Visual Resource Research & Publications

Scenery is managed on behalf of British Columbia's residents and tourists. From time to time, the B.C. Government surveys the public’s response to the visual impact of forestry practices. The results help in developing management guidelines and can influence government policy.

The following publications provide insight into what the public thinks of various visual practices in B.C.’s forest landscapes.

Public Preferences

The B.C. Government surveyed 694 individuals in seven B.C. communities on their preferences for 60 roadside views of natural and logged forest landscapes.

• A First Look at the Visual Quality of Forest Roadside Management (PDF, 5.6MB)

Wind Energy

The B.C. Government undertook a visual-perception study to better understand public response to wind-power developments on forested landscapes under varied viewing conditions. Its findings will help shape future developments.

• Wind Energy Developments on Forested Landscapes' Visual Quality: The Public Response (PDF, 5.3MB)

Other Research and Visual Resource Management Publications

• Clearcutting and Visual Quality – A Public Perception Study (PDF, 1.7MB)
• Economic Benefits of Managing Forestry and Tourism at Nimmo Bay (PDF, 2.2MB)
• Predicting the Visual Impacts of Retention Cutting (PDF, 1.1MB)
• The Public Response to Harvest Practices in B.C. at the Landscape and Stand Level (PDF, 3.2MB)
• Visual Impacts of Partial Cutting: Summary Report (PDF, 1.4MB)
• Visually Effective Green-up in B.C. – A Public Perception Study (PDF, 3.7MB)
• Public Perception of Mountain Pine Beetle Attack: final report (PDF, 11MB)