Nature Smart Climate Solutions Fund
Canada
Funding for conserving and restoring nature
grant_single_labels|summary
grant_single|eligibleFinancing
- grant_single|minCount
grant_single|deadlines
- grant_single|openingDateApril 01, 2025
grant_single|financingType
Grant and Funding
grant_single|eligibleIndustries
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
grant_single|grantors
- Government of Canada
grant_single|status
grant_card_status|open
grant_single_labels|preview
Submit a proposal to carry out nature-based solutions to conserve, sustainably manage, and restore ecosystems.
grant_single_labels|projects
The eligible projects for this grant involve implementing natural climate solutions to curb greenhouse gas emissions through prevention of ecosystem conversion, improved management, and restoration efforts. These initiatives are targeted to support Canada’s 2030 Emissions Reduction Plan and contribute positively to biodiversity and human well-being.
- Avoiding conversion projects that reduce the area of ecosystems converted annually to other land uses by halting activities that lead to GHG emissions.
- Improved management projects focusing on maintaining the current land use while adopting management practices that lead to additional emission reductions.
- Restoration projects aimed at increasing the area of ecosystems restored to enhance their capacity for carbon sequestration and storage by 2050.
grant_single|admissibleProjectsExample
$ 100,000
Conservation of peatlands to prevent carbon loss
$ 125,000
Restoring degraded wetlands to enhance biodiversity
$ 125,000
Advancing scientific research on peatland restoration
$ 110,000
Implementing sustainable forest management practices
$ 120,000
Developing policy tools for natural climate solutions
$ 95,000
Creating a biodiversity monitoring program
grant_single_labels|admissibility
The eligibility for this grant is defined by the potential applicant types and their affiliation.
- Organizations, both national and international, that are non-profit, including charities and non-governmental organizations (NGOs).
- Indigenous organizations, administrations, individuals, boards, commissions, communities, associations, and authorities, which include:
- Non-profit Indigenous organizations;
- District councils, chiefs councils, and tribal councils;
- Indigenous research, teaching, and educational institutions;
- For-profit Indigenous organizations.
- All levels of government, including provincial, territorial, municipal, and local governments and their agencies (e.g. Crown Corporations).
- Research, teaching, and academic institutions that are national or international.
- Individual Canadian citizens.
- For-profit organizations, national or international, such as small businesses with fewer than 500 employees, corporations, and industry associations.
- Local organizations, including associations, community groups, senior groups, youth groups, and philanthropic clubs.
grant_eligibility_criteria|who_can_apply
This grant is open to a wide range of applicants interested in projects designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through nature-based climate solutions. Eligible applicants include organizations and individuals from various sectors, as follows:
- National and international non-profit organizations, such as charities, volunteer groups, professional associations, and NGOs.
- Indigenous organizations and authorities, including non-profit and for-profit entities, councils, boards, and educational institutions.
- Provincial, territorial, municipal, and local governments and their agencies, including Crown corporations.
- National and international research, teaching, and educational institutions.
- Canadian individuals.
- National or international for-profit organizations, including small businesses with fewer than 500 employees, corporations, and industrial associations.
- Local organizations, such as community associations, senior and youth groups, and philanthropic clubs.
grant_eligibility_criteria|who_cannot_apply
The grant is designed to support projects that align with Canada's emissions reduction plan and stipulates certain requirements and restrictions on applicants. However, no specific types of companies or industries have been explicitly excluded from applying based on their status or main activity within the provided context.
grant_eligibility_criteria|eligible_expenses
- Costs associated with projects that reduce the loss, restore, or improve the management of ecosystems
- Expenses related to halting or reducing the conversion of carbon-rich ecosystems to less carbon-rich ecosystems
- Costs for restoring carbon storage and biodiversity in converted or degraded ecosystems
- Expenses for reducing GHG emissions caused by natural resource use through implementing new forest harvesting management practices
- Costs related to developing policies, programs, or tools with key actors in priority sectors to reduce GHG emissions and improve biodiversity
- Costs for measuring and reporting on GHG outcomes from natural climate solutions
- Expenses associated with providing biodiversity and human well-being co-benefits
- Costs related to advancing science and knowledge on natural climate solutions in Canada
grant_eligibility_criteria|zone
This grant is available for projects within Canadian provinces and territories. The funding is aimed at ensuring alignment with regional climate goals.
- Projects located within the provinces of Canada.
- Projects situated in the territories of Canada.
grant_single_labels|criteria
The evaluation and selection of projects for this grant are based on specific criteria to ensure effective emission reduction and project execution.
- Expertise and capacity of the team to manage the project.
- Clarity and detail in the project description, work plan, and budget.
- Reasonable project timeline and budget.
