The Government of Canada is investing a further $90 million to their initial $100 million investment (2019-2023), over the next 3 years in the Natural Heritage Conservation Program (from April 1, 2023, to March 31, 2026) as a continuation of the Budget 2018’s Nature Legacy initiative. This funding will be shared by conservation partners including the Nature Conservancy of Canada, Ducks Unlimited Canada, and Canada’s community and regional land trusts.

The NHCP is a public-private partnership designed to advance privately protected areas in some of the country’s most cherished landscapes.

More specifically, the NHCP aims to achieve the following objectives:

• To contribute to the achievement of the terrestrial and inland water elements of Canada’s target of Canada’s 2020 Biodiversity Goals and Targets;
• To contribute to the protection of habitat for the recovery of Species at Risk Act (SARA) listed species at risk and the prevention of other species from becoming listed under SARA.

The Nature Conservancy of Canada, Ducks Unlimited Canada, Wildlife Habitat Canada and a variety of regional and local land trusts represented by the Alliance of Canadian Land Trusts are working together under the Natural Heritage Conservation Program to support these goals, with a commitment to protect an additional 15,000 hectares of habitat for species at risk.

Wildlife Habitat Canada is providing grant administration services for the Land Trusts Conservation Fund, which is a component of the Natural Heritage Conservation Program. The Land Trusts Conservation Fund will provide approximately $5.08 million annually over three years to support Canadian land trusts in securing private lands and private interests in lands.

Note: Canadian federal government contributions cannot be used as matching funds under the NHCP-LTCF program.

This investment in nature is an important step in achieving Canada’s target of conserving a quarter of its lands and a quarter of its oceans by 2025, and toward conserving 30% by 2030.

The NHCP-LTCF program is designed to directly support Canada Target 1 and as such, land funded under the NHCP-LTCF program must count towards objectives for permanent or long-term protection of land, either as a “Protected Area” (PA) or an “Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measure” (OECM), as defined by Appendix 1 of One with Nature 2019:

Protected Area (PA): A Protected Area is “a clearly defined geographical space, recognized, dedicated and managed, through legal or other effective means, to achieve the long-term conservation of nature with associated ecosystem services and cultural values.” (One with Nature definition, 2019).

Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measure (OECM)*: An OECM is broadly defined as “a geographically defined area other than a Protected Area, which is governed and managed in ways that achieve positive and sustained long-term outcomes for the in-situ conservation of biodiversity, with associated ecosystem functions and services and where applicable, cultural, spiritual, socio-economic, and other locally relevant values.” (One with Nature definition, 2019).

*If your project involves a unique mechanism for conservation or an OECM, please contact WHC to discuss the details of your project before submitting an application.

Note: Successful applications with projects involving a unique mechanism for conservation or an OECM will require approval by ECCC before a Funding Agreement between WHC and the Applicant can be signed (WHC will facilitate the ECCC request for approval).

A Decision Support Tool exists to provide support in assessing whether or not an area contributes to Canada’s Target. Applicants are encouraged to review the Decision Support Tool and assess their project land using the Decision Support Tool Screening Template for Protected Areas and OECMs to determine whether the area can be counted towards Canada Target.

For further information, see the overview of the Accounting for Protected and Other Conserved Areas.

Year 7 2025-2026

• Eligible projects must close between April 1, 2025 and December 31, 2025.
• Eligible project expenses will be those incurred between April 1, 2025 to March 31, 2026.
• Associated project expenses that occurred between April 1, 2022 and March 31, 2026 can be applied to the project as matching funds (provided that the expenses were not paid for with other sources of Canadian federal funds).

Eligibility

To be eligible to apply to the Land Trusts Conservation Program (LTCF), applicants must meet all the criteria below:

1. Applicants must be a Canadian Land Trust*;
2. Applicants must be a registered Canadian charity; and,
3. Applicants must be in compliance or working towards substantial compliance with the Canadian Land Trust Standards and Practices (2019)** or Guide des bonnes pratiques en intendance privée: aspects juridiques et organisationnels, as demonstrated through a Board resolution or confirmed through an attestation by a senior officer of the organization. This includes, in particular, compliance or substantial compliance with Standards 8-12 which address the securement and stewarding of conservation lands.

* A Canadian Land Trust is defined as a not-for-profit conservation organization that, as all or part of its mission, actively works to conserve land by acquiring land or Conservation Agreements (or assisting with their acquisition) and/or stewarding/managing land or Conservation Agreements (CLT Standards & Practices 2019).

