to emerge as a leader in ecosystem wide sustainability. Through the efforts of dedicated employees the committee will advance sound environmental stewardship practices.
Yellowstone Business Partnership
The Yellowstone Business Partnership unites businesses dedicated to preserving a healthy environment andshaping a prosperous and sustainable future for communities in the Yellowstone-Teton region. The Partnership promotes scientific understanding, informed dialogue, and collaborative approaches to resolving our region’s most complex cross boundary socioeconomic and natural resource challenges.
Modeled after Sierra Business Council
Beartooth Ranger District (Custer NF) in GYA map Yellowstone Business Partnership map
Yellowstone Business Partnership just finished it’s 10th year. Note UnCommon Sense program.
What is the UnCommon Sense program?
A two year leadership program for businesses and organizations seeking to operate more efficiently and responsibly. There are 28,000 business in the GYA. Think of the potential!
8 Modules:1. Leading the Way2. Waste Stream Managemet3. Responsible Purchasing4. Social and Community Investment5. Energy Efficiencies6. Water Efficiencies7. Transportation Efficiencies8. Business Response to Climate Change (including our ghg emissions reduction action plan)
UCS accountability! Scorecards for each module with points required for graduation. Viewed as a regional certification.
Who is in the UnCommon Sense program?
USFS Partners in UCS: Red Lodge Mountain ski area• Bridger Bowl ski area• Stillwater Mining Company (platinum, palladium) – 2nd largest employer in State of MontanaGreater influence; Reach more members of the public, employees
Fellow UCS classmates – Montana State U, Teton Science School, several architectural firms, City of Bozeman, NOLS, Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center, Post Register newspaper, First Interstate Bank, several restaurants and travel companies
Expanding to the Crown of the Continent – to Glacier NP/Big Mountain/Whitefish area
WHAT OPPORTUNITIES DO WE HAVE?We can accomplish more together -
Federal – Private partnership WHY DID WE JOIN?
My rationale for joining YBP, then UnCommon Sense program:
Want to support YBP’s commitment to the triple bottom line:• Environmental, • Social and • Economic well-being of the communities of the GYA
• Well aligned with our own objectives• Our agency needs to “Walk the Talk”,
• as land managers• for Consistency with our Permittees in the UnCommon Sense program
• Red Lodge Mountain• Stillwater Mine
Quote from Paul Hawken - environmental entrepreneur and widely published author:
“Business is the only mechanism on the planet today powerful enough to produce the changes necessary to reverse global environmental and social degradation.”
Federal – Private partnership Common goals for and barriers to sustainable operations –
for both Government and Business
• Common Drivers:• Reduce overhead costs to free up more money to do mission work• As taxpayers, we all have an interest in reducing operating costs• Common interest in maintaining natural resources
• Common Challenges:• Employee capacity; It takes time• It can take money• Skepticism
• Unique Challenge (Federal side):• Incentive to reduce our overhead costs is much more indirect. How to get those savings back to the unit?
• Therefore, looking for opportunities to leverage our own practices with those of neighboring participants including our own permittees (ski area, platinum mine)
– influence vendors, bring in bio-fuel, etc
GYCC Sustainable Operation Subcommittee Cultivating Change Today, Growing Environmental Stewardship for Tomorrow
Accomplishments—SOS:
Energy Conservation:• GYA Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions Inventory completed on all units. This was the first
ecosystem-wide GHG inventory. • Subsequent GHG Emissions Reduction Action Plan – 20% by 2020• Georgia Tech interns conducted GYA wide assessment of energy conservation opportunities
in historic buildings, while maintaining historic integrity• Exploring micro-hydro opportunities at remote work centers
Water Conservation:• Kohler, Inc. donated 37 water conserving fixtures to be installed across the GYA, resulting in
a projected reduction of water consumption by an estimated 450,000 gallons per year.
Local partnership:
Coupons from us, to get a discount on reusable bottles at the local mountaineering shop
BEYOND THE GREATER YELLOWSTONE
Central Cascade Mountains – Leavenworth Climbing Rangers –
Recovered webbing
Prusik Peak – Enchantments
Alpine Lakes Wilderness
Mountain Culture• Indigenous cultures - Inherently sustainable?
• Effects of tourism
The journey continues…!
– it is SO rewarding, refreshing, and inspirationalinteracting with businesses outside the usual USFS sphere, and to see how much they can accomplish!
I would highly encourage folks to look into joining similar organizations in your area.
Lead From Where You’re At
Beartooth Ranger DistrictYellowstone Business
PartnershipTraute Parrie
District RangerBeartooth Ranger DistrictCuster Gallatin National Forest