INTRODUCTION

Regardless of whether socio-economic considerations in the State of Alaska support the establishment of policies to induce economic growth and physical development, the selection of lands suitable for development should be based on an assessment of the natural landscape capability, and an evaluation of its value for other natural and cultural uses.

The capability of a landscape is a function of geology, topography, climate, hydrology, soil, vegetation, wildlife, as well as scenic quality, and the degree of landscape degradation that would result from disturbance. Evaluations of development suitability are made in terms of social values and land uses with regard to the inherent capability of the land. Alaska's clean streams, rivers and aquifers, rare or threatened vegetation and wildlife, fertile agricultural soils, scenic quality, and areas of historic or scientific interest would be considered for protection and conservation based on their inherent values as unique, scarce, or irreplaceable resources. Site accessibility, availability of community services and infrastructure, as well as hazardous development conditions would be considered in terms of their opportunities or constraints for suitable development activities.

The underlying concept of landscape planning and management activities in Alaska, should recognize that land, like air and water, is essential to the public health, safety, and welfare, whose environmentally sensitive and efficient use is beneficial to all citizens. The overall benefits gained by the preservation and conservation of resources, and the development of lands most suitable, and the costs avoided by restricting the development of unsuitable or hazardous lands will accrue to present and future populations.

In 1690, John Locke proposed that all value in land resulted from the human labor invested to profit from that value, and that because of the labor expended, humans acquire the property of their own labor. Therefore, by "improving the land" an individual elevates the land from its natural, commonly held condition to something which may be rightfully claimed as private. Locke also suggested that the appropriation of land to individuals as a result of their labor increases the general quality of humankind. It is this philosophy, that the public good will be furthered by private enterprise, that has so strongly influenced American land ethics.