Developing a Natural Asset Management Certificate

Dr. Robin Cox received an RRU SSHRC Institutional Grant to explore a proposed set of natural asset management norms; identify core competencies and explore user needs related to NAM training.

A growing number of local governments are recognizing the importance of understanding, measuring, managing and accounting for natural assets as they do for built assets. If most of Canada’s approximately 3600 local governments undertook natural asset management (NAM), then an important contribution would be made to addressing the interconnected imperatives of: narrowing Canada’s infrastructure service deficit, adapting to climate change, mitigating greenhouse gas emissions, and increasing the health, resilience and biodiversity of ecosystems. Currently, curriculum to support this outcome is confined to one introductory natural asset management course at Royal Roads University; filling this gap is the subject of this proposal. The project’s purpose is to engage a multi-stakeholder/rights holder group in a virtual workshop and dialogue to explore and respond to a proposed set of NAM norms; identify core competencies and explore user needs related to NAM training.