In order to implement Article I, section 27 of the Constitution of Pennsylvania with respect to the Appalachian Trail in Pennsylvania as a source of natural, scenic, historic and esthetic values to be preserved and as a public natural resource to be conserved and maintained for the benefit of all the people, the General Assembly finds as a matter of legislative policy that planning and zoning by a municipality, as municipality is defined in the act of July 31, 1968 (P.L. 805, No. 247),¹ known as the “Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code,” as amended, to implement Article I, section 27 is a valid exercise of the police power under that code.