Deadline: 6-Dec-23
The Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) is currently accepting applications to fund projects that restore damage to the natural environment and support wildlife conservation, in a cost-effective way.
The Environmental Damages Fund (EDF) is a specified purpose account administered by Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) to direct funds received from fines, court orders and voluntary payments to priority projects that will benefit Canada’s natural environment.
Funding Categories
- Accordingly, projects should fall into one of four EDF funding categories:
- Restoration
- Restore same type of natural resources lost, of the same quality and value in the locale where the incident occurred;
- Restore same type of natural resources lost, of the same quality and value in another locale; or
- Restore same type of natural resource, but of different quality in the locale where the incident occurred.
- Environmental Quality Improvement
- Improve or enhance different natural resources in the locale in which the incident occurred;
- Improve or enhance different natural resources in a different locale; or
- Improve or enhance environments previously degraded by pollutant discharges or other human induced alterations (e.g. tidal barriers, dike lands).
- Research and Development
- Undertake the assessment or research of environmental damage in support of restoration planning including the long-term effects and cumulative impacts of pollutant discharges or for increased understanding of limiting factors for migratory bird populations; or
- Develop environmental damage assessment and restoration methods including techniques for the valuation of damage; restoration alternatives (e.g. environmental management plans).
- Education and Awareness
- Promote education related to environmental damage restoration including training for the assessment and restoration of damage, or for increased awareness and compliance with environmental regulations; or
- Promote community capacity building and environmental stewardship in support of environmental damage restoration.
- Restoration
Funding Information
- In order to be eligible, applicants must request a minimum of $250,000 from ECCC in the project’s budget. The total funding available for this call for proposals is $4,393,140.
Eligible Projects
- Priority is given to projects that restore the natural environment and conserve wildlife, followed by:
- environmental quality improvement initiatives
- research and development on environmental restoration and improvement
- education and awareness on issues affecting the health of the natural environment
- There is no maximum project duration; however, the average EDF project typically does not exceed five years.
Ineligible Projects and Activities
- The following types of projects and activities are not eligible to receive funding from the EDF:
- activities required by law and/or mandated by any levels of government
- containment and clean-up of environmental spills
- restoration of contaminated sites
- infrastructure, Footnote particularly related to municipal, provincial, and federal government program areas lobbying or advocacy activities
- recreation and tourism projects or beautification initiatives
- preparation of formal curriculum materials
- core organization functions and activities such as meetings, maintenance, and administration (however, project specific administrative support is eligible)
Geographic location
- Projects must be undertaken within Canadian provinces and territories. Fund Use Requirements accompany each available funding amount and may include prioritized geographic regions.
Eligibility Criteria
- Eligible groups are not-for-profit and may include:
- non-government organizations (e.g. environmental community groups)
- Indigenous organizations, defined as:
- National, provincial, and territorial Indigenous organizations
- Tribal councils,
- Indigenous communities
- universities and academic organizations (e.g. community colleges)
- provincial, territorial and municipal governments
- Individuals, businesses, and federal government departments and agencies are not eligible applicants but may partner with eligible applicants.
- Offenders that have been fined or made monetary payments directed to the EDF are not eligible to apply or to partner with eligible groups for fines or monetary payments they have made that were directed to the EDF.
- International entities are not eligible to receive funding, but they may partner with or support a project. Projects must take place within Canada and/or the benefits of the project activities must accrue to Canadians.
- Applicants must provide an identification number for their organization in their proposal, such as a Charitable Number, Non-Profit Organization Registration Number or First Nations Band Number.
For more information, visit ECCC.