September 10, 2017

Local governments across Canada are faced with significant asset management challenges. Many of the services they provide-including water and wastewater, waste removal, transportation, and environmental services-depend, in large part, on engineered infrastructure that is in need of renewal. Meanwhile, the effects of climate change are expected to put even more strain on these assets and on local government budgets.  

Unfortunately, local governments lack policies to measure and manage one class of assets that can provide municipal services in a cost effective manner, while also increasing resiliency and lower financial risks: natural assets.

This report proposes a new definition for Municipal Natural Assets and outlines the scope of the Municipal Natural Asset Management (MNAM) approach.