Building Natural Infrastructure Capacity Across Professions and Skilled Trades in the Canadian Prairies

The report identifies a capacity gap in the Canadian Prairies where the demand for natural infrastructure is growing, but the workforce remains primarily trained in 'grey' (human-made) infrastructure. It argues that scaling natural infrastructure requires a multidisciplinary approach involving engineers, planners, biologists, and skilled trades. The document proposes expanding professional development through industry associations, linking training to climate resilience and federal funding, and integrating Indigenous rights-based approaches to ensure sustainable and equitable project delivery.

• There is a significant gap between the growing demand for natural infrastructure and the available supply of skilled professionals in the Canadian Prairies, which often leads practitioners to default to grey infrastructure.
• Natural infrastructure requires a diverse, multidisciplinary workforce across the entire project life cycle, including roles in watershed management (hydrologists, agrologists), municipal infrastructure (urban planners, landscape architects), and operations (water facility operators, heavy equipment operators).
• The natural infrastructure sector in the Canadian Prairies showed significant economic impact in 2022, contributing over CAD 4.1 billion to GDP and employing over 33,400 people, with potential for further growth by 2030.
• Professional associations are identified as critical levers for capacity building by providing continuing education, accreditation, and training that aligns with federal funding programs and existing guidance tools.
• Effective capacity building must include training on rights-based and equity-based approaches, specifically regarding Indigenous rights and treaties, to align with Canada’s National Adaptation Strategy.
• The report emphasizes the importance of non-formal learning, such as workplace mentorship, on-the-job training, and visits to demonstration sites, to transfer knowledge in this emerging field.

APA

Coulter, L., Méthot, J., & Rawluk, A. (2024). Building Natural Infrastructure Capacity Across Professions and Skilled Trades in the Canadian Prairies. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2024-08/natural-infrastructure-professions-canada.pdf

Chicago

Coulter, Liese, Josée Méthot, and Ashley Rawluk. Building Natural Infrastructure Capacity Across Professions and Skilled Trades in the Canadian Prairies. International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2024. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2024-08/natural-infrastructure-professions-canada.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Coulter |first1=Liese |last2=Méthot |first2=Josée |last3=Rawluk |first3=Ashley |title=Building Natural Infrastructure Capacity Across Professions and Skilled Trades in the Canadian Prairies |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |date=July 2024 |url=https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2024-08/natural-infrastructure-professions-canada.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{coulter2024building, author = {Coulter, Liese and Méthot, Josée and Rawluk, Ashley}, title = {{Building Natural Infrastructure Capacity Across Professions and Skilled Trades in the Canadian Prairies}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2024}, month = jul, url = {https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2024-08/natural-infrastructure-professions-canada.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }