Wetlands Conservation Partner Program

Overview of the Wetlands Conservation Partner Program program:

The program objectives include: improving the functionality or connectivity of wetlands conserving, restoring or enhancing existing wetlands and their features and functions mitigating the impact of urban stormwater, which is worsened by too much hard surface (such as pavement) and more frequent and intense weather events associated with climate change improving shoreline resiliency to climate change impacts such as high-water levels and intense storms Funded projects help to: improve water quality mitigate excess stormwater flow preserve and increase habitats for endangered species help prevent flooding build climate change resiliency in the Great Lakes watersheds and connecting waterways increase economic activity throughout Ontario

Benefits of the Wetlands Conservation Partner Program program:

• Participants stand to gain:
• Funding support for wetland restoration, enhancement, or conservation in priority areas
• Improved stormwater management and reduction in flooding risks
• Enhanced water quality through natural infrastructure
• Greater resilience of shorelines to climate change impacts
• Creation and protection of habitat for species of concern
• Stimulus to local economic activity through project implementation

Eligibility criteria of the Wetlands Conservation Partner Program program:

• The fund is open to organizations that are 1 of the following:
• Municipality
• Conservation authority or their foundation
• Conservation organization
• Indigenous community
• Applicants must also have implemented at least 2 other projects that are similar to their proposal in the last 5 years.
• Eligible organizations are encouraged to collaborate with other organizations (such as agricultural organizations or associations, community groups, etc.) on WCPP projects, including opportunities supporting broader inclusion and diversity.
• To be eligible for consideration, projects must meet at least 1 of the 4 program objectives (described above), and:
• Be a capital project (or a collection of capital sub-projects) with a total project value of at least $300,000
• At minimum, provide matching contributions at a ratio of $1 in non-provincial funding for every $2 in WCPP funds (Indigenous communities are exempt from matching)
• Take place in 1 or more of the following geographic areas:
• Great Lakes coastal wetlands, with a priority placed on wetlands in Areas of Concern (AOCs)
• Ecoregions 6E or 7E, which have experienced significant historic wetland loss and impact