Importance

The B.C. Visual Resource Assessment looks at the existing landscape and what impact
development will have on the future aesthetics of the region. Issues like landscape quality, distribution
of scenic values, existing/potential viewing possibilities, and the prediction of adverse visual impacts
are all present concerns in evaluating potential and aesthetics. The study goes beyond this approach to
assess how future activities will affect the aesthetics values of an area. In terms of future impacts and
potential for the area there are issues such as; ability to absorb visual impacts, measures to mitigate
impacts, rehabilitation methods like re-foresting to improve aesthetics, and opportunities for view
enhancement.63 Importance of visual elements in the landscape and the concept of visual compatibility
are key criteria stressed by the B.C. government throughout this assessment. Tourism development
that is expecting to capitalize on natural scenery must take notice of principles of visual impact, as it
must be visually and environmentally compatible with the surrounding landscape. Visual
compatibility means that development should blend into its natural surroundings without being too
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noticeable. The impact of negative development on natural areas is further addressed by the study in
that their concept of visual sensitivity is “the degree to which any portion of the landscape is sensitive
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to, or liable to be visually degraded by, man-made developments either proposed or existing.”
Tourism potential involves a type of symbiotic relationship with the values of aesthetics outlined in
this study. Model development should reflect these aesthetics values. Of importance from this visual
resource assessment are the following points:
Most natural conditions are the most favourable.
Development must observe visual sensitivity, the concept that the area around a development
is sensitive to it.
Tourism must be dependent on concepts of environmental sustainability.
Development must be able to absorb and mitigate visual impacts it might cause.
Tourism development, or any development in a natural area, must strive to be visually
compatible with its surroundings.