Grant for BC Local Governments to Advance Biodiversity Conservation on Private Lands
REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST Apply by April 30, 2024
About this Grant
It is widely acknowledged within B.C. that there are challenges to biodiversity conservation since a large proportion of biodiversity, including species and ecosystems at risk, are within valley bottoms and coastal areas that are composed mostly of private land parcels.
Incentive tools for private landowners to undertake conservation actions are not available in all parts of the province and, where they are available, there are access and implementation challenges.
To begin to address these challenges, the Fraser Basin Council, in partnership with the Province of B.C., is offering a one-time grant for local governments in 2024 to explore opportunities for funding conservation tools and incentives on private land to enable and expand the role of local governments in conservation.
Local governments can use this grant to explore how to develop a private landowner incentive model to achieve biodiversity conservation and climate action goals through carbon storage or sequestration. The grant could also be used as seed funding to investigate how to support private land conservation by developing agreements directly with private landowners.
The amount available for a local government is expected to be $15,000 to $90,000. Local governments must be able to match the grant 1:1 with non-federal funds and/or in-kind staff time.
Fencing helps safeguard a steam and riparian area from impacts of livestock – an example of improved stewardship on private land.
Collaboration
This grant recognizes the role of local governments in private land use decisions, for example, by developing zoning bylaws, development permit areas and official community plans.
Local governments have an important role to play in building relationships with First Nations that can bring benefits to both communities and enhance reconciliation. We encourage local governments to work directly with First Nations in their local and regional areas and provide details on their engagement process.
Working in partnership with other agencies on new or existing regional conservation efforts is also encouraged. In some regions, there may already be plans underway to develop funds for private landowner incentives, or there may be existing funds for incentives that could be expanded upon. These funds could be administered by local governments and/or non-government organizations and conservation partnerships. Applicants are asked to consider what initiatives might already exist in their regions and outline how they will follow a collaborative approach.
Examples of local government financial tools that have been implemented in B.C. for biodiversity conservation on private land are set out in the Request for Expression of Interest Application Form below.
Eligible Activities
Local government activities eligible for this grant may include:
Researching private landowner incentive programs and other conservation opportunities from other jurisdictions
Conducting public opinion polls within the region to determine local interest in supporting private land conservation or participating in incentive programs
Reviewing your local government’s potential conservation financing options
Reviewing your local government’s natural assets and/or priority areas for biodiversity conservation (e.g., mapping sensitive areas, inventory of natural assets)
Developing a local conservation fund service
Working on agreements with private landowners and/or non-government organizations
Grant recipients will be selected based on criteria and project information outlined in the Request for Expression of Interest & Application Form noted in the next section.
How to Apply
Full details on the grant can be found in the Request for Expressions of Interest & Application Form noted below.
return it by email no later than April 30, 2024 to
If you have questions, please contact Jane Wellburn at the Fraser Basin Council at .
Funding decisions are expected to be made by May 15, 2024.
Acknowledgements
This grant has been made possible by the Conservation Fiscal Incentives Project (CFIP), funded through the Province of B.C. and Environment and Climate Change Canada’s Nature Smart Climate Solutions Fund. The Purpose of the CFIP is to develop recommendations for provincial actions to support fiscal incentives that make positive impacts to biodiversity conservation and to carbon storage and sequestration on private lands in B.C. Through case studies with non-government organizations and local governments, we can learn how some fiscal incentives work on private lands and how they could be better supported or expanded.
Stewardship Before & After Pictures
A degraded streambank in need of restoration. Photo: Elodie Rogers
The same streambank, with work done toward restoration, including protective fencing and plantings. Photo: Elodie Roger
