Habitat Restoration Technician Program

Description

NRTG’s Habitat Restoration Technician Program (HRTP) provides you with practical, in-demand skills for restoring aquatic, terrestrial, and riparian habitats across Canada. The program begins with an introduction to the fundamentals of ecological restoration, followed by applied training in restoration strategies across diverse ecosystems, including streams, lakes, wetlands, riparian zones, and upland areas. You will develop skills in identifying environmental impacts and applying restoration strategies in the field. You will also become familiar with the techniques, approaches, and best practices used in habitat restoration projects throughout Canada.  

HRTP Certification (Online)

Individual registration. Complete 15 days of training on your schedule. ​

Duration: 15 days total

Format: Online, modular

Pace: Any order, year-round ​

What’s Included:

Foundations of Ecological Restoration	Required – 5 days
Foundations to Aquatic or Terrestrial & Riparian Restoration	Choose one – 1 day
Elective modules	Choose three – 3 days each

Price:

CAD $350 per day + taxes

Complete individual modules or the full 15-day certification (CAD $5,250 + taxes).

View Upcoming COurses

Not sure when to start? Register your interest.

HRTP Certification (Private Delivery)

For organizations or communities seeking training for a team. Delivered over 5 weeks. ​

Duration: 5 weeks

Format: In-person or hybrid

Pace: 10 participants

What’s Included:

Foundations of Ecological Restoration	Required – 5 days
Foundations to Aquatic Restoration	Required – 1 day
Foundations to Terrestrial & Riparian Restoration	Required – 1 day
Electives Modules	Choose six – 3 days each

Price: Depends on group size and instructor travel

Request a Quote

Questions? Contact us.​

Core Modules

Foundations of Ecological Restoration
5 days

Covers the principles, history, and key concepts of ecological restoration, including how it differs from reclamation, rehabilitation, and remediation. You will examine ecosystem processes such as soil dynamics, biodiversity, and disturbance regimes, and explore how governance, ethics, and Indigenous and community knowledge systems shape restoration decisions and practice.​

Foundations to Terrestrial & Riparian Restoration
1 day

Covers the ecological, cultural, and socioeconomic functions of terrestrial and riparian ecosystems across Canada. You will examine restoration objectives for these environments and compare techniques used across different terrestrial and riparian contexts.

Foundations to Aquatic Restoration
1 day

Introduces the history, philosophy, and core principles of aquatic restoration, including Indigenous and Two-Eyed Seeing perspectives. You will examine aquatic ecosystem functions and services, identify key drivers of change such as pollution, land use, and climate change, and apply restoration principles to aquatic project contexts.

Elective Modules

Instream Restoration
3 days

Covers site assessment, structural design, and implementation planning for instream restoration projects. You will evaluate restoration techniques based on site-specific conditions, ecological benefits, and limitations, and apply design considerations such as hydraulics, materials, and stability to develop feasible restoration strategies.

Land Use Change
3 days

Covers the primary types of land use change in Canada and their environmental and climate effects, including soil compaction, erosion, vegetation removal, and altered hydrology. You will examine foundational ecological concepts such as ecosystem degradation and succession, evaluate habitat restoration techniques to address specific impacts, and explore landscape-level approaches and tools used in restoration planning.

Invasive Plant Species
3 days

Covers the ecological and legal classifications of invasive plant species in Canada, their impacts on biodiversity, resource availability, and native species, and how they spread through landscapes. You will compare mechanical, chemical, and biological control methods, identify prevention strategies for restoration sites, and determine appropriate approaches to restore native plant communities through natural regeneration or assisted recovery.

Environmental Contamination
3 days

Covers the sources and types of environmental pollutants and contaminants, and the physical, biological, chemical, and advanced processes used in water and soil reclamation. You will examine how major industrial sectors including mining, agriculture, quarrying, and energy impact the environment, and explore how restoration practices are applied across each context.

Lake Restoration
3 days

Examines how watershed characteristics affect lake water and habitat quality, and how Best Management Practices can mitigate those impacts. You will explore common in-lake restoration techniques, interpret key indicators such as contaminant mass balances, water residence time, and Trophic State Index, and assess the potential challenges and unintended consequences of restoration interventions.​

Habitat Fragmentation
3 days

Examines how human developments such as roads, urbanization, agriculture, and resource extraction reduce habitat connectivity and affect wildlife movement and ecosystem function. You will explore the ecological significance of connectivity, differentiate between endogenous and exogenous causes of fragmentation, and evaluate strategies to restore connectivity including road crossings, urban green spaces, stormwater catchments, and agricultural hedgerows.

Disruption of Indigenous Ways of Life
3 days

Examines how colonization has disrupted Indigenous peoples’ mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual relationships to the land, and how Indigenous and Western worldviews differ in their approaches to ecological restoration. You will explore the role of Indigenous leadership in land management and environmental regulation, and analyze how treaties, the duty to consult, and cross-sector partnerships have shaped Indigenous rights and restoration practices in Canada.​

Wetlands & Riparian Environments
3 days

Covers the ecological and hydrological roles of riparian and wetland ecosystems across Canada, including how common disturbances affect their structure and function. You will select and justify restoration techniques for site-specific hydrological, water quality, and vegetation challenges, apply field and remote mapping tools to assess and monitor restoration sites, and examine the restoration framework through wetland and riparian case studies.

Program Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the program, you will be able to: 

1. Explain the foundational principles, ecological processes, and objectives that guide ecological restoration across diverse Canadian ecosystems. 
2. Analyze how governance, policy, ethical considerations, and Indigenous and community knowledge systems shape ecological restoration practices and outcomes.  
3. Apply the ecological restoration framework to develop integrated strategies for terrestrial, aquatic, and riparian habitats.  
4. Examine how environmental change, land use pressures, and technologies influence restoration design, implementation, and adaptive management.  
5. Evaluate restoration success using ecological indicators, monitoring data, and collaborative approaches that promote long-term ecological resilience. 

Prerequisites

No formal credentials required to register. A basic understanding of field practices (e.g., plant identification, wildlife signs, experience around running water) and ecosystem functions is recommended. 

If you are starting from scratch, consider completing NRTG’s Environmental Field Skills Program or Land Guardian Program. Either will give you a solid foundation before you begin the HRTP. 

Who attends?

This program is for you if you work in or around natural environments and want formal, practical training in restoration method. You are a good fit if you: 

• Work on or near land, water, or ecosystems as part of your job or community role 
• Are an Indigenous land guardian, watchman, or community member involved in stewarding your territory 
• Work in environmental consulting, natural resources, or industry and need applied restoration skills 
• Have field experience but no formal restoration training and want credentials to back it up 
• Are looking to move into restoration work and need a recognized certification to get started 

What should I bring or supply? 

Online (15-Day): You will need a laptop or computer and stable internet access. A list of additional equipment required for any field components will be provided upon registration and receipt of tuition fees. 

Private Delivery (5-Week): An equipment list and suggested suppliers will be provided to your organization’s coordinator in advance of the delivery date. 

Customize Your Program

The 5-week HRTP is built around your organization or community’s priorities, not a fixed curriculum. Select electives that address the environmental pressures most relevant to your area, whether that’s invasive species, erosion, land use change, or contamination.  

Scheduling is flexible. Programs can run as an intensive five-week delivery or as week-long sessions spread across seasons, including around culturally significant periods and activities. 

Contact us to talk through what your program could look like. We can also develop content specific to your context if your needs go beyond the current catalogue.