Funding Opportunities

Environment Fund Priority Areas for 2011 to 2014:

From 2011 to 2014, there will be a particular focus on freshwater and habitat protection. In 2011, the Environment Committee grants budget is approximately $500,000.  Approximately one-third of the budget will be targeted towards each of the two priority areas. The remaining third is available for requests that meet our general environmental goals.

Multi-year requests related to the priority areas are encouraged and evaluation will be supported. We will likely only support two to three multi-year projects in each area.

In the area of freshwater, we are interested in strategies that strive for the long-term sustainability, protection and resilience of water quality and flows. In the area of habitat protection & conservation, we are interested in strategies that offer opportunities for broad community participation and engagement in development of solutions, whether in marine or land-based ecosystems.
Criteria for evaluating funding requests to each of our priority areas include projects which have the potential to result in measurable change over the next two to three years; address root causes of threats to the environment; create opportunity for grassroots community engagement; and demonstrate strong project collaboration.

Possible relevance to Guardian Watchmen programs: Environmental education and community outreach, stewardship activities, implementing and monitoring EBM plans, training programs.

To support the protection of ecologically significant cores and corridors. Funds for environmental education and public outreach.

Grants support programs, initiatives and infrastructure projects that encourage backcountry, urban and near-urban outdoor recreation. Funds for trail development, infrastructure related to access to areas.

To support wilderness conservation and sustainable recreational land use. Funding for small research projects on species at risk, traditional use studies, etc.

To strengthen the effectiveness of conservation organizations. Relevance to Guardian Watchmen program: Capacity building for Guardian Watchmen programs on fundraising, leadership, communications. Regional Guardian Watchmen gatherings.

Pacific Salmon Foundation supports citizens to become active in their backyard streams which in turn, leads to active, engaged citizens who are part of a self-determined community needed to address the complex issues facing salmon at the local, provincial and federal level. The Community Salmon Program (CSP) supports stewards who volunteer thousands of hours each year to monitor watersheds, develop and implement rehabilitation projects, educate and inform their community and advocate for the conservation and protection of our shared resource - salmon.  Relevance to Guardian Watchmen programs: Habitat assessment, habitat rehabilitation, stewardship and community planning, and stock assessments.

Funding is available through the EcoAction Community Funding Program for projects that address Environment Canada’s priority issues of Clean Air and Climate Change, Clean Water, and Nature. Nature includes reducing biodiversity loss, protecting wildlife and plants, and protecting and improving the habitat where they live.  

You may contact the Regional Office to discuss the eligibility of your project and/or submit a draft application for feedback before the November 1 deadline (preferrably 1 month before).

The Habitat Conservation Trust Fund is looking for projects that: focus on freshwater wild fish, native wildlife species and their habitats; have the potential to achieve a significant conservation outcome; best represent the interests of the trust Foundation's contributors; and maintain or enhance opportunities for fishing, hunting, trapping, wildlife viewing and associated outdoor recreational activities.

This fund could provide funds Guardian Watchmen programs for surveying, monitoring, and assessment activities.