Glacier National Park – Parks Canada

Jasper National Park: A Report on Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

Strategic Planning for Sustainable Tourism and Community Well-being

Jasper National Park’s visitor management framework directly supports several key Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). By providing comprehensive planning resources, the park promotes a model of sustainable tourism that benefits both the environment and local communities, ensuring long-term viability.

• SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities): The provision of detailed information on facilities, services, and transportation options facilitates sustainable access to and protection of the region’s cultural and natural heritage.
• SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities): A stated commitment to accessibility ensures that the park’s natural and recreational benefits are available to a wider range of individuals, promoting social inclusivity.
• SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth): Tourism infrastructure, including meeting and event rentals, stimulates local economic growth and provides sustainable employment opportunities.

Economic Mechanisms for Conservation and Biodiversity

The park’s fee and pass system serves as a critical financial instrument for advancing conservation objectives in line with global sustainability targets. Revenue generated is directly reinvested into park management, contributing to the protection of vital ecosystems and biodiversity.

1. SDG 15 (Life on Land): Park passes and admission fees provide essential funding for the conservation of terrestrial ecosystems, the halting of biodiversity loss, and the protection of the park’s unique natural habitats.
2. SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production): The fee structure helps manage visitor flow and encourages responsible tourism patterns, thereby minimizing the environmental footprint of park activities.
3. SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth): Financial models, including program fees and passes, support sustained and inclusive economic activity linked to tourism while ensuring the long-term preservation of the natural assets that attract visitors.

Promoting Health, Well-being, and Environmental Safety

The park offers attractions and enforces guidelines that enhance visitor well-being while ensuring the protection of the natural environment, reflecting an integrated approach to health, safety, and ecosystem integrity.

• SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being): Natural attractions such as the Miette Hot Springs provide significant opportunities for recreation and relaxation, contributing positively to the physical and mental health of visitors.
• SDG 15 (Life on Land): Comprehensive safety guidelines, including bulletins on trail, weather, and avalanche conditions, are essential for protecting both visitors and the park’s delicate ecosystems, ensuring a safe and sustainable interaction between humans and nature.

Analysis of the Article on Jasper National Park and SDGs

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

• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth – The article promotes tourism, which is a key economic driver.
• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities – The mention of accessibility for visitors connects to the principle of inclusion.
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities – The park is presented as a significant piece of natural heritage that requires protection and safeguarding.
• SDG 15: Life on Land – As a national park, its core purpose is the conservation and sustainable use of a terrestrial ecosystem.

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

• Target 8.9: “By 2030, devise and implement policies to promote sustainable tourism that creates jobs and promotes local culture and products.” The article is entirely focused on promoting tourism to Jasper National Park. The existence of “park regulations” and “safety and guidelines” suggests that this tourism is managed to be sustainable.
• Target 10.2: “By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status.” The “Plan your visit” section explicitly mentions “accessibility,” indicating that efforts are made to ensure the park is inclusive for people with disabilities.
• Target 11.4: “Strengthen efforts to protect and safeguard the world’s cultural and natural heritage.” Jasper National Park is a form of natural heritage. The article’s information on “fees,” “passes,” and “regulations” points to a system designed to manage and protect this heritage site.
• Target 15.4: “By 2030, ensure the conservation of mountain ecosystems, including their biodiversity…” Jasper National Park is a mountain ecosystem, and its management, as implied by the article’s sections on “safety” and “regulations,” is geared towards its conservation.

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

• For Target 8.9 (Sustainable Tourism): The article implies the existence of a tourism industry through its promotion of attractions like “Miette Hot Springs” and services like “facilities and services.” The “park regulations” are an implicit indicator of policies for sustainable tourism management.
• For Target 10.2 (Inclusion): The specific mention of “accessibility” serves as a qualitative indicator that policies and infrastructure are in place to support the inclusion of persons with disabilities.
• For Target 11.4 (Heritage Protection): The systems for “fees” and “passes” are implied indicators of financial resources being allocated to the preservation and management of the natural heritage site. The existence of “park regulations” is an indicator of the protective measures in place.
• For Target 15.4 (Ecosystem Conservation): The mention of “trail conditions,” “weather and avalanche conditions,” and “park regulations” are all indicators of an active management plan to conserve the mountain ecosystem by managing human impact and ensuring safety within the natural environment.

4. SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Table

Source: parks.canada.ca