Abstract: Natural assets, including forests, wetlands, and other green space, provide many critical services to municipalities, like improving air quality, storing carbon, and managing stormwater. However, without proper monitoring, maintenance and long-term management/restoration, the level of service provided by natural assets can diminish.

Creating a natural asset inventory and conducting a natural asset condition assessment can help municipalities to keep track of their natural assets and ensure that they are maintained in good condition. Natural assets in good condition will provide better levels of service and help build resiliency to climate change impacts.

In this webinar, we build on the municipal case studies in the Credit River Watershed to walk through the steps to create a natural asset inventory, including effective organization and categorization of assets. We then present CVC-developed approaches to quickly assess the condition of municipal natural assets, including both larger natural areas as well as manicured green space and street trees. The information gathered can be used to assess and monitor the condition of natural assets, identify management issues, and set priorities.