Category #1: Habitat Conservation Grants

The Habitat Conservation Grants program by Wildlife Habitat Canada focuses on supporting vital conservation, restoration, and enhancement projects aimed at protecting wetlands and migratory game birds. With an investment of approximately $150 million, this initiative relies on non-federal matching funds to enhance the ecological integrity of Canadian habitats. Eligible projects include wetland restoration, vegetation planting, and invasive species removal, contributing significantly to the preservation of wildlife and their habitats.

The Canadian Wildlife Habitat Conservation Stamp Program
Supports habitat conservation, restoration and/or enhancement or stewardship projects with a focus on wetlands, waterfowl and migratory game birds.
Wildlife Habitat Canada invests funds from the sale of the Canadian Wildlife Habitat Conservation Stamp and Print (CWHS) program to fund important and relevant conservation projects all over Canada.
What’s more, our matching funds component ensures that every dollar WHC invests is met with additional non-federal government backing. As a result, the projects we support are crucial to Canadian conservation initiatives and have provided roughly $150 million towards the cause.
Habitat Conservation, Restoration or Enhancement Projects
Projects under this category focus on direct, on-the-ground activities that:
Address North American Waterfowl Management Plan (NAWMP) conservation priorities, as outlined in the Habitat Joint Venture Implementation Plans, including conservation, restoration, protection and enhancement of habitat in priority areas; orSupport habitat conservation for other important migratory game birds.
Examples of project activities that would fall under this grant category:
creation, restoration or enhancement of wetland habitat;natural vegetation planting;construction and installation of Hen Houses or nest boxes;installation of livestock exclusion fencing;removal of invasive species;wetland inventory mapping
Restrictions and guidelines
For infrastructure repair / re-build projects (e.g., water level control structure repairs or replacement), WHC will consider projects that:
increase wetland acres and/or improve the ecological integrity of affected acres; and,address long term maintenance needs for infrastructure (which do not rely on any future WHC funding).