Final answer:
The natural resource value of a land is best explained as the intrinsic natural value it holds in its undeveloped state, which includes ecological services, biodiversity, and beauty, acknowledging land's multifaceted contributions to our environment and well-being.
Step-by-step explanation:
The best explanation for the concept of the natural resource value of a land is that some land has intrinsic natural value in its undeveloped state. This perspective respects that land is not solely valued for its ability to be developed or its utility in producing goods and services, but also for the natural benefits it provides, such as ecosystem services, biodiversity, and recreational spaces. John Locke's view of land was more utilitarian, in that individuals would strive to own and develop land for profit, producing valuable goods for society. However, current environmental and economic theories also recognize the inherent worth of preserving natural landscapes as a form of natural resource in themselves.
For instance, a parcel of land has multiple potential uses – it can be developed into a house, a gas station, or a park, or left undeveloped. However, the value of that land also includes its ecological state, quality of soil, and what it represents in terms of natural landscape and beauty. Understanding the values of natural resources also requires acknowledging historical perspectives, such as those of early economic thinkers like Adam Smith and Thomas Malthus, who recognized the physical constraints of land and its pivotal role in economic development predicated on natural philosophy.