Visual Resource Management in British Columbia - Part I: The effects of visual resource management on timber availability: A review of case studies and policy

Abstract

This paper explores relationships between visual resource management (VRM) and timber availability in the context of recent findings and current VRM policy in British Columbia. Selected North American case studies and relevant aspects of visual resource management in British Columbia are reviewed. Both research and practice indicate that public preferences for landscapes generally decrease as visible landscape alteration increases. Visual resource management requirements in visually sensitive areas are typically viewed as a major constraint on timber supply where conventional clearcutting is the main harvesting method. However, for a given level of timber removal, people may react more adversely to clearcutting than to partial cutting distributed over a larger area. This raises the possibility of increased timber availability under alternative forest practices in visually sensitive areas. Therefore, forest managers have a number of possible options for resolving perceived conflicts between visual resources and timber availability. Current policies and regulations in British Columbia provide district managers with sole discretion (unless otherwise specified in a Higher Level Plan) in the management of the province�s visual resources. This allows for potential variations in how VRM is applied from one forest district to another, and emphasizes the district manager�s central role in striking a balance between visual quality and timber availability in British Columbia�s forested landscapes.