Species at Risk
Action Fund
APPLICATIONS ARE CLOSED.
The Species at Risk Action Fund (SARAF) aims to improve the status of Species at Risk (SAR) and their habitats by supporting species inventories and management planning on ecologically sensitive lands by eligible recipients.
OLTA currently holds funding from the Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation, and Parks’ Species at Risk Stewardship Program. Through this grant, we are able to support small grants to member land trusts in their work to protect and recover Species at Risk on land trust properties.
Program Details
The Species at Risk Action Fund (SARAF) aims to improve the status of Species at Risk (SAR) and their habitats by supporting species inventories and management planning on ecologically sensitive lands by eligible recipients.
OLTA currently holds funding from the Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation, and Parks’ Species at Risk Stewardship Program. Through this grant, we are able to support small grants to member land trusts in their work to protect and recover SAR on their properties.
Program Details:
The SARAF fund will support SAR inventory projects, property management plan (PMP) costs and/or direct habitat management actions.
Funding has been made available through support provided by the Government of Ontario.
Please review the SARAF Guidelines document below for the Fall 2025 funding priorities.
Application Details
Eligible projects will be those undertaken since April 1, 2025 OR that will be completed by January 16, 2026.
Completed applications and all documentation are to be submitted electronically via Foundant Technologies grant application portal by 11:59 PM on Tuesday, September 30, 2025.
Applicants will need to create a user account. The link contains instructions and tutorials on how to create an account and access the Apply dashboard.
Late or incomplete submissions will not be considered. Applicants will receive an automatic email from Foundant at the time of submission. Applicants are responsible for contacting OLTA shortly thereafter if they do not receive a confirmation e-mail.
Contact Information
Please direct any inquiries to mikayla.johnston-clayton@olta.ca
Greenlands
Conservation
Partnership
Program
APPLICATIONS ARE CLOSED.
Conservation of Ontario’s rich biodiversity is a shared responsibility. The Greenlands Conservation Partnership (GCP) program is a collaborative initiative to conserve ecologically important natural areas and contribute to the government’s climate change objectives.
Between 2020 and 2024, the Government of Ontario invested $38 million to leverage private contributions to the Greenlands Conservation Partnership with Ontario Land Trust Alliance (OLTA) and Nature Conservancy of Canada. This funding supported the securement, restoration, and management of privately owned protected areas. In 2024, OLTA received renewed funding of $20 million over the next four years, ensuring the continuation of the program’s vital conservation efforts.
Program Details
- This funding cycle represents the 2026-27 funding round of a four-year fund. These guidelines are for 2026-27 only. The current funding cycle has a focus on supporting projects that acquire and manage ecologically sensitive lands, as well as Stewardship, Restoration, and Outreach (SRO) activities for properties that were previously secured through the program. Projects that include SRO elements are strongly encouraged.
Timeline Details
The call for applications for 2026-27 is now closed as of 11:59 pm, February 18, 2026. Please check back later for future updates.
To review your grant application, you can access the Foundant grant portal here.
Program Progress
To date, the Greenlands program has:
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Conserved over 174,300 hectares of ecologically important natural areas across Ontario.
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Funded or partially funded 111 new projects throughout the province.
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Secured 78 new properties that offer public access to green spaces.
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Protected habitats for over 110 species at risk.
Greenlands
Conservation
Partnership
Program
LARGE GRANTS CLOSED
SMALL GRANTS CLOSED
The Natural Heritage Capacity Program – Land Trust Capacity Fund supports Canadian charity land trusts in securing land that contributes to the achievement of the terrestrial and inland water elements of Target 1 for Canada’s 2020 Biodiversity Goals and Targets. It will also contribute to the protection of habitat for the recovery of Species at Risk Act (SARA) listed species at risk and the prevention of other species from becoming listed under SARA. Please visit Wildlife Habitat Canada’s website here for application details.
Program Details
Wildlife Habitat Canada is providing grant administration services for the Natural Heritage Conservation Program which will invest $18 million into the Land Trusts Conservation Fund program. The Land Trusts Conservation Fund (LTCF) will provide approximately $4.5 million annually over four years (2023 – 2026) to support Canadian land trusts in securing private lands and private interests in lands.
Application Details
To be eligible to apply for the LTCF, which includes a large or small grant program, applicants must meet the following requirements:
- Applicants must be a Canadian Land Trust
- Applicants must be a registered Canadian Charity
- Applicants must have adopted and be in compliance with, or working towards substantial compliance with, the Canadian Land Trusts Standards and Practices (2019)
- Applicants must demonstrate a minimum of 2:1 in match funding raised from other non-federal sources.
Contact Information
For up-to-date information regarding the Land Trusts Conservation Fund program or for more information on both the Small & Large grant programs, please visit Wildlife Habitat Canada’s website here.
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