Module 3: The enabling environment for natural asset management
Local governments do not operate in a vacuum and there are many factors that affect their ability to undertake natural asset management.
The regulatory environment, financial frameworks, and multi-jurisdictional nature of land ownership mean that multiple actors will influence local government’s ability to manage natural assets for municipal service delivery. This ‘enabling environment’ becomes a critical consideration if the ultimate goal is to have Canada’s nearly 4000 local governments all undertaking natural asset management, not just a handful of leaders. In this module we will discuss this context, with particular focus on opportunities and barriers to accelerating the uptake of natural asset management.
Module 3 Learning Goals
This Module will help you:
- Understand the challenges and opportunities related to scaling up natural asset management in Canada
- Explore activities to create, clarify or strengthen norms and standards for natural asset management.
Readings and Resources
Required
Public Sector Accounting Board Final Input (link removed due to copyright)
Diagram on Natural Asset Management, Title and Jurisdiction (link removed due to copyright)
Advancing natural asset management through collaborative strategies for private lands (link removed due to copyright)
Optional
The Town of Gibsons experience on financial planning and reporting (link removed due to copyright)
In this module we will discuss the issues, opportunities and barriers to making natural asset management a mainstream practice in Canada. Topics include:
- Ways to think about the challenge of achieving scale
- A new project to create standards for engineers, and other professions A perspective from the insurance sector
- Non-municipal land
- Financial planning and reporting for natural asset management
Module 3.1: The challenge of scale
On the positive side, it is really encouraging that Gibsons example is starting to get refined and replicated now in 5 provinces and over 20 communities. On a more sobering note, there are around 3700 local governments in Canada, so there is a long way to go before natural asset management gets anywhere close to a mainstream practice.
In an overview video presentation we will discuss some of the issues involved in scaling up natural asset management.
“Natural Asset Management Fundamentals – Module 3.1 Video by Roy Brooke, Adaptation Learning Network is licensed under CC BY 4.0
Module 3.2: Towards engineering norms
A strong enabling environment for municipal natural asset management requires, amongst other things, professional norms that encourage and guide the practice.
In this segment we will hear from Stuart Nash of the Engineers and Geoscientists of British Columbia about a project that will result in the first professional standards anywhere to explicitly recognize and guide natural asset management.
“Natural Asset Management Fundamentals – Module 3.2 Video by Roy Brooke, Adaptation Learning Network is licensed under CC BY 4.0.
Module 3.3 Thinking about non-municipal land
A common question is whether natural asset management only concerns municipally owned land. The answer is no – and this video explains why.
“Natural Asset Management Fundamentals – Module 3.3 Video by Roy Brooke, Adaptation Learning Network is licensed under CC BY 4.0
Module 3.4: Financial planning and reporting
Much can be said about financial planning and reporting for natural assets. One key lesson is that accounting rules do not pose quite the barrier that one might imagine. This video explains more.
“Natural Asset Management Fundamentals – Module 3.4 Video by Roy Brooke, Adaptation Learning Network is licensed under CC BY 4.0
Module 3.5: planning and development case example [optional]
If you would like to learn a little more about how the Town of Gibsons is handling planning and development with natural assets in mind, then do listen to this interview with the Town’s Chief Administrative Office.
