Both/And: Integrating Natural Asset Management into Federal Housing Supply Policymaking
In a world increasingly aware of the need for sustainable development, the intersection of housing policy and natural infrastructure has never been more critical. Our report with the Canadian Urban Institute (CUI), Both/And: Integrating Natural Asset Management into Federal Housing Supply Policymaking, asserts the importance of incorporating natural asset management (NAM) into Canada’s federal housing strategies. This approach promises not only to enhance community resilience to climate change, but also to elevate the quality of life for all Canadians.
Why Natural Asset management
Sustainable
Engineered assets have a limited lifespan, but some natural assets can provide services in perpetuity — they grow more valuable over time, providing liveable cities for future generations
Cost Effective
Manages existing assets such as forests or wetlands reduces service delivery and maintenance costs while improving engineered assets’ efficiency
Climate Resilient
As living infrastructure, many natural assets last longer & perform better under increasing pressures from climate change compared to traditional-only approaches
Most Recent Posts
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Why Natural Infrastructure is Key to Effective Water Management
Natural infrastructure (NI) is making a splash in Canada’s water sector—and the Canadian Water and Wastewater Association’s (CWWA) position statement to adopt practices shows…
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Pelham Greenbelt Project Reveals how Nature Provides Millions in Stormwater Management
A recent project in the Town of Pelham, Ontario, reveals how much communities in the Greater Golden Horseshoe region rely on natural…
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A Tale of Two Natural Asset Trajectories
Natural asset management (NAM) is essential for sustaining the resilient and cost-effective services that are provided by healthy, well-stewarded ecosystems across Canada.…
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Opportunity: NAI Board of Directors
No longer accepting applications Opportunity: The Natural Assets Initiative (NAI) is seeking one to two dynamic, experienced volunteer board members. NAI has six committed, experienced…
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NAI’s team collaborates with local, provincial and federal governments, Indigenous governments, watershed agencies, regulators, and professional associations to bring practical, scalable natural asset strategies mainstream.
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Acknowledgement
We acknowledge Indigenous Peoples as the traditional stewards of Turtle Island, and that these lands are the ancestral and unceded territories of diverse Inuit, First Nations, and Métis Peoples. We commit to and are responsible for ensuring that natural asset management upholds the principles of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. We continually seek ways to learn from the harms of the past and move our work forward in a spirit of reconciliation and collaboration.
Making Nature Count
By sharing the results of natural asset management efforts across Canada, we provide decision-makers with the information and incentive they need to begin working with nature to improve their community.
