Natural Capital and Property Value

April 2010 - REALTORS® in Calgary and Edmonton had the chance to attend a seminar on the concept of natural capital and property values.

April 2010 - REALTORS® in Calgary and Edmonton had the chance to attend a seminar on the concept of natural capital and property values. The workshops were led by the Alberta Riparian Habitat Management Society, more commonly known as Cows and Fish, an Alberta-based non-profit organization working with property owners on conservation of the environment.

Cows and Fish works with a broad spectrum of landowners, including lakeshore, recreational, acreage and urban property owners, to highlight the value of natural capital associated with property that is well taken care of and healthy. This is not the same as a highly manicured property. Natural capital includes healthy riparian areas, wetlands, lakes, creeks, rivers, grasslands, and forested areas that pay dividends for property owners, buyers and sellers. The workshop works with REALTORS® to identify the following:

• How does proximity to a natural area, creek or lake enhance property worth?
• Does property in proximity to natural areas come with risks?
• What is a wetland worth when marketing a property?
• How can REALTORS® work with buyers and sellers to identify natural capital?

This is the first Alberta Real Estate Foundation community investment in Cows and Fish. Kelsey Spicer-Rawe, Riparian Specialist, noted that Cows and Fish is “very pleased to be working with real estate professionals to demonstrate the value of natural capital and how these ecological goods and services, like water quality and habitat values, fit into the real estate market for consumers." Cows and Fish will be working with Real Estate Boards across Alberta in the coming months to deliver the Natural Capital workshop.

The Alberta Real Estate Foundation is committed to supporting ongoing educational initiatives to give more REALTORS® the opportunity to contribute to good environmental practices and sustainable behaviour. Contact the Foundation at 403.228.4786 or 1.800.520.2485 if you are interested in learning more about the Cows and Fish workshops.