Effectiveness Evaluations

Overview

1. forest practices are meeting desired objectives; and
2. existing policies and guidelines are resulting in desired objectives being met.

Effectiveness evaluations are meant to be broad in scope. Ocular estimates are the preferred method for assessing visual quality, although field measurements may also be necessary in some situations.

Focus group studies have shown that although people’s perceptions of the landscape often vary because of differences in their background, experiences and occupation, positive and negative impressions overall are well correlated. Thus, according to research, among all groups surveyed there is:

• less preference for larger alterations and alterations with visible roads or sidecast; and
• greater preference for alterations with significant tree retention and alterations designed to fit well with the landscape.

The Effectiveness Evaluation for visual quality seeks to answer the general question "How well are we managing and conserving views in designated scenic areas?" and also the more specific question "Did recently harvested units achieve the established visual quality objective?" The evaluation is not intended to answer questions such as "Were the pre-harvest visual impact assessments accurate?" or "Were the planned and approved prescriptions carried out?" The latter two are compliance and enforcement questions.

Evaluators must visit viewpoints to inspect the visual impact of a post-harvest forest alteration. They must also take photographs and site notes at each viewpoint. There is normally no need for the evaluator to visit the harvested unit.

Related Material

• Protocol for Visual Quality Effectiveness Evaluation Procedures and Standards, This document explains procedures and standards for evaluating whether forestry operations are meeting established visual quality objectives in designated scenic areas.
View protocol (pdf, 2.8Mb, 25pgs)

• Visual Quality Effectiveness Evaluation Field Form 1252, In order to conduct an Effectiveness Evaluation, the assessor must filled out one of these forms for each evaluation.
View field form (pdf, 2.2Mb, 4pgs)

• Forest & Range Evaluation Program (FREP), has been put in place as a multi-agency program to evaluate whether practices under FRPA are meeting not only the intent of current FRPA objectives, but also to determine whether the practices and the legislation itself, are meeting government's broader intent for the sustainable use of resources.

FREP's objective is a long-term commitment by government to:

• Assess the effectiveness of the Forest and Range Practices Act (FRPA) in achieving stewardship of the eleven resource values identified under FRPA;
• Identify issues regarding the implementation of forest policies, practices and legislation as they affect the resource values identified under FRPA;
• Implement continuous improvement of forest management.