Aboriginal Fund for Species at Risk (Canada)

Deadline: 31-Oct-23

The Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC)  is seeking applications for its Aboriginal Fund for Species at Risk (AFSAR) to support the development of Indigenous capacity to participate actively in the implementation of the Species at Risk Act (SARA).

The Act recognizes the important role that Indigenous Peoples play in wildlife conservation and the need to consider Indigenous knowledge in the assessment of which species may be at risk, as well as in the development and implementation of protection and recovery measures. AFSAR also supports and promotes the conservation, protection, and recovery of target species and their habitats on Indigenous lands and territories.

Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) is committed to working to halt and reverse nature loss by 2030 and to achieving a full recovery for nature by 2050.

Objectives

The objectives of AFSAR are to:

• Support and promote the conservation, protection and recovery of target species and their habitats on Indigenous lands or lands where traditional food, social, and ceremonial activities are carried out by Indigenous Peoples; and
• Support the engagement and leadership of Indigenous Peoples in the conservation and recovery of species at risk, their habitats and SARA processes

Funding Information

• Minimum Funding: The amount of funding varies depending on project activities. To promote collaboration and multi-year projects, the minimum funding request for new and multi-year projects is $10,000.
• Project Funding Range: Project funding usually ranges from $10,000 to $50,000 per project, per year.
• Project Length: New projects may request funding for 1 to 3 years. Previously approved projects may request additional funds for up to an additional 5 years, to a maximum 10 year project length.

Expected Results

The expected results of AFSAR are:

• Canada’s wildlife and habitat is conserved and protected
• Canada’s species at risk are recovered, and
• Indigenous Peoples are engaged in conservation

Eligible Activities

• Habitat Protection and Securement: Through acquisition (purchase or donation) or other securement means; protecting target species habitat by assisting recipients in acquiring properties or establishing conservation easements, leases, or other types of agreements with property owners.
  • Legally binding measures:
    • Securing land by acquiring title (fee simple)
    • Securing land by an easement, covenant, or servitude
    • Securing land through a lease
  • Non-legally binding measures:
    • Protection of land through a written conservation agreement
• Habitat Improvement: Enhancing or restoring habitat of target species; changing land management or land use practices to benefit target species and improve habitat quality.
  • Restoration, enhancement and/or management of target species habitat
  • Vegetation planting or removal of exotics/invasive species in the habitat of, in the immediate area of, and for the direct benefit of a known target species
  • Residence creation (hibernacula, bird boxes, turtle nesting sites, etc.)
  • Implementation of beneficial management practices or land use guidelines
• Species and Habitat Threat Reduction: Direct intervention for target species under immediate threat from human activity or proactive/preventative activities.
  • Prevention of damage to target species habitats (for example educational signage)
  • Protection and rescue prevention of harm to target species (enabling species migration around roadways, fences for the exclusion of habitat disturbances, etc.)
  • Application of modified or new technology to prevent accidental harm (for example, using modified harvesting methods to reduce incidental take of target species)
• Conservation Planning:
  • Development of target species conservation strategies to improve habitat and reduce threats
  • Planning of stewardship programs, including target audience engagement strategies
  • Compilation and dissemination of resource/land use guidelines and beneficial management practices
• Surveys, Inventories and Monitoring: Activities such as identifying potential sites for habitat restoration or assessing the presence of a target species and its habitat to target, design and carry out a current (or future) stewardship project.
  • These activities will only be funded if they are part of a larger stewardship project that is clearly defined in the application and that will be implemented within the life of the project. Applicants will be required to demonstrate how monitoring and data collection activity will lead to on-the-ground recovery action as part of the application.
  • Identifying potential sites for habitat restoration; includes mapping and analysis (needed to support target species stewardship activities)
  • Assessing the presence of target species through surveying and/or monitoring
  • Creation and/or maintenance of inventories or databases for habitat and species data
  • Documentation of Indigenous Knowledge (IK)
• Project Evaluation: Assess the social and biological results and effectiveness of stewardship activities.
  • Conduct project or program results assessment(s)
• Document and Use of Indigenous Knowledge:
  • contribution to the use/integration of IK in conservation planning
  • documenting IK through surveys and interviews about the species and their habitats
  • IK compilation and storage (e.g., set-up/maintenance of databases)
• Outreach and Education: Providing information to appropriate target audiences on specific actions to be taken to protect target species; raising awareness about target species conservation needs; educating resource users about alternative methods that minimize impacts on target species and their habitat; promoting stewardship at the community level to improve attitudes and change behaviour.
  • The activity should lead to direct target species recovery action; general outreach or non-targeted activities are not eligible. Applicants will be required to demonstrate how the outreach activity will lead to on-the-ground recovery action.
  • Development of targeted outreach materials emphasizing the importance of target species and the benefits of the action to be undertaken
  • Training of individuals/community members in stewardship practices related to target species
  • Informing and engaging community members/target audiences (for example, land managers, resources users) about their potential contributions towards target species recovery
  • Engaging landowners directly in future habitat protection activities

Eligible lands

• Projects must take place on:
  • Reserves and lands set aside for the use and benefit of Indigenous Peoples.
  • Other lands directly controlled by Indigenous Peoples (e.g. Métis Settlement lands, and land claim/treaty settlement lands)
  • Lands where traditional food, social, and ceremonial activities (harvesting or other) are carried out by Indigenous Peoples
  • Regional administration of projects
    • Projects are administered by Canadian Wildlife Service (CWS) regions which are:
      • Atlantic (New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island)
      • Quebec
      • Ontario
      • Prairie (Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan)
      • Pacific
      • Northern (Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Yukon)

Eligibility Criteria

• Indigenous not-for-profit and for-profit organizations
• Territorially-based Indigenous groups
• Chiefs’ councils, District councils, and Tribal councils
• Traditionally appointed advisory committees
• Indigenous corporations, partnerships, and groups
• Indigenous research, academic, and educational institutions
• Indigenous cultural education centres
• Indigenous land/resource management authorities
• Indigenous co-operatives
• Indigenous societies, boards, and commissions
• Other organizations (Indigenous and non-Indigenous) if mandated by one of the above eligible recipients

For more information, visit ECCC.