Competition

* Unless explicitly noted, all times indicated for deadlines are for the appropriate NL timezone (NST or NDT)

One of the Government of Canada’s conservation mandates is the conservation of nature, including the recovery of species at risk. In this regard, the Habitat Stewardship Program (HSP) was established in 2000. It provides funding for projects submitted by Canadians that contribute directly to the recovery objectives and population goals of species at risk listed on Schedule 1 of the Species at Risk Act (SARA) and that prevent others from becoming a conservation concern. Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) administers HSP funds that support terrestrial stewardship projects while Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO)Footnote1 is responsible for administering the HSP for aquatic stewardship projects. Applicants wishing to pursue aquatic HSP projects should contact the appropriate aquatic regional coordinator at DFO.

This page provides general program information and requirements for making an application to the HSP. Applications will be evaluated in the context of the Program’s funding priorities, which are updated annually.

Regional HSP Coordinators are the primary source of additional information for questions pertaining to information provided on this page, program priorities, and funding options available through the Canadian Wildlife Service of Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC). More specific questions related to funding amounts, outcome reporting, species data sharing, and project permits, can also be directed to the appropriate Regional HSP Coordinator. For more information about the terrestrial HSP program, please send specific questions to HSP-PIH@ec.gc.ca.

Objectives and Expected Results

The objectives of this program are to:

• support habitat projects that benefit species at risk and that prevent others from becoming a conservation concern

• enable Canadians to become actively involved in stewardship projects for species at risk, which will result in tangible and measurable conservation benefits; and

• improve the scientific, sociological and economic understanding of the role that stewardship has as a conservation tool

In order to be eligible, proposed projects must demonstrate how they contribute directly to the recovery objectives and population goals of target species. Further, the application must contribute to one or more of the following Conserving Nature Core Responsibility expected results.

The expected results of the HSP are:

• Canada’s wildlife and habitat is conserved and protected

• Canada’s species at risk are recovered; and

• Indigenous peoples are engaged in conservation

Expression of Interest

To apply to the HSP, it is recommended that potential applicants contact their Regional HSP Coordinator to discuss their proposed project to verify that it is aligned with Program priorities and expected results. This process will typically improve the quality of the application, but does not guarantee that the project will receive funding.

In addition to the external funding agency’s submission procedures, this Intent to Apply (EOI/LOI/NOI) must also be submitted for Departmental, HSS Faculty, and Research Grants and Contracts Services (RGCS) institutional reviews and approvals via Memorial's Researcher Portal (RP). In order to facilitate the HSS Faculty’s administrative review, please ensure "Heather C. O'Brien (Grants Facilitator)" and “Matthew Milner (Grants Facilitator)” are added as "Team Members" on your RP file. 

In accordance with University-wide approval protocols, all tabs of the RP file must be completed, the completed application must be uploaded to the “Attachments” tab, all supporting documentation including support for cash and in-kind commitments and/or letters of support must also be uploaded, and “Submit” must be pressed prior to the HSS internal deadline listed below. HSS cannot guarantee completion of an administrative review for application files that are incomplete and/or are submitted after the HSS deadline. For more detailed submission instructions and information, please consult the HSS Research Support Services website.

If you plan to apply to this competition or other research funding opportunities (as either PI or CI), e-mail an HSS Grants Facilitator, Heather C. O’Brien (HSSResearchAdmin@mun.ca or 864-8603) or Matthew Milner (HSSResearchGrants@mun.ca or 864-8050), to notify the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences of your intent to apply. E-mailing the intent to apply as early as possible will help to facilitate an efficient review. A Grants Facilitator can answer any questions you may have about internal or external submission procedures and may also be able to help with proposal development.