CFPs: Enhancing Resilience to Wildfires in the Wildland-Urban Interface (Canada)

The Enhancing Resilience to Wildfires in the Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) initiative is an international research funding program supporting collaborative projects that strengthen wildfire resilience across Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The program funds interdisciplinary research that improves understanding of wildfire risks, develops adaptation and recovery strategies, and supports evidence-based solutions for communities affected by wildfires.

Enhancing Resilience to Wildfires in the Wildland-Urban Interface: International Research Funding Opportunity

The Enhancing Resilience to Wildfires in the Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) initiative is a collaborative international funding opportunity designed to support research that improves wildfire resilience through cross-border scientific collaboration. The program brings together researchers from Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States to develop innovative solutions that reduce wildfire risks, improve preparedness, strengthen adaptation strategies, and support long-term recovery in areas where human development meets natural vegetation.

The initiative is jointly supported by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC), Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), and the US National Science Foundation (NSF).

Program Objectives

The initiative aims to strengthen scientific knowledge and practical solutions for wildfire resilience through international and interdisciplinary collaboration.

The funding supports projects that:

• Strengthen international wildfire research partnerships.
• Improve resilience to wildfire risks at local, regional, and national levels.
• Advance knowledge of wildfire occurrence, intensity, spread, and behaviour.
• Develop adaptation, mitigation, preparedness, and recovery strategies.
• Improve community resilience in Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) areas.
• Support evidence-based wildfire management and policy development.
• Promote sustainable wildfire adaptation under changing climate conditions.

Research Focus Areas

Applicants must address at least two of the following research priorities, with one of them involving the development of adaptation, mitigation, or recovery solutions.

Eligible research topics include:

• Wildfire occurrence and future fire regime scenarios.
• Wildfire behaviour and spread in WUI environments.
• Environmental impacts of wildfires.
• Human health impacts.
• Social and cultural consequences.
• Economic impacts.
• Effects on infrastructure and the built environment.
• Community adaptation and preparedness.
• Wildfire mitigation strategies.
• Recovery and resilience planning.
• Climate change and wildfire interactions.
• Risk assessment and decision-support tools.

What is the Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI)?

The Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) refers to areas where homes, communities, and infrastructure are located close to forests, grasslands, or other natural vegetation.

These areas face increased wildfire risks because natural fuels and human settlements exist in close proximity. Research supported through this initiative aims to reduce these risks while improving community preparedness and recovery.

Interdisciplinary Research Approach

The program strongly encourages interdisciplinary collaboration that combines expertise from multiple research fields.

Projects may include expertise from:

• Natural sciences.
• Engineering.
• Environmental sciences.
• Social sciences.
• Humanities.
• Public health.
• Climate science.
• Animal systems.
• Human systems.
• Urban planning.
• Infrastructure resilience.
• Emergency management.

Stakeholder Engagement

Applicants are encouraged to work closely with partners outside academia to improve the practical impact of research.

Potential collaborators include:

• Indigenous First Nations.
• Inuit communities.
• Métis Knowledge Holders.
• Local communities.
• Emergency responders.
• Government agencies.
• Policy makers.
• Environmental organizations.
• Community organizations.
• People with lived experience of wildfire events.

Funding Available

The Canadian funding agencies expect to invest approximately CAD $9 million in total.

Funding includes:

• NSERC: Up to CAD $3 million.
• SSHRC: Up to CAD $3 million.
• CIHR: Up to CAD $3 million.

Each agency expects to support approximately four projects.

Individual funding limits include:

• Up to CAD $750,000 from each participating Canadian agency.
• Projects requesting funding from all three agencies may receive up to CAD $2.25 million over three years.

Project duration is up to three years.

Eligible Research Disciplines

The initiative supports research across multiple disciplines, including:

• Natural sciences.
• Engineering.
• Environmental science.
• Public health.
• Medicine.
• Social sciences.
• Humanities.
• Climate science.
• Disaster risk reduction.
• Infrastructure resilience.

Who is Eligible?

Eligible applicants include:

• Canadian university researchers.
• Researchers affiliated with eligible Canadian postsecondary institutions.
• Applicants eligible to receive NSERC, SSHRC, or CIHR funding.
• Individual researchers or collaborative research teams.
• Canadian Principal Investigators meeting agency eligibility requirements.

Projects must include:

• At least one eligible academic collaborator from the United Kingdom serving as the UK Project Lead.
• An optional academic collaborator from the United States, eligible for NSF funding if participating.

Additional CIHR eligibility requirements apply to health researchers.

Why This Funding Matters

Wildfires are becoming more frequent and severe due to climate change, increasing risks to communities, ecosystems, infrastructure, and public health.

This initiative helps researchers develop evidence-based solutions that can:

• Improve wildfire preparedness.
• Reduce disaster risks.
• Strengthen community resilience.
• Support climate adaptation.
• Protect public health.
• Inform government policy.
• Improve emergency response.
• Promote sustainable recovery after wildfire events.

How to Apply

Applicants should follow these steps:

1. Review the eligibility requirements of NSERC, SSHRC, CIHR, UKRI, and NSF.
2. Build an international research consortium that includes the required UK collaborator.
3. Develop an interdisciplinary research proposal addressing at least two program objectives.
4. Include clear adaptation, mitigation, or recovery solutions within the proposal.
5. Define stakeholder engagement activities where appropriate.
6. Prepare a realistic project budget following participating agency guidelines.
7. Submit the application through the appropriate funding agency according to its submission procedures.

Application Tips

Applicants should:

• Demonstrate strong international collaboration.
• Clearly explain interdisciplinary integration.
• Present practical wildfire resilience outcomes.
• Include stakeholder and Indigenous engagement where relevant.
• Show how findings can influence policy and practice.
• Develop measurable project outcomes.
• Align the proposal with participating agency priorities.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Common reasons proposals may be less competitive include:

• Addressing fewer than two required research objectives.
• Failing to include adaptation, mitigation, or recovery strategies.
• Weak international collaboration.
• Limited interdisciplinary integration.
• Unclear project impact.
• Insufficient stakeholder engagement.
• Budgets that do not follow agency requirements.
• Poor alignment with funding priorities.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the purpose of this funding opportunity?

The program supports international research that improves wildfire resilience in Wildland-Urban Interface communities through scientific collaboration and practical solutions.

Who can apply?

Eligible Canadian university researchers may apply individually or as research teams, provided they meet the eligibility rules of the participating funding agencies.

Is international collaboration mandatory?

Yes. Every project must include at least one eligible academic collaborator from the United Kingdom. Collaboration with a United States researcher is optional.

How much funding is available?

Projects may receive up to CAD $750,000 from each participating Canadian agency. Interdisciplinary projects funded by all three Canadian agencies may receive up to CAD $2.25 million over three years.

How long can funded projects last?

Projects may run for up to three years.

What types of research are encouraged?

The program supports interdisciplinary research covering wildfire science, climate change, engineering, health, environmental science, social sciences, emergency management, infrastructure resilience, and community adaptation.

Why is stakeholder engagement important?

Engaging Indigenous communities, emergency responders, policymakers, and affected communities helps ensure research findings are practical, relevant, and capable of improving real-world wildfire resilience.

Conclusion

The Enhancing Resilience to Wildfires in the Wildland-Urban Interface initiative represents a significant international investment in wildfire research, bringing together leading researchers from Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States. By supporting interdisciplinary collaboration, stakeholder engagement, and evidence-based adaptation strategies, the program aims to strengthen wildfire preparedness, reduce disaster risks, protect communities, and develop long-term solutions for increasingly complex wildfire challenges driven by climate change.