Land Commitments in Alaska

Abstract

The Federal government of the United States has, over a number of years, entered into provisional commitments with various owners and agencies in respect to areas of land in Alaska, which, in aggregate, exceed the land area of the State by 22%. It is now under pressure from sundry agencies and interest groups to bring additional areas into existing systems of conservation without due study of the problems involved. There will be a consequent lessening in the chances of the State and its Native peoples achieving economic self-sufficiency within a programme of planned land use and protection of the environment. There is need for a single manager of Federal lands, unaffiliated with any existing agencies.