How much funding can be received?

Funds up to 75% of admissible expenses, capped at $150000 per project.

What is the deadline to apply?

The deadline to apply is 2025-09-15T23:59:59Z.

Who are the financial supporters of the Protecting habitats?

Protecting habitats is funded by Quebec Wildlife Foundation

What are Protecting habitats's eligibility criterias?

The applicant must be a non-profit conservation organization, a land trust, or a public utility whose primary mission is the preservation of natural environments. The conservation mission must be explicitly included in the letters patent and provide for the transfer of land to an organization with a similar mission in the event of dissolution. In certain cases, municipalities are eligible if their conservation purpose is guaranteed in the long term.

Protecting habitats

Last Update: July 17, 2025

QC, Canada

Supports long-term conservation of ecologically valuable private habitats

Protecting habitats at a glance

Eligible Funding

Max. $150,000
Up to 75% of project cost

Timeline

Open Date : May 16, 2025
Closing date : September 15, 2025

Financing Type

Grant and Funding

Eligible Industries

Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
Other services (except public administration)
Public administration

Grant Providers

Quebec Wildlife Foundation

Status

Open

Overview of the Protecting habitats program

The Protecting Habitats (volet principal) grant supports projects aimed at the long-term conservation of ecologically significant habitats on private land, with eligible activities including acquisition, stewardship, and planning for natural areas. The program can provide up to 75% of eligible project costs, to a maximum of $150,000 per property, notably for protection, acquisition, and stewardship initiatives.

Financing terms and conditions

Up to 50% of eligible project costs covered for Knowledge and Planning (Axe 1).
Up to 75% of eligible costs covered for Habitat Protection (Axe 2) and Stewardship (Axe 3).
Contribution to endowment/management fund cannot exceed 20% of the fair market value of the property, up to a maximum of $150,000.
General and administrative overhead is limited to 10% of the awarded funding amount.

Eligible projects & activities

Conducting studies and inventories to plan the conservation of natural environments.
Developing conservation strategies and action plans for targeted territories.
Initiatives to legally protect habitats of high ecological value on private land.
Acquiring land or conservation easements to ensure long-term habitat protection.
Managing and maintaining already protected natural sites, including stewardship activities and restoration efforts.

Examples of admissible projects:

$ 40,500

Developing an ecological corridor action plan for priority habitat

$ 61,500

Comprehensive wetland inventory and conservation plan development

$ 144,375

Securing land easement for threatened riparian forest habitat

$ 150,000

Acquisition of urban woodland to protect migratory bird stopover

$ 88,500

Restoring native plant pollinator corridor between protected woodlots

$ 51,750

Long-term stewardship and invasive species management of peat bog

Eligibility criteria of the Protecting habitats program

The applicant must be a conservation organization based in Quebec, such as a not-for-profit, land trust, or organization with a primary mission of preserving natural environments, as indicated in their founding documents.
Organizations must have a provision in their bylaws ensuring that, in the event of dissolution, properties will be transferred to another entity with a similar conservation mission.
Municipalities may be eligible if they clearly demonstrate that conservation use will be guaranteed and maintained in perpetuity (e.g., recognition as a Natural Reserve, conservation servitude, or co-ownership with a conservation NGO).
The project must focus on the long-term protection of high ecological value habitats, maintenance of habitats for threatened or vulnerable species, or foster connectivity between protected natural areas.
The project must be located primarily on private land within Quebec and target habitats of high ecological, faunal, or floristic value, or ecological corridors essential for conservation.

Who is eligible?

Non-profit conservation organizations whose primary mission is the preservation of natural environments
Land trusts or social utility trusts with objectives focused on natural habitat conservation
Non-profit legal entities with explicit conservation missions and dissolution clauses directing assets to similar organizations
Municipalities (if they can ensure long-term conservation purposes, such as through natural reserve recognition or partnership with conservation NGOs)

Who is not eligible

Companies whose main activity is not the preservation of natural environments (unless they can demonstrate a clear conservation mission in legal documentation).
Organizations that do not qualify as non-profit conservation organizations, land trusts, or public-interest entities with a primary mission of natural habitat protection.
Projects for which the acquisition deed has already been signed.
Projects required by law as compensation for a degraded environment.
Municipalities are not eligible for management fund support; and projects intending to subsequently transfer property or conservation easements to a municipality or the Quebec government cannot access management funds under this grant.

Eligible expenses

Salaries and benefits directly related to the project.
Travel, accommodation, and transport costs necessary for project activities.
Professional fees for consultants and technical experts, such as legal, surveying, and evaluation services.
Costs and fees associated with real estate transactions, including acquisition of property titles or conservation servitudes and related taxes (TPS/TVQ not refundable).
Contribution to a stewardship or endowment fund for long-term site management (subject to a limit of 20% of the property's fair market value, minimum $5,000 suggested).
Purchase of goods required for project implementation, such as fencing, signage, trail materials, lumber, or related infrastructure components.
Communication expenses for project promotion, including content creation, production, translation, printing, publication, media relations, and dissemination.
Non-recoverable GST/PST amounts paid on eligible expenses.
General administration and overhead fees, up to 10% of the granted financial support (for items like office rental, administrative support, IT, supplies, and professional association memberships as required).
In-kind contributions (goods or services essential to the project provided without monetary exchange, including volunteer time or donated materials and services).

Eligible geographic areas

Private lands located within the province of Quebec.

Eligibility criteria of the Protecting habitats program

Relevance to the objectives and priorities of the program, including contribution to the mandate of the Foundation.
Scope and ecological value of the proposed intervention, such as ecological importance, size, biodiversity, and conservation interest of the targeted territory.
Pertinence and effectiveness of the proposed activities addressing actual threats and ensuring long-term habitat protection.
Degree of project planning and quality of the application, including realistic timelines, clear financial tables, and concrete deliverables with evaluation mechanisms.
Financial dimension, including cost-effectiveness, the extent of anticipated results versus project costs, and level of financial and partnership engagement.

How to apply to the Protecting habitats program

Review information and objectives

Review the program information document in detail
Understand eligibility criteria and funded activities
Confirm your project is aligned with program objectives

Prepare application and documents

Download and complete the financial planning table (Excel format)
Fill out the official financial aid application form
Gather all mandatory supporting documents (NEQ, authorizations, CV, support letters, maps, etc.)

Complete forms and technical files

Draft a detailed project description according to program axes requirements
Obtain a resolution authorizing the representative to sign (if required)
Ensure all required sections and technical documents are completed

Submit application before the deadline

Submit the application form and required documents by email to projets@fondationdelafaune.qc.ca
Ensure original format and all attachments are included
Respect one of the three annual deadlines: May 15, September 15, or January 15

Await evaluation and results

Wait for the application review by the Fondation de la faune du Québec
Additional clarifications or documents may be requested during evaluation
Expect a decision within approximately 16 weeks after submission

Additional information

It is strongly recommended to contact the Rseau de milieux naturels protégés (RMN) for support in project planning and preparation.
For projects under the ACSQ partnership, supported initiatives must be completed no later than December 15, 2027.
Partner organizations, such as Conservation de la nature Canada and Ministère de l9Environnement, provide important co-financing and may influence funding availability.
The program requires the submission of certain documents, such as published property deeds and evidence of fund transfers for management funds, after acquisition projects are completed.

Contact Quebec Wildlife Foundation

projets@fondationdelafaune.qc.ca

4186447926

MRC de Bellechasse

Non-repayable support for rural cooperative and nonprofit projects