Module 2: Natural asset management on the ground

Welcome to Module 2. The focus of this module is on the communities that have been leading the way on natural asset management. We will learn about how the original work in Gibsons, BC has spread to communities in 4 provinces; what the results have been so far, and why.

Module 2 Overview

Module 2 explores how the original work in Gibsons, BC, is beginning to getting refined, replicated, and scaled-up in communities across Canada. Topics include:

• An introduction video
• A review of MNAI Cohort 1 and Cohort 2 projects
• Two communities in New Brunswick that have completed MNAI projects
• A watershed-level initiative underway on Vancouver Island, BC
• The development and piloting of a tool to integrate First Nations knowledge about natural assets and cultural assets into asset management
• The process for developing natural asset inventories
• Efforts to expand the MNAI asset management method to coastal zone assets
• An approach to help local governments optimize their asset management to also consider species at risk and critical habitat.

2.0 Overview of the stormwater projects and methods

This first video describes early efforts to refine and replicate Gibsons’ work.

“Natural Asset Management Fundamentals – Module 2.0 Video by Roy Brooke, Adaptation Learning Network is licensed under CC BY 4.0

Next, we will hear from Michelle Molnar, MNAI’s Technical Director, about what happened in the early project cohorts, and what exactly is being measured when we speak of ‘nature’s value’.

“Natural Asset Management Fundamentals – Module 2.0a Video by Roy Brooke, Adaptation Learning Network is licensed under CC BY 4.0

Your reading resources for the week contain summary documents as well as full technical reports of the 11 of these completed projects.

2.1: Connecting with the communities

Now, we will hear directly from some of the local governments who are leading natural asset management projects.

First is James Bornemann from the Southeast Regional Service Commission in New Brunswick who will describe recently completed projects in Riverview and Riverside-Albert, N.B.

“Natural Asset Management Fundamentals – Module 2.1 Video by Roy Brooke, Adaptation Learning Network is licensed under CC BY 4.0

Second is Kris LaRose, from the Cowichan Valley Regional District who will explain efforts to manage natural assets in a multi- use, multi-owner watershed on Vancouver Island.

“Natural Asset Management Fundamentals – Module 2.1a Video by Roy Brooke, Adaptation Learning Network is licensed under CC BY 4.0.

2.2: Integrating First Nations knowledge into asset management

We have discussed already the importance of First Nations knowledge to community resilience. In this segment, we will introduce a new effort to develop and pilot a replicable tool integrate First Nations knowledge of natural and cultural assets into natural asset management. The tool is still in development stages but is nevertheless promising and interesting to know about.

“Natural Asset Management Fundamentals – Module 2.2 Video by Roy Brooke, Adaptation Learning Network is licensed under CC BY 4.0.

2.3: Taking a plunge with natural asset inventories

Building a natural asset inventory is a first critical step in the assessment phase of natural asset management.

In this module we will discuss different types of inventories, and then “look under the hood” at the asset registry and the dashboard tools that can help make that data insightful and useful as possible for local governments.

“Natural Asset Management Fundamentals – Module 2.2 Video by Roy Brooke, Adaptation Learning Network is licensed under CC BY 4.0.

2.4: Expanding the methodology

Until recently, MNAI’s methodology focussed almost exclusively on stormwater management and surface water quality issues. Now, the methodology is being expanded to include coastal zone issues in two pilot communities. In this segment we will hear from Cedar Morton, Senior Systems Ecologist with ESSA Technologist, who is working with the MNAI technical team on this project.

“Natural Asset Management Fundamentals – Module 2.4 Video by Roy Brooke, Adaptation Learning Network is licensed under CC BY 4.0

2.5: Expanding the toolkit: endangered species

MNAI’s methodology contains a range of different tools that can be configured for local community contexts.

In this segment we will hear from Tim Ennis, a conservation biologist who lives in the Comox Valley, BC and is working with MNAI to develop develop and pilot a tool that local governments will be able to use to consider species at risk and their critical habitat when they are undertaking natural asset management.

“Natural Asset Management Fundamentals – Module 2.5 Video by Roy Brooke, Adaptation Learning Network is licensed under CC BY 4.0