Feds to build new campground near Capitol Reef National Park – KSL NewsRadio

Report on the Beas Lewis Flat Campground Development and its Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction and Project Overview

Federal land managers have authorized the development of the Beas Lewis Flat Campground near Capitol Reef National Park, Utah. This initiative, led by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), will convert an unmanaged dispersed camping area into a structured facility. The primary objective is to mitigate the environmental and social impacts of increasing tourism while enhancing visitor experience, directly aligning with several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Contribution to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The project is a significant step towards sustainable land management and tourism, contributing to the following SDGs:

• SDG 15: Life on Land: By formalizing the camping area, the project directly addresses the goal of protecting and restoring terrestrial ecosystems. It will combat land degradation caused by unmanaged camping through the installation of designated sites, fire rings, and waste management facilities, thereby promoting the sustainable use of the local environment.
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: The development serves to protect the region’s natural and cultural heritage from the pressures of unsustainable tourism. The provision of accessible facilities for people of all abilities makes the site more inclusive. Furthermore, the inclusion of interpretive signage about the benefits of dark skies helps safeguard this unique natural asset.
• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production: This initiative promotes sustainable tourism practices. By providing infrastructure such as vault toilets and garbage bins, it encourages responsible consumption and waste disposal patterns among visitors, shifting from a high-impact, unmanaged model to a controlled, sustainable one.
• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth: The campground represents an investment in sustainable tourism infrastructure, which supports long-term, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth for the local community by managing visitor flow and enhancing the area’s appeal as a responsible tourism destination.
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals: The project exemplifies a multi-stakeholder partnership, with funding and support from the federal BLM, the Utah Division of Outdoor Recreation, and the Foundation for America’s Public Lands. This collaboration is crucial for achieving comprehensive sustainability outcomes.

Project Specifications and Implementation

The development will be executed in phases to ensure responsible implementation and design that integrates with the surrounding landscape.

1. Initial Phase:
   • Construction of 45 campsites, including a mix of single, group, recreation vehicle, and tent sites.
   • Installation of essential amenities: vault toilets, garbage bins, fire rings, and picnic tables.
   • Integration of sites designed for people of all abilities.
   • Addition of new interpretive signage to educate visitors.
2. Future Expansion:
   • The campground has the potential to be expanded to as many as 95 sites in the future, contingent on continued growth in outdoor recreation interest and environmental assessments.

Project Rationale and Timeline

The necessity for this project is underscored by the dramatic increase in visitation to Capitol Reef National Park, which recorded over 1.4 million visits in 2024, nearly double its annual average from the early 2010s. This growth has placed significant pressure on surrounding lands. The design phase for the Beas Lewis Flat Campground is scheduled to begin this winter, with construction planned for the following year.

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The article addresses several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through its focus on managing tourism’s environmental and social impacts:

• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth: The article discusses managing tourism, a key economic driver for the region around Capitol Reef National Park. By creating infrastructure like the campground, it supports the continuation and sustainable growth of the local tourism economy.
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: This goal is relevant through its aim to protect natural heritage and provide access to public spaces. The project is a direct effort to “alleviate the impacts of growing visitation,” thereby safeguarding the natural heritage of the area. It also focuses on creating an accessible public space for recreation.
• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production: The article touches upon sustainable tourism practices. The transformation of an “unmanaged dispersed camping area into a managed facility” with amenities like garbage bins is a move towards more responsible resource use and waste management in a high-visitation area.
• SDG 15: Life on Land: The core of the project is “responsible resource stewardship” to protect the terrestrial ecosystem from the negative effects of unmanaged camping. By creating a designated, managed campground, the project aims to contain human impact and conserve the surrounding natural landscape.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

   • Target 8.9: “By 2030, devise and implement policies to promote sustainable tourism that creates jobs and promotes local culture and products.”
     
     The decision by the Bureau of Land Management to create the Beas Lewis Flat Campground is a direct implementation of a policy to manage and promote sustainable tourism. The project’s goal to improve “the visitor experience” while ensuring “responsible resource stewardship” aligns with this target.

2. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

   • Target 11.4: “Strengthen efforts to protect and safeguard the world’s cultural and natural heritage.”
     
     The project is a response to the impacts of high visitation at Capitol Reef National Park. The inclusion of “interpretive signage” about the “benefits of the region’s dark skies” is a specific effort to educate visitors and safeguard this unique aspect of the area’s natural heritage.
   • Target 11.7: “By 2030, provide universal access to safe, inclusive and accessible, green and public spaces…”
     
     The article explicitly states that “At least some of the sites will be dedicated to people of all abilities within the campground,” directly addressing the need for inclusive and accessible public recreational spaces.

3. SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

   • Target 12.b: “Develop and implement tools to monitor sustainable development impacts for sustainable tourism…”
     
     The campground itself is a tool to manage and mitigate the impacts of tourism. By converting an “unmanaged dispersed camping area” into a managed one with “garbage bins, fire rings, and picnic tables,” the project implements a system to control waste and environmental degradation.

4. SDG 15: Life on Land

   • Target 15.1: “By 2020, ensure the conservation, restoration and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services…”
     
     The project’s stated purpose is to address “long-standing concerns about unmanaged dispersed camping” and practice “responsible resource stewardship.” This is a direct action to ensure the sustainable use of the terrestrial ecosystem surrounding the national park.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

Yes, the article mentions or implies several indicators that can measure progress:

1. Visitor Numbers as a Pressure Indicator: The article cites specific visitor statistics for Capitol Reef National Park (“more than 1.4 million visits in 2024,” and “over 1.2 million people visited the park this year”). These numbers serve as a key indicator of tourism intensity, justifying the need for management actions and can be used to measure the scale of the challenge being addressed.
2. Infrastructure for Sustainable Tourism: The creation of the campground itself is an indicator. Specific metrics mentioned include:
   • The number of managed campsites created (“45 campsites in its first phase,” with potential expansion to “as many as 95 sites”).
   • The number of accessible campsites (“some of the sites will be dedicated to people of all abilities”).
   • The installation of waste management facilities (“garbage bins”) and other amenities (“vault toilets, fire rings, picnic tables”).
3. Area of Land Under Sustainable Management: An implied indicator is the transition of land use. The project is “flipping an unmanaged dispersed camping area into a managed facility,” which represents a quantifiable area of land brought under a sustainable management plan to reduce environmental degradation.
4. Educational Tools for Heritage Protection: The installation of “New interpretive signage” about the region’s dark skies is a tangible indicator of efforts to educate the public and protect natural heritage, as per Target 11.4.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: kslnewsradio.com