ABFC Guiding Principles

Mission Statement

The Alaska Boreal Forest Council promotes sustainable communities and economies in Interior Alaska through boreal forest education, community-assisted research and information exchange.

Background

The Alaska Boreal Forest Council was formed in 1993 and has since found that the best approach to making sound land and natural resource policy is to involve local residents as responsible partners in decision-making. Accordingly, our efforts are aimed at building a well-informed citizenry. Through inclusive forums, programs and services, ABFC works to present and discuss all sides of an issue so that people have the information they need to make their own decisions.

Starting Assumptions

1. Individuals and communities are integral and responsible members of the natural system on which present and future life depends.
2. A sustainable ecosystem is one in which community values, ecosystem health, and economic development are integrated.
3. Economic development and forest management should both be consistent with the capacity of the ecosystem and the values of the community.
4. The environment is undergoing rapid change and the ecosystem in which we live has limits.
5. Because our lands are neither resource-depleted nor degraded, natural resource management in the Alaskan boreal forest can focus on strategies that encourage the natural resilience of the ecosystem.
6. The strong interdependence between the land and the people of Interior Alaska is a special quality of this place.
7. Given access to sound information and a place at the table, residents can - together with resource managers and government - be better prepared when making decisions concerning natural resource policy.
8. Working together is the most effective way for the whole community to learn, consider options, make decisions, take and evaluate actions. It is the best means to keep the forests and communities of our region livable and healthy.

Vision Statement

Once we, the human species, see ourselves as one component of the ecosystem, we will seek to learn to act from that perspective. We will adapt our stewardship and practices to what is sustainable. We will try to ensure that resource development reflects what is ecologically possible, culturally acceptable, and economically profitable. We will strive to leave the world a better place for future generations.

In Alaska's boreal forest region, acceptance of ourselves as part of the ecosystem will motivate us to develop a robust, culturally- and environmentally-sensitive economy. Diverse timber and nontimber forest products and services will be important elements of that mix. Sustainable community development will make it possible for Interior Alaskans to continue living close to the land. Healthy communities and natural ecosystems will serve local residents, businesses, and communities beyond our region indefinitely.

Sustainable Development

The Alaska Boreal Forest Council recognizes that sustainable development requires a sufficient level of compatibility between economic, social, and environmental systems to collectively maintain and improve the quality of life in the long-term. ABFC endorses the 1987 Bruntland Commission definition of sustainable development: