Linking Visual Landscape Inventory to Forest Landscape Planning & Operations Paul Picard, MFR

Lecture outline Overview of VLI & examples of uses in design Beyond VLI: rvqc, EVQOs, etc. How VLI information is accessed online. Other VLI uses: in Timber Supply Analyses, planning, etc Visual values monitoring in FRPA: C&E, FPB, Effectiveness Evaluations. 2

VLI - What is it? A 0005 PR M/H/H/H 3 A It is the identification, classification and recording of visual values on maps. The visible landscape is physically mapped, it is assessed using 35 factors and rated for its visual sensitivity to forest alterations and assigned a Visual Sensitivity Class between 1 and 5. 3

1. VLI in Review Mapping is completed from public use areas, communities, roads, water routes, trails etc. Identifies what’s visible and not visible. Delineates landscape into Visual Sensitivity Units (VSUs). Records particulars of each Visual Sensitivity Unit. Existing Visual Condition (EVC) Visual Absorption Capability (VAC) Biophysical Rating (BR) Viewing Condition (VC) Viewer Rating (VR) Classifies the VSU into one of five Visual Sensitivity Classes (VSC). 4

Existing Visual Condition (EVC): Identifies the existing level of human made alterations on the landscape at the time the inventory is conducted. The terminology used is the same as for VQOs except that it has one more Class (Excessive Modification). 5

Example of EVC use in design/planning Shows how much “room to manoeuvre” is left on the landscape 6 EVC = PR VQO = M vs PR

Example of EVC use in design/planning Shows how much “room to manoeuvre” is left on the landscape 7 EVC = M VQO = M vs R

Visual Absorption Capability (VAC): Rates the relative capacity of the landscape to absorb human made alterations and still maintain some visual integrity. The scale is high, medium, low. The higher the rating the more ability to absorb alteration. 8

Example of VAC use in design/planning Hints as to which harvesting pattern may work & which may not work as easily 9 VAC = Low Clearcutting will be harder to fit in than thinning or partial cutting

Example of VAC use in design/planning Hints as to which harvesting pattern may work & which may not work as easily 10 VAC = High Clearcutting or small patches are likely to fit in & blend in very well

Biophysical Rating (BR): Identifies the degree of visual interest in the landscape and rates the level that it would attract viewer attention. The scale is high, medium low. The higher the attraction, the more sensitive it is. 11

Example of BR use in design/planning Hints as to how spectacular the landscape is BR = High Spectacular landscapes will be more challenging to design

Example of BR use in design/planning Hints as to how spectacular the landscape is BR = Low Less spectacular landscapes will be less challenging to design

Viewing Condition (VC): Records the conditions under which the landscape is viewed such as viewing duration and number of viewpoints. The scale is high, medium & low. The higher the rating the more you see the landscape and the more sensitive it is. 14

Example of VC use in design/planning Hints as to how the landscape is viewed 15 VC = High Highly visible landscapes will be more challenging to design

Example of VC use in design/planning Hints as to how the landscape is viewed 16 VC = Moderate Landscapes viewed in less prominent ways will be less challenging to design

Viewer Rating (VR): Measures the number of people and their expectations for visual quality. Ratings are high, medium & low. The higher the rating the more people view the landscape and/or are more concerned. 17

Example of VR use in design/planning Indicates viewer expectations & numbers of viewers VR = High Landscapes with large number of viewers & high expectations will be more challenging to design

Example of VR use in design/planning VR = Low Landscapes with small number of viewers & lower expectations will be less challenging to design Indicates viewer expectations & numbers of viewers

Visual Sensitivity Class (VSC) : Rates the sensitivity of the landscape to visual alteration based on the Biophysical, and Viewing characteristics described previously. The rating scale is 1 to 5. Class 5 has a very low sensitivity to alteration. Class 1 is very high sensitivity to alteration. 20

Example of VSC 1 Meares Island, Tofino. A spectacular and very attractive landscape. Viewed and photographed by hundreds of thousands of people per year from Tofino. High biophysical rating, low VAC. This is an example of a regional feature and top end VSC-1 21

Example of VSC 2 Mountain along the Tuchodi River Another spectacular, attractive mountain. Unlike Meares Island this peak is in a remote area where viewer numbers are low. VAC is moderate. The area is used mainly by ATV riding hunting and fishing. 22

Example of VSC 3 Hillside above Shuswap Lake. The VSU has a moderate biophysical rating Viewing is from Highway 1 for a short time at an oblique angle. Expectations are lower because of existing alterations in the scene and the similarity of the adjacent scenery. A 23

