Grant and Funding Programs Offered by Biome Conservation (ICFC)

Biome Conservation, the new public name of the International Conservation Fund of Canada (ICFC), is a registered Canadian charity dedicated to long‑term preservation of nature and biodiversity in the tropics and other priority regions worldwide. From its base in Nova Scotia, Biome channels philanthropic capital from individual donors, foundations and corporate partners into more than 60 conservation projects across Latin America, Africa and Asia.

The organization operates primarily as a funding and partnership platform. Rather than implementing most activities itself, Biome works with experienced, locally based conservation organizations—its “field partners”. These partners receive financial and technical support to secure protected areas, manage community forests and fisheries, safeguard threatened species, and strengthen local livelihoods that are compatible with conservation.

Biome’s portfolio spans several major themes: land acquisition and protection of high‑value reserves; long‑term land conservation in tropical forests and savannas; marine and freshwater conservation, including anti‑trawling measures and fisheries co‑management; recovery of threatened and Critically Endangered species; and a multi‑country Shorebird Initiative focused on key stopover and wintering sites. Its projects also integrate climate mitigation and adaptation by conserving carbon‑rich ecosystems.

Funding can cover a wide spectrum of needs: salaries and training for rangers and community ecoguards, operating costs for protected areas, field research and monitoring, local education and outreach, and, where appropriate, one‑time land purchase costs. The dedicated Ranger Fund illustrates this approach: it aims to raise at least $700,000 annually to provide stable support, equipment, and training for some 275 rangers working on 14 projects worldwide.

Biome maintains formal project selection criteria and provides information for prospective partners, indicating a curated but open approach to new collaborations. It prioritizes regions of exceptional biodiversity and large remaining wilderness, especially in tropical countries where conservation is under‑funded and Canadian dollars can go furthest. Emphasis is placed on science‑based design, strong local leadership, community engagement, and the potential for durable conservation gains.

Through this model, Biome has helped secure millions of hectares of important habitats, enabled the creation or expansion of numerous nature reserves, and contributed to notable recoveries of species such as the hooded grebe in Patagonia, the maleo in Indonesia, the blue‑throated macaw in Bolivia, and Mali’s desert elephants.

Biome’s primary beneficiaries are local and Indigenous conservation organizations and the communities they serve. The projects it finances employ or financially support thousands of people in conservation roles, involve large numbers of volunteers and community members in resource management, and improve livelihoods through sustainable fisheries, agroforestry, ecotourism and non‑timber forest products.

All of this is underpinned by a funding philosophy that 100% of public donations are directed to programs, with core donors covering administrative costs. Biome’s highly targeted grants and long‑term partnerships position it as a key intermediary for donors seeking measurable, science‑based conservation impact in some of the world’s most threatened ecosystems.