The Municipal Natural Assets Initiative (MNAI) is changing the way municipalities deliver everyday services, increasing the quality and resilience of infrastructure at lower costs and reduced risk. The report Defining and Scoping Municipal Natural Assets proposes a new definition for Municipal Natural Assets and outlines the scope of the Municipal Natural Asset Management (MNAM) approach.
Local governments across Canada are faced with significant asset management challenges. 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.
As the municipal infrastructure asset management process evolves, it will be critical to ensure that all community assets that may provide municipal services—lakes, wetlands, green spaces and trees as well as roads, bridges and buildings—are appropriately identified and managed.