Appendix 1 – Glossary of Terminology
Altered Forest Landscapes
Altered forest landscape means forest landscape that is viewable from a significant public viewpoint, contains cutblocks or roads, and is in one of the categories prescribed under section 1.1 of the FPPR.
Existing Visual Condition (EVC)
The present level of landscape alteration caused by resource development activities and expressed in terms of the visual quality objective categories (Preserved, Retained, Partially Retained, Modified, Maximally Modified, Excessively Modified). As the inventory may be out of date, EVC should be re-evaluated during the VIA process.
Known Scenic Areas
Known Scenic Areas are scenic landscapes or visually sensitive areas that have been identified and mapped through a visual landscape inventory or planning process. For NICCFD, scenic areas have been made known through letters by the District Manager (former Port McNeill Forest District, January 14, 1999 and former Mid Coast Forest District, October 29, 1998).
Landscape Sensitivity
Landscape sensitivity is a component of the landscape inventory that estimates the sensitivity of the landscape based on: the visual prominence of importance of features; conditions that affect visual perception; and social factors that contribute to viewer perceptions.
Percent Alteration
The scale of human alteration to the landscape, including cutblocks and roads, expressed as a percentage of a landscape unit or the total scene.
Recommended Visual Quality Class (RVQC)
A Recommended Visual Quality Class is an interim resource management objective which is used as the benchmark against which all proposed blocks within the known scenic area are evaluated. It is intended that RVQCs be rescinded once VQOs have been established.
Sensitive Areas Objectives
Objectives may be set for sensitive areas to adequately manage, protect, and conserve the resources of the area. Sensitive areas may be designated under the Forest Practices Code of BC Act, through a planning process, or by the Ministry of Forests district manager and designated B.C. Environment official (for example, forest ecosystem networks and the setting of visual quality objectives for sensitive scenic areas).
Visual Absorption Capability (VAC)
A component of the visual sensitivity inventory that rates the relative capacity of a landscape to absorb land-use alterations and still maintain its visual integrity.
Visual Impact Assessment (VIA)
A Visual Impact Assessment is an evaluation of the visual impact of resource development proposals on forest landscape. The visual resources contained within a Known Scenic Area are required to be managed using visual landscape design concepts, principles and techniques, including Visual Impact Assessments (VIAs), to apply these principles and tools of effective visual design at the cutblock and visual unit level. VIAs estimate the potential visual impact of proposed operations on scenic landscapes and are used to assess whether the VQO’s would be achieved.
Visual landscape analysis
Visual landscape analysis is the process of recommending visual quality objectives based on the visual landscape inventory, number of viewers, level of concern and in consideration of other values.
Visual Landscape Inventory (VLI)
A Visual Landscape Inventory is the identification, classification, and recording of the location and quality of visual resources and values.
Visual Landscape Management
Visual landscape management is the identification, assessment, design, and manipulation of the visual features or values of a landscape, and the consideration of these values in the integrated management of provincial forest and range lands.
Visual Landscape Unit
A landform or portion of a landform visible from one or more viewpoints identifying relatively homogeneous visual landscape features.
Visual Quality
Visual Quality refers to the character, condition and quality of a scenic landscape or other visual resource and how it is perceived, preferred, or otherwise valued by the public.
Visual Quality Classes (VQCs)
A subjective, but no less real notion of the visual quality of a scenic landscape or other visual resource, and how it is valued by the public.
Visual Quality Objective (VQOs)
A Visual Quality Objective is a resource management objective established by the District Manager or contained in a higher level plan that reflects the desired level of visual quality based on the physical characteristics and social concerns for the area.
VQOs are criteria that define, describe or otherwise measure for each situation the notion of a level of acceptable landscape alteration - that is, how much the view of the area can be affected by timber harvesting. The objectives can be classified within six Visual Quality Classes: Preservation, Retention, Modification, Maximum Modification and Excessive Modification (not commonly used). The specific VQO class definitions have changed under FRPA. Refer to Part 1.1 of the FPPR (Categories of visually altered landscapes) for the new definitions.
Visual sensitivity
Visual sensitivity is a component of the visual landscape inventory that estimates the sensitivity of the landscape based on the visual prominence or importance of features, conditions that affect visual perception, and social factors that contribute to viewer perceptions.
Visually Effective Green-up (VEG)
Visually effective green-up is the stage at which regeneration on a cut block is perceived by the public as being newly regenerated forest. This portion of the landscape unit is deleted from the percent alteration calculation.
Visually Sensitive Areas
Visually sensitive areas are viewsheds that are visible from communities, public use areas, and travel corridors, including roadways and waterways, and any other viewpoint so identified through referral or planning processes.
Visual Sensitivity Class (VSC)
A component of the visual sensitivity inventory that rates the sensitivity of the landscape based on biophysical characteristics and viewing and viewer related factors.
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