- Support from key concerned partners.
- Likelihood of the project generating concrete, additional, and sustainable/permanent emission reductions by 2030 and extending to at least 2050.
grant_single_labels|register
Here are the steps to submit an application for this grant:
- Step 1: Reach Out to Regional Office
- Contact your regional office of the Canadian Wildlife Service (CWS) using the provided contact details.
- Request access to the application documents and discuss your project idea if necessary.
- Step 2: Prepare Documentation
- Complete the Application Form and the Supplementary Information Workbook.
- Gather all relevant support documents required for submission.
- Step 3: Submit Application
- Send the completed application and accompanying documents to the regional CWS office.
- Ensure all materials are complete as only full applications will be reviewed.
- Step 4: Await Confirmation
- Wait for confirmation that your application is considered complete and under review.
- If additional information is required, revise and resubmit the application as guided by feedback.
grant_single_labels|otherInfo
Here are additional relevant details for this grant:
- The application process is ongoing until funds are exhausted for the fiscal year 2025-26, which means early submissions have a potential advantage.
- The funding provided can range from a minimum of $75,000 to a maximum of $50 million, emphasizing the wide range of project scales supported.
- For projects involving Indigenous applicants, encouraging but not requiring matching funds acknowledges the diverse financial contexts.
- Applicants must not only demonstrate a project's potential in reducing emissions but also handling biodiversity, Indigenous reconciliation, and human well-being co-benefits, highlighting a holistic approach to environmental solutions.
- Projects have to demonstrate and provide evidence for a 1:1 matching fund from non-federal sources to be favorably evaluated, pointing to a preference for collaborative funding structures.
grant_single_labels|contact
ec.fscan-nscsf.ec@ec.gc.ca
Apply to this program
Support for Projects Aimed at Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions
The Nature-Based Climate Solutions Fund seeks proposals for projects that actively contribute to Canada's 2030 Emissions Reduction Plan by reducing or halting activities that lead to greenhouse gas emissions or by restoring degraded areas to functional ecosystems capable of sequestering and storing carbon. This initiative is pivotal in driving forward Canada's strategic environmental goals.
In-Depth Exploration of the Nature-Based Climate Solutions Fund
The Nature-Based Climate Solutions Fund represents a vital opportunity in Canada's effort to combat climate change through sustainable practices. This call for proposals specifically targets initiatives that either directly curb land-use change emissions or promote the rejuvenation of degraded ecosystems, consequently enhancing their carbon storage capabilities. These projects take a dual approach: the prevention of actions leading to emissions and the rehabilitation of ecosystems to boost carbon sequestration. The fund is geared towards various forms of natural climate solutions, such as site-specific measures that halt ecosystem conversion, employ improved ecosystem management practices, or deploy policy-driven approaches that underpin emission reduction goals.
The eligible applicants for this fund span a diverse range of sectors, illustrating an inclusive strategy towards achieving environmental objectives. These include non-profit organizations, governmental entities at various levels, indigenous bodies, and even for-profit ventures, particularly small enterprises. This broad eligibility highlights a comprehensive approach to solutions development, recognizing the multifaceted contributions required across different societal sectors to meet Canada's climate targets.
Projects submitted under this fund must clearly articulate their anticipated impact on greenhouse gas emissions reductions, demonstrating significant, measurable, additional, and lasting results. Beyond environmental impact, applicants are encouraged to consider associated benefits in biodiversity conservation, indigenous reconciliation, human well-being, and supporting underrepresented Canadians. Such holistic gains underscore the fund's alignment with broader sustainability values and social justice considerations.
The Nature-Based Climate Solutions Fund requires projects to be located within Canada and offers flexible financing between $75,000 and $50 million, supporting durations from one to five years. A key aspect of the funding model includes fostering partnerships through matching contributions, particularly encouraging contributions from non-federal sources. This scheme not only amplifies resource allocation towards impactful projects but also fosters collaborative engagement across sectors.
Application processes emphasize the necessity for thorough preparation and strategic alignment with the fund's emission reduction objectives. Adhering to a rigorous evaluation framework, projects must demonstrate detailed planning, budget efficiency, and substantial stakeholder support. The fund operates on a first-come, first-served basis and anticipates high competition, urging applicants to craft compelling, evidence-based proposals that stand out in both impact potential and sustainability planning.
Ultimately, this fund serves as a critical engine for advancing Canada's commitments under global environmental accords, fostering innovative climate solutions that harmonize ecological restoration with socio-economic benefits. By enabling diverse stakeholders to contribute to emission reduction goals, the Nature-Based Climate Solutions Fund illustrates a forward-thinking model of environmental stewardship and collaborative problem-solving in the face of global climate challenges.
