Summary of the 2022 IISD Forum on Natural Infrastructure Performance and Metrics

The document details the proceedings of the 2022 IISD Forum on Natural Infrastructure Performance and Metrics, focusing on the Canadian Prairies. It argues that while natural infrastructure (NI) is essential for water management, a lack of standardized metrics and economic valuation tools hinders its large-scale adoption. The report outlines a framework for scaling NI through improved data sharing, regional watershed-scale planning, the integration of Indigenous knowledge via 'Two-Eyed Seeing', and the use of economic valuation tools like SAVi to engage municipal decision-makers.

• Natural infrastructure (NI) can address the water-related infrastructure gap in the Canadian Prairies, specifically regarding water supply, wastewater treatment, stormwater management, and flood and drought mitigation.
• A primary barrier to the adoption of NI is the lack of practical metrics and standards to track performance over time, which prevents funders and governments from justifying investments.
• Economic valuation is a critical driver for municipal adoption; tools such as the Sustainable Asset Valuation (SAVi) approach are recommended to make the financial benefits of NI visible on balance sheets.
• Effective NI implementation requires a shift from isolated projects to regional and watershed-scale approaches to maximize benefits and offset negative impacts.
• The 'Two-Eyed Seeing' approach, which integrates Indigenous ways of knowing with mainstream science and technology, is essential for developing NI solutions that meet local needs and uphold Indigenous rights.
• Conservation of intact ecosystems is more cost-effective and beneficial than the restoration of degraded ones, yet current funding often prioritizes restoration over conservation.
• In urban settings, 'low-impact development' (LID) such as bioretention and green roofs serves as a viable NI analog that should be eligible for compensation funding under policies like the Alberta Wetland Policy.
• There is a critical need for long-term monitoring of NI projects, as performance typically improves over time and is not accurately captured by standard 1- or 2-year monitoring periods.

APA

Simoes, J., Méthot, J., & Rawluk, A. (2023). Summary of the 2022 IISD Forum on Natural Infrastructure Performance and Metrics. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2023-06/forum-natural-infrastructure-performance-metrics-summary.pdf

Chicago

Simoes, Joey, Josée Méthot, and Ashley Rawluk. Summary of the 2022 IISD Forum on Natural Infrastructure Performance and Metrics. International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2023. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2023-06/forum-natural-infrastructure-performance-metrics-summary.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Simoes |first1=Joey |last2=Méthot |first2=Josée |last3=Rawluk |first3=Ashley |title=Summary of the 2022 IISD Forum on Natural Infrastructure Performance and Metrics |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |date=June 2023 |url=https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2023-06/forum-natural-infrastructure-performance-metrics-summary.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{simoes2023summary, author = {Simoes, Joey and Méthot, Josée and Rawluk, Ashley}, title = {{Summary of the 2022 IISD Forum on Natural Infrastructure Performance and Metrics}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2023}, month = jun, url = {https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2023-06/forum-natural-infrastructure-performance-metrics-summary.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }