Funding Programs

Aboriginal people and communities involved in the implementation of the Species at Risk Act may benefit from a number of funding programs, as outlined below:

1. Aboriginal Funds for Species at Risk
The Aboriginal Funds for Species at Risk (AFSAR) play an important role in the recovery of species at risk on Aboriginal lands. The goal is to contribute to the conservation and protection of Canada's biodiversity by supporting species recovery planning, habitat protection, and overall conservation and capacity building initiatives by Aboriginal people in Canada. Two funds are part of the Aboriginal Species at Risk Program: the Aboriginal Capacity Building Fund (ACBF) and the Aboriginal Critical Habitat Protection Fund (ACHPF).

The Aboriginal Capacity Building Fund (ACBF) assists Aboriginal organizations and communities across Canada build capacity to enable them to participate actively in the conservation and recovery of species at risk.

The Aboriginal Critical Habitat Protection Fund (ACHPF) protects and recovers the critical habitat of species at risk on Aboriginal lands. The fund can support a number of activities related to the identification, protection, and recovery of species at risk and their habitat.

2. Habitat Stewardship Program
The Habitat Stewardship Program (HSP) aims to contribute to the recovery of endangered, threatened, and other species at risk, and to prevent other species from becoming a conservation concern, by engaging Canadians from all walks of life in conservation actions to benefit wildlife. The program helps implement the Species at Risk Act and therefore gives higher priority to activities that support species listed under the act as endangered and threatened than it does to those that aid species listed as of special concern.

3. EcoAction Community Funding Program
The EcoAction Community Funding Program provides financial support to community groups for projects that have measurable, positive impacts on the environment. Funded projects promote the participation of local communities to address clean air, climate change, clean water, and to protect, rehabilitate or restore the natural environment. At this time, funding priority may be given to eligible projects that address Clean Air and Climate Change issues.

4. Environmental Damages Fund
The Environmental Damages Fund helps ensure that those persons who cause damage to the environment take responsibility for their actions. It gives courts a way to guarantee that the money from pollution penalties and settlements is directly invested to repair the actual harm done by the pollution. Funds primarily support the restoration of natural resources and environment, and wildlife conservation projects in the same geographic area where the damage originally occurred. The EDF also supports research and development on environmental damage assessment and restoration, and education on pollution prevention and the restoration of natural resources.

Please visit Environment Canada's Community Action Programs for full details on all funding opportunities.