The World Wide Fund – Canada is seeking applications for Arctic Species Conservation Fund to support research and stewardship actions, safeguarding some of Canada’s most emblematic species.
The Arctic Species Conservation Fund supports high-quality stewardship and research initiatives focused on wildlife and habitats in the Canadian Arctic. WWF-Canada relies on partnerships with Indigenous organizations and the best available information to jointly advocate for effective Arctic conservation policies and legislation. Established in 2016, the ASCF is proud to support applied conservation initiatives that focus on Arctic wildlife including Atlantic walrus, barren-ground caribou, beluga whales, bowhead whales, narwhal, polar bears, and ringed seals.
Fund Objectives
The Arctic Species Conservation Fund supports high-quality stewardship and research initiatives focused on wildlife and habitats in the Canadian Arctic. WWF-Canada relies on partnerships with Indigenous Peoples and the best available information to jointly advocate for policies and legislation that are effective for the conservation of the Arctic environment.
They are pleased to issue a call for proposals to identify projects that will achieve meaningful outcomes for the conservation of Arctic species and the people who depend on them.
Priorities
Arctic Habitats
Indigenous Protected and Conserved Area projects at any stage of development, including scoping
Initiatives that enable communities to participate in Land Use Planning, Environmental Impact
Assessments, Strategic Environmental Assessments, Species at Risk listing processes etc.
Studies on the resilience of Arctic habitats, including the response of wildlife to climate change
Studies on the effectiveness or need to improve existing protected areas
Projects that demonstrate the potential economic opportunities for northern communities through conservation programming
Nature Based Solutions projects seeking to identify, restore or protect areas of carbon storage
Arctic Marine Mammals
Understanding the effects of underwater noise, ice breaking and oil spill events on marine mammals
Understanding the impacts of ship-based contaminants (black carbon, grey water, heavy metals, invasive species, micro plastics, scrubbers etc.) on marine mammals and Arctic marine habitats
Identification and characterization of critical habitat for marine mammals
Strengthening the knowledge base of marine mammal migration timing, routes and habitat use
Projects that help with the evaluation and/or design of mitigation measures used by industry to reduce effects of disturbance on marine mammals from industrial development and shipping
Evaluating impacts of disturbance on walrus at their haul-out sites
Barren-ground Caribou
Research that broadens their understanding of the effects of roads, development sites and other forms of disturbance on caribou and their habitats
Identification and characterization of critical habitat for caribou
Actions that help create or implement existing management plans and recovery strategies for caribou
Polar Bears
Research contributing to the understanding of the drivers of problem polar bears in communities
Development and implementation of methods to reduce human-polar bear conflict in communities
Innovations and community-based initiatives to manage polar bears and attractants in communities
Projects that bridge the gap between Indigenous Knowledge, Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit and scientific understandings of polar bears.
Funding Information
Applicants can request up to $25,000.00 CAD per year.
Types of Projects
The types of projects the fund seeks to support include:
Indigenous Protected and Conserved Area projects at any stage of development, including scoping
Initiatives that enable communities to participate in Land Use Planning, Environmental Impact Assessments, Strategic Environmental Assessments, Species at Risk listing processes etc.
Studies on the resilience of Arctic habitats
Projects that demonstrate the potential of economic opportunities for northern communities through conservation programming
Nature-Based Solutions projects seeking to identify, restore or protect areas of carbon storage
Understanding the effects of underwater noise, ice breaking and oil spill events on marine mammals
Understanding the impacts of ship-based contaminants (black carbon, grey water, heavy metals, invasive species, microplastics, scrubbers etc.) on marine mammals and Arctic marine habitats
Research furthering their understanding of the effects of roads, development sites and other forms of disturbance on caribou and their habitats
Identification and characterization of critical habitat for caribou
Development and implementation of methods to reduce human-polar bear conflict in communities
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants from all backgrounds (community groups, Hunters and Trappers Organizations, governments, universities, independent researchers, non-government organizations, etc.) and fields of study (Indigenous Knowledge (IK), Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit (IQ), natural sciences, social sciences, etc.) are eligible to apply.
