EXPRESSION OF INTEREST (EOI) FUNDING APPLICATION FOR TARGETED PROJECTS THAT PROVIDE INFORMATION THAT CONTRIBUTES TO SARA LISTING AND RECOVERY PLANNING

Species At Risk Act (SARA) Consultation, Cooperation, and Accommodation Project 

Purpose of Funding

Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) has heard from many Indigenous communities and organizations that they wish to undertake targeted short-term species at risk projects that will directly support Indigenous peoples’ and organizations’ meaningful participation in listing, recovery planning and/or recovery actions for terrestrial species at risk.  This EOI process will help ECCC to provide federal funding, administered by CIER, to support as many projects of this type as possible.

Note: For those interested in learning about ECCC funding that supports larger species at risk projects (e.g., multi-species, multi-year), visit the ECCC website or contact: Natalie Fondren-Gasc: Natalie.Fondren-Gasc@ec.gc.ca 

Overview

• The purpose is to fund targeted short-term projects that directly support Indigenous peoples’ and organizations’ meaningful participation in listing and/or recovery planning for terrestrial species at risk (see appendices A & B for details).
• Projects can include any SARA listed terrestrial species at risk however, priority will be given to proposals focusing on the species undergoing listing consultation and recovery planning within the next two years.  See the link at appendix C for the list of species.
• Applicants may submit more than one expression of interest per intake.
• Should funds allow, there will be additional calls for expressions of interest.

Requirements

• Expressions of Interest must be received by June 21, 2024.
• Please use the subject line “SARA Expression of Interest” when making your submission.
• Inquiries and submissions can be made to Kate Hewitt, Project Manager at the Centre for Indigenous Environmental Resources: khewitt@yourcier.org who is working in partnership with ECCC to distribute these federal funds.
• Project amounts should be between $5,000 - $15,000. Requests over $15,000 will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
• Projects typically are to be completed by March 31, 2025, however multiyear requests (up until January 2026) will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
• Please use federal funding rates where applicable (see example and federal rates below)
• All applicants will be notified of their application status within 4-6 weeks.
• A holdback of 20% will apply on all applications.
• A brief final report that includes a table of expenses and description of project outcomes will be due by March 15th, 2025. Upon approval, the holdback will be released.
  

Primary Contact Details for Indigenous Community or Organization

* Contact identified will be the primary contact for all correspondence

Funding Request  

Please include a list of any partners and other financial contributions.

Note: An in-kind contribution from applicant amounting to 20% of the budget is required if the request is over $5,000. Examples of in-kind contribution can include staff time, administration, use of office or venue space, use of supplies, food, equipment, software applications use, etc. The applicant does not need to secure funding from other sources in order to meet the in-kind requirement.

Past/Other Funding:

Project Activities

We need to understand how each activity will directly contribute to listing consultation and/or recovery planning (see appendices for details). While it is not required, we encourage recipients to explain how they anticipate their project activities and timeframes would align with ECCC’s recovery planning goals for the specific species (see appendix C&D for details).  Categories and example activities for this funding include the following:

Data collection to provide to ECCC for use in recovery documents: surveying, monitoring, mapping (Note, if those collecting and sharing appropriate information wish to formalize how this is done, ECCC is open to exploring approaches that can work for everyone (e.g., MOUs, protocol agreements, data sharing agreements).

• Community meetings so that community members can build understanding and share questions, concerns and knowledge.
• Building capacity (e.g., establish a species at risk leadership committee).
• Education and outreach to increase awareness and involvement in species at risk conservation and recovery.
• Training in and/or development of methods and tools (e.g., species at risk database, guidance) that support the activities listed above.
• Gathering of information to inform actions that reduce threats to species and their habitats.

Information Sharing Details - If applicable (for instance, those collecting and sharing appropriate data).

Please note that requests and cheque processing take up to eight weeks. For further information or support, please contact Kate Hewitt, CIER Project Manager, khewitt@yourcier.org.

Federal Funding Rates

Funding to support a person’s time to participate:

We understand that communities’ policies and protocols pertaining to honoraria may differ and they may be higher or lower than the maximum amounts identified by the federal treasury board as listed below or they may take other forms (e.g., appreciation gifts). Please include in your budget request what is appropriate for your community.  If you would like to discuss, please contact CIER at khewitt@yourcier.org.

Elders and Knowledge Holders - $500/day, $250/half day
All other participants - $350/day, $175/half day

Travel and hospitality for in person meetings:

For complete travel directive (e.g., includes hotel rates) visit:

https://www.njc-cnm.gc.ca/directive/d10/en  

Appendix A – Examples of information considered in the Minister’s decision to list a species under SARA

• Do the species support livelihoods, for example, through harvesting, subsistence, or medicine?
• Would listing the species result in cultural, social, or economic costs or benefits to individuals, communities, or organizations?
• Would listing the species result in cultural, social, or economic costs or benefits to individuals, communities, or organizations?
• Do current or planned activities overlap with any of the species’ ranges or occurrences (i.e., where individuals of the species have been seen)?
• Are there any current or planned activities that may harm the species and/or destroy any part of its habitat?

Appendix B – Examples of information included in a recovery document 

• Where the species and its habitat have been found.
• What the species needs to survive and/or recover.
• Threats (current and historical) to the species and which activities might destroy their habitat.
• What could be done to recover/manage the species and what actions are already underway.
• Population and distribution objectives for recovery/management.
• Indigenous Knowledge that knowledge holders would like to see included in a recovery document.
• Anything else that may aid in the survival and recovery of the species.

Appendix C - List of species and associated information

https://yourcier.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Prairies-SARA-CCA-Species-list_2023-24-Updated-FEB2024.pdf 

Certification of Accuracy

Prepared and Certified Accurate by:

Reviewed by CIER: