Nature-based Solutions (NbS) are increasingly being adopted as part of a just transition to a low carbon society that is better prepared to meet the challenges of a changing climate. In practice, NbS are creating new employment and work activities which require new services and re-employment training. The increased need for skilled workers, professionals and training programs is especially challenging for small local governments with limited resources.

NI must necessarily connect with existing built infrastructure, therefore existing training and practice programs need to develop new pathways to educate the 21st-century engineer. For example, Engineering and Geoscientists of British Columbia (EGBC) worked with the NAI to develop directives that guide the inclusion of NAM into professional practice. Such examples are rare, but with a clearer articulation of the required combinations of competencies, and how these translate into professional practice, they can increase.

This is a final report on research engaging a multi-stakeholder/rights holder group in a survey process (Challenge Paper questionnaire) and a subsequent virtual dialogue (Challenge Dialogue Workshop). The Challenge Dialogue explored and responded to a proposed set of natural infrastructure (NI) and Natural Asset Management (NAM) norms, identified core competencies, and explored user-needs related to NAM training. Working with the Natural Assets Initiative (NAI), this work builds on the efforts of the Adaptation Learning Network project led by Dr. Robin Cox and the Resilience By Design lab at (RRU). Details of the research methods and results are included in the appendix.