Deadline: 30-Sep-21
The Regional District of North Okanagan (RDNO) is offering 2021-22 Conservation Fund to help communities ensure the sustainability of the environment and protect the quality of life now and for the future.
The purpose of the Fund is to provide local financial support for projects that will contribute to the conservation of the valuable natural areas and help restore and protect a healthy environment. The intent is to provide funding for conservation projects that are not the existing responsibility of the federal, provincial or local governments.
Goal: Conservation funds give people the opportunity to support local conservation goals and gives residents the opportunity to invest in protecting the environment that sustains them, preserving natural areas and creating a legacy of community health and sustainability. By taking the initiative to establish conservation funds, local governments are recognizing the importance of biodiversity and a healthy natural world for maintaining human health and community resilience.
Theme: The Fund shall address environmental issues including: conservation of water quality and quantity stewardship, (aquatic ecosystems, surface and groundwater), protection, enhancement and restoration of sensitive terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, wildlife species (including those at risk), and habitat for native fish and wildlife. These areas of focus are consistent with the Biodiversity Conservation Strategy Keeping Nature in Future.
Funding Information
- The 2021/2022 Fund will provide over $80,000 to eligible conservation projects.
Guiding Principles
To best support the most effective projects, the guiding principles of the Conservation Framework for British Columbia will be followed:
- Acting sooner – before species and ecosystems are at risk.
- Acting smarter – priority setting is science-based; the results move from reactive conservation to prevention using appropriate management actions.
- Acting together – coordinated and inclusive action.
- Investing more wisely – align conservation investments, priorities, and actions among conservation partners and stakeholders.
Eligible Projects
Sample projects could include (but are not limited to):
- Projects that can demonstrate a reduction of a known threat to:
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- Riparian, foreshore and water bodies including gullies, creeks, rivers, ponds, lakes, marshes and swamps;
- Wetlands both permanent and ephemeral including wet meadows, marshes, swamps and shallow open water areas including ponds;
- Grasslands and shrub-steppe;
- Sparsely vegetated rock outcrops, talus, cliffs and slopes;
- Broadleaf & coniferous woodlands and old forests;
- Other important ecosystems such as mature forests and Seasonally Flooded Fields; and,
- Watersheds at important source water protection areas.
- Connectivity for natural areas and wildlife corridors.
- Native fish and wildlife habitat, including for species at risk.
- Urban and rural wild-land interface areas.
For more information, visit http://www.rdno.ca/index.php/services/planning-building/north-okanagan-conservation-fund