Example of VSC 4 An uninteresting VSU in the middleground. It has a moderate to low biophysical rating and moderate VAC. It is viewed infrequently from a secondary road and from a farm. 24

Example of VSC 5 An uninteresting VSU in the mid ground. It has a low biophysical rating and medium VAC. Infrequent and short term viewing opportunities from a gravel road with low traffic numbers. 25

2. Understanding the Label Polygon No. Existing Visual Condition Biophysical Rating Viewing Condition: Visual Absorption Capability Viewing Rating Visual Sensitivity Class When the Inventory mapping is complete a map label is applied to each polygon. 26

Beyond VLI: rvqc 28 In VLI, the VSC is expressed as a rvqc, which is then taken into consideration in the establishement of scenic areas & VQOs. Management decisions (scenic areas & VQOs are also stored within the VLI database available online

4. How VLI information is accessed online VLI stored as shape files on the Land & Resource Data Warehouse (LRDW) 29 Via the Recreation Resource Inventory Online Via Via IMAP or IMFapp

VLI Uses:Timber Supply Analyses VLI Uses: Timber Supply Analyses 53 VLI combined with: Plan to perspective (P2P) ratios Visually effective green up (VEG) Harvesting practices (Clearcutting vs Dispersed retention cutting) Are used into TSR calculations

Timber availability: Timber available for harvest in the short and near term. Corresponds to the mature merchantable growing stock in the absence of legislative framework (or any other constraint). Timber supply: estimate of future sustainable timber harvests under a set of rules and for long planning horizons (e.g. 200 yrs). VLI Uses:Timber Supply Analyses cont. VLI Uses: Timber Supply Analyses cont. 54

Traditionally, with a clearcut approach: % allowed alteration in perspective is converted to % allowed denudation in plan, and the use of VEG VLI Uses:Timber Supply Analyses cont. VLI Uses: Timber Supply Analyses cont. 55

More recently, with a dispersed retention approach: % basal area removal, or combination of % stems/volume removal with tree height (BCMoF, 1997a) 56

Plan to perspective in TSR % alt. in% Denudation% Basal Area perspective ClearcutDispersed Preservation % Retention % Partial Retention % Modification % Max. Modification %

Other VLI uses: identifying Potential Scenic Areas VSC may be used as a form of prioritization when determining what areas move forward to becoming scenic areas (e.g. VSC 1-3 may be designated while VSC 4&5 areas may not be proposed for scenic area status). 16 millions ha inventoried 10 millions ha is scenic area Approx. 7 millions ha with VQOs Approx. 3 millions ha with other OSBG for visuals 58

Other VLI uses: VSC Influences Choice of VQO VSC Rvqc (based on Benskin memo) P - R R - PR PR - M M - MM

Other VLI uses: Setting OSBG for Scenic Areas Under the Forest Planning and Practices Regulation (FPPR) a default VQO is derived by consulting visual sensitivity class contained in VLI, again, based on the Benskin memo as done for rvqcs (For known scenic areas without VQOs only) 60

Other VLI Uses Other VLI Uses - To store EVQO & Scenic area status - Input to Strategic Planning (for the location and significance of scenic areas) - Input to Operational Plans (as a reference for legal objective, some viewpoints for VIAs, etc.) - Monitoring & Auditing e.g. Effectiveness & FPB 61

Monitoring & Auditing 62 C&E: assess performance based on what was approved in the FSP, can lead to fines or other penalties. FPB: Independent watchdog, investigates based on public complaints or can start its own investigations. Makes public report, recommendations non-binding. FREP: monitoring program to assess whether FRPA leads to governments’ objectives for each of the 11 values being met.

FREP & visuals 63 Effectiveness Evaluations It is a check form conceived to assess whether an established VQO was achieved in the field. Process includes 2 assessments: -Does it meet the word definition? -Does it meet the numeric calculations considering design, soil disturbance, etc.

Preservation VQO (P): no visible man-made alterations Retention VQO (R): alterations visually not evident Partial Retention (PR): alterations visually evident but subordinate Modification VQO (M): alterations visually dominant but have natural appearing characteristics Maximum Modification VQO (MM): alterations visually dominant and out of scale Does it meet the word definition 64

% alteration is measured and then adjusted (up or down) based on: -Roads & soil disturbances -Within block retention -Design -Etc. So 5% alteration (R) can shift to 7.5% (PR) or to 3% (still R) Does it meet the “number” definition 65

Final Effectivness Evaluation rating 66 Comparing the established VQO with what was observed in the field VQO clearly not met: both numerical assessment & word definition assessment conclude VQO not met All the way to: VQO clearly met: both numerical assessment & word definition assessment conclude VQO met

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