Details
| Opportunity Name | Northern Conservation Program |
| Agency | Weston Family Foundation |
| Value | $450,000 to $1,500,000 |
| Indirect Costs | Eligible at 10% |
| Duration | Up to 3 years |
Deadlines
Letter of Intent (LOI)
| Notify SIRI of intention to apply | 11-04-2024 |
| Submit a NOI to SIRI for internal selection | 11-08-2024 |
| LOI due to FSc RO at sciapps@yorku.ca for full review | 11-12-2024 |
| LOI and fully signed ORS checklist due to FSc RO at sciapps@yorku.ca for mandatory review | 11-19-2024 |
| LOI and fully signed ORS checklist due to SIRI for mandatory review | 11-22-2024, by 9:00AM |
| LOI due at agency | 11-26-2024, by 3:00PM |
Final application
| Application due to FSc RO at sciapps@yorku.ca for full review | 02-03-2025 |
| Application and fully signed ORS checklist due to FSc RO at sciapps@yorku.ca for mandatory review | 02-10-2025 |
| Final application and fully signed ORS checklist due to SIRI for mandatory review | 02-13-2025 |
| Application due at agency | 02-18-2025 |
Objective
The Northern Conservation Program aims to support projects that will deliver tangible, realistic results for biodiversity conservation, and demonstrate how ongoing stewardship of conserved lands will be accomplished. The Foundation recognizes that Indigenous communities are critical planners and stewards of northern ecosystems, and as such we welcome and encourage projects that are Indigenous-led or Indigenous-partnered.
The outcomes of the Northern Conservation Program are:
- Protect/Conserve: An increase in conserved northern land and ocean areas that are of high value for biodiversity or for resisting or adapting to climate change
- Manage/Steward: An increase in northern land and ocean areas that are governed and stewarded with ecologically and culturally sustainable policies and practices that support nature conservation and the protection of biodiversity.
Successful projects will focus on:
- the establishment of land and ocean protected and conserved areas
- stewardship measures that maintain conservation of northern biodiversity in protected or conserved areas.
Projects must demonstrate that they take place in one or both of the “Areas of High Value for Biodiversity,” being:
- areas of significantly high value for northern biodiversity; or
- areas that are of high value for resisting or mitigating the impacts of climate change and/or providing options for wildlife and ecosystems to adapt to climate change.
Eligibility
To be eligible for funding, projects must:
- Be led by:
- An Indigenous governmental institution or agency mandated to have an interest in terrestrial and/or ocean conservation by existing legislation (e.g., the Indian Act, other legislation, modern-day Treaties), or by an Indigenous community organization mandated by the community to pursue the conservation or stewardship project; or
- An organization (which may include, but is not limited to, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), industry, academic institutions, etc.) that can demonstrate that all necessary inputs to and participation in the project by relevant Indigenous communities and institutions are in place and supported by a mutually agreed upon partnership arrangement between the Indigenous community and the organization (i.e. organizations should be prepared to provide letters of support from Indigenous community leadership).
- Include a Principal Applicant that is a qualified donee in accordance with the Canada Revenue Agency and Income Tax Act. Non-qualified donees may be listed as collaborators on the project. If the Principal Applicant is an organization in partnership with an Indigenous community, a letter will be required from the Indigenous community explaining its relationship to and support of the project.
- Fit within the program’s project and geographic criteria.
- Demonstrate a realistic potential of achieving the milestones, steps, or targets required to establish protected or conserved areas or for stewarding bio-culturally important areas that improves conservation outcomes for wildlife (flora and fauna) and ecosystem biodiversity.
- Demonstrate that its location, proposed activities, and outcomes are based on the best available combination of Indigenous and scientific knowledge.
How to Apply
York University researchers are reminded that all applications for external research funding, including Letters of Intent, must be reviewed and approved by the Office of Research Services before they are submitted to the granting agency. For internal approval, the application must be accompanied by a completed ORS Checklist, which requires the Dean’s signature. Please send the complete application, with the finalized budget and a completed ORS checklist to sciapps@yorku.ca, five days prior to agency deadline.
ORS is accepting electronic applications – the process is outlined here.