BC First Nations Caribou Recovery Implementation Fund

The BC First Nations Caribou Recovery Implementation Fund is currently closed to new applications. Future intake may be considered if additional funding becomes available.

Those with in-progress seed funding projects may submit full proposals when completed for consideration. Limited funds are available, and applications will be considered on a first-come, first-served basis.

About the Initiative

The BC First Nations Caribou Recovery Implementation Fund (FNCRIF) has been developed to provide an additional means for First Nations communities and organizations to advance recovery efforts for threatened caribou herds in British Columbia. The fund is envisioned to generate new, collaborative, First Nations-led caribou recovery actions rooted in traditional knowledge and scientific understanding.

Two streams of funding — seed funding for developing a project proposal, and multi-year funding (1 to 2 years) for implementation of a recovery initiative — are designed to offer flexibility, support in development, and consistency for longer-term initiatives.

FNCRIF is focused on projects that support and promote the recovery of caribou listed as “threatened” under the federal Species and Risk Act (SARA) and includes the following herds: Boreal, Southern Mountain-Northern Group, Southern Mountain – Central Group, and Southern Mountain – Southern Group.

  • Caribou Herd Map – Click to enlarge

Objectives of this funding opportunity are to:

  1. Promote and support community-based and First Nations-led recovery implementation projects for threatened caribou populations within B.C.;
  2. Further build and develop support for First Nations-driven actions toward caribou herd recovery in B.C.; and
  3. Enable First Nations to leverage funding from other sources.

The FNCRIF is administered by the Fraser Basin Council (FBC) and made possible by contributions from the Province of British Columbia’s Caribou Recovery Program.

All First Nations communities (with traditional territory within British Columbia) and First Nations organizations are eligible for funding, including:

  • First Nations not-for-profit and for-profit organizations that focus on animal stewardship
  • Territorially based First Nations groups
  • Chief’s councils, District councils, and Tribal councils
  • First Nations corporations, partnerships, cooperatives, and groups
  • First Nations-led research, academic and educational institutions
  • First Nations-led cultural education centres
  • First Nations-led land/resource management authorities
  • First Nations-led societies, boards, and commissions
  • Other organizations (Indigenous and non-Indigenous), if mandated by one of the above eligible recipients

The Fraser Basin Council will accept one application per community or organization per year. Multiple small projects may be combined into one application. If so, the applicant should make clear the objectives and predicted outcomes of each project and identify all the project partners.

There are two streams of funding available.

  1. Seed funding, up to $10,000, is available to applicants to explore options, acquire or refine expertise in preparation for activity implementation, or secure expertise to refine a proposal. Applicants may apply for seed funding only once.
  2. Implementation Funding is available for projects that are 1-2 years in duration, up to $75,000 per year (consideration for projects of higher value may be given in special circumstances to a maximum of $150,000.) Implementation Funding can be managed across fiscal years.

Eligible project activities could include:

  • Documentation and Use of Traditional Knowledge
  • Surveys, Inventories and Monitoring
  • Species and Habitat Threat Abatement
  • Project Evaluation
  • Stewardship Training, Outreach and Education

Forms

These materials are for information only. The most recent funding round closed for applications on November 15, 2024.

How Projects are Chosen for Funding

The FNCRIF Advisory Committee provides the external and final review to support a transparent and fair proposal process and recommends approval of proposals for funding to Fraser Basin Council (FBC). Proposals submitted to the program will be subject first to an administrative screening for completeness and eligibility by FBC staff. Eligible proposals will be forwarded to the Provincial Caribou Recovery Program team for review for potential conflicts or alignment with provincial caribou recovery strategies.

Please note: more complex applications may require thoughtful consideration. If an application cannot be reviewed in the application review window, they will be managed as part of the next funding intake period. If this occurs, all parties (including the FNCRIF Advisory Committee) will be notified.

The FNCRIF Advisory Committee will provide a final technical review aimed at ensuring that technically sound proposals are put forward for funding. This Terms of Reference will be reviewed annually and revised as needed.

Program Timelines

Caribou Program Process & Timeline

  • Click to enlarge

(*Dates may vary)

Caribou Seed Funding Applications

  • Click to enlarge

Additional Information

BC Government Caribou Recovery Program

Glossary of caribou terms

Caribou habitat restoration funding

Indigenous Work on Species at Risk

Contact

For more information about the fund or application process, contact us:

Mountain Caribou. Photo: Government of British Columbia | Doug Heard