Module 1: Introduction to the course, municipal natural asset management & each other
Welcome to Module 1. In this Module, we will become familiar with the core concepts of natural asset management – what it is, how it is defined, what it is based on, and how it came to be. We will also take time to understand each others’ interests in natural asset management so that collectively, we can help advance our various journeys in this fast-evolving field.
Module 1 Learning Goals
This Module will help you:
- Understand what natural assets are, and why they matter in Canadian communities
- Learn about the ‘drivers’ for natural asset management
- Learn how natural asset management emerged in Gibsons, BC
- Understand where and how asset management is starting to become an effective tool to help local governments deliver infrastructure services and become more resilient
Readings & Resources
Required Reading
MNAI Natural Asset Primer (link removed due to copyright)
What are Municipal Natural Assets: Defining and Scoping Municipal Natural Assets (2019) (link removed due to copyright)
Asset Management for Sustainable Service Delivery: A BC Framework
Optional Reading
FCM asset management resources
Summary report for the Americas:
Canada Infrastructure Report Card 2019
Integrating Natural Assets Into Asset Management: A Sustainable Service Delivery Primer
Advancing Natural Infrastructure in Canada (IISD)
Module 1 Overview
Module 1 consists of several, shorter sub-modules that cover the following topics:
- A synchronous meeting to launch the course
- Postings on Padlet to meet each other and understand our respective professional/community contexts
- Definitions of natural assets and their relevance to local government
- Where it all started: the Town of Gibsons
- An insurance sector perspective on climate change context as a driver for natural asset management
- First Nations and natural assets management
- Asset management 101
- Discussion forum on readiness for natural asset management.
Introductory story
This short (true) story contains many of the themes that will covered over the next 4 modules.
“Natural Asset Management Fundamentals – Module 1.1 Video by Roy Brooke, Adaptation Learning Network is licensed under CC BY 4.0.
Module 1.1: What are natural assets and why do they matter?
Module 1.1 begins with a video lecture that explains what natural assets are; different ways to think about the services they provide; and, why they matter to Canadian communities.
“Natural Asset Management Fundamentals – Module 1.2 Video by Roy Brooke, Adaptation Learning Network is licensed under CC BY 4.0
Module 1.2: Where it all started: the Town of Gibsons
The Town of Gibsons, BC was the first community in Canada – and likely anywhere – to link the practice of modern asset management with the concept of ecosystem services. In this video you will learn more about the Town, what they have done, and why.
Introduction from Emanuel Machado, Chief Administrative Officer, Town of Gibsons, and Chair, Municipal Natural Assets Initiative.
“Natural Asset Management Fundamentals – Module 1.3 Video by Roy Brooke, Adaptation Learning Network is licensed under CC BY 4.0
Optional:
Module 1.3: An insurance sector perspective on climate change context as a driver for natural asset management
In this video we will learn more about the insurance sector’s perspective from Natalia Moudrak, Director of Resilience at the Intact Center on Climate Adaptation.
“Natural Asset Management Fundamentals – Module 1.3 Video by Roy Brooke, Adaptation Learning Network is licensed under CC BY 4.0
Module 1.4: A First Nations perspective on natural assets
“Natural Asset Management Fundamentals – Module 1.4 Video by Roy Brooke, Adaptation Learning Network is licensed under CC BY 4.0
Module 1.5: An introduction to asset management
Asset management is an integrated process to help local governments make informed decisions about their assets and provide sustainable service delivery. In these videos, you will learn more about asset management and how it is helping communities manage natural as well as engineered assets.
Brief introduction. In this video we will discuss the challenge of putting the concept ecosystem services into practice, and how asset management as a modern, structured process is helping to address that challenge.
“Natural Asset Management Fundamentals – Module 1.5 Intro Video by Roy Brooke, Adaptation Learning Network is licensed under CC BY 4.0
Asset management 101:Part 1. What is asset management video
“Natural Asset Management Fundamentals – Module 1.5 Part 1 What is asset management Video by Roy Brooke, Adaptation Learning Network is licensed under CC BY 4.0
Asset management 101: Part 2. Asset management as an ongoing decision-making process Video
“Natural Asset Management Fundamentals – Module 1.5 Part 2. Asset management as an ongoing decision making process Video by Roy Brooke, Adaptation Learning Network is licensed under CC BY 4.0
Module 1 Discussion
Please share your insights on the natural assets that are relevant in your community, and who benefits from them. Please consider, and also review the answers of your fellow learners to help them consider, the following:
- What are the natural assets in your community?
- What services do they provide? Who benefits from the services? Are they managed for these services?