** The Canadian Land Trust Standards & Practices were revised in January 2019 and land trusts will be in a transition phase while adopting new practices. Land trusts are expected to be making significant progress towards the adoption of a Board resolution. Resolutions are expected to be filed with the appropriate Alliance, if applicable, and on-file with the land trust for review by WHC, upon request.

• Documents and reporting must be submitted through Wildlife Habitat Canada’s online grant system. Click here  to access the login page.
• A preview of the application form is available here and is subject to change.

Ontario Nature – Yates Property       

Project Accomplishments:

• Expanded Protected Corridor in the Frontenac Arch:
  Secured the 23.74-hectare Yates property adjacent to Ontario Nature’s Gananoque Lake Nature Reserve, enhancing connectivity within the Frontenac Arch Biosphere Reserve and contributing to the Algonquin to Adirondack (A2A) corridor.
• Protected Diverse and High-Value Habitats:
  Conserved mixed forests, wetlands, treed swamps, and rock barrens supporting 18 species at risk (including Cerulean Warbler, Butternut, and American Eel) and 20 provincially rare species within a globally significant biodiversity hotspot.
• Strengthened Climate Resilience and Prevented Development Threats:
  Prevented potential residential and road development, securing critical habitat for species adaptation and long-term ecological function under Ontario Nature’s management plan for permanent protection.

Kawartha Land Trust – MacLean   

Project Accomplishments:

• Protected 86 ha of Critical Oak Ridges Moraine Habitat:
  Secured a large, ecologically diverse property within a Natural Core Area of the ORM, adjacent to Fleetwood Creek Natural Area and Ballyduff Trails, expanding one of the largest protected land networks in the region.
• Safeguarded Provincially Significant Features and Species:
  Conserved two Areas of Natural and Scientific Interest (Fleetwood Kames and Headwaters) and key habitats including forests, wetlands, and meadows that support over 80 species at risk, such as black ash and brook trout.
• Enhanced Watershed Health and Climate Resilience:
  Protected over 1 km of coldwater stream and 4 ha of provincially significant wetland, improving flood control, groundwater recharge, and habitat connectivity in a watershed facing high agricultural and development pressures.

Kawartha Land Trust – Wolfe Estate Forest   

Project Accomplishments:

• Protected a Rare, Large-Scale Ecosystem:
  Secures 300 hectares of forest and wetland habitat within The Land Between ecotone, a vital transition zone between the St. Lawrence Lowlands and the Canadian Shield, maintaining a major forested wildlife corridor east of Peterborough.
• Safeguarded Species and Watersheds:
  Conserves mature oak, maple, and ash forests, black ash swamps, and headwater streams that flow into the Beloporine Lake Provincially Significant Wetland, supporting numerous Species at Risk and improving watershed health.
• Prevented Development and Habitat Loss:
  Averted threats from solar farm proposals and potential clear-cutting, ensuring long-term protection of contiguous forest cover and preventing habitat fragmentation, invasive species spread, and biodiversity decline.

Island Nature Trust – Campbells Cove   

Project Accomplishments:

• Protected a Large, Ecologically Significant Property:
  Secured 111.29 hectares of diverse forest and bog habitats in Campbell’s Cove, Kings County, strengthening one of the few remaining large, undeveloped natural areas on Prince Edward Island.
• Enhanced Habitat Connectivity for Species at Risk:
  The property contributes to the PEI Forested Landscape Priority Place, protecting North Lake Creek and its tributary while providing vital habitat for species-at-risk and improving watershed resilience.
• Ensured Permanent Legal Protection:
  Upon acquisition, the property will be designated under the PEI Natural Areas Protection Act, safeguarding it in perpetuity from development and conversion while enabling ecological management and education.

Corridor Appalachien – Brière   

Project Accomplishments:

• Protected a Large Transboundary Ecosystem:
  Secured 173.56 ha through acquisition and a 400.88 ha conservation easement, totaling 574.43 ha in the Green Mountains Natural Region, a key corridor linking Quebec’s Mont-Orford National Park with protected forests in Vermont.
• Prevented Habitat Loss and Fragmentation:
  Successfully halted a planned 70-unit residential development, protecting core wildlife habitats and maintaining ecological connectivity within the Northern Appalachians-Acadian region.
• Strengthened Regional Conservation Network:
  Consolidated protection efforts by connecting adjacent NCC-owned lands in Quebec with large Vermont forest reserves, ensuring long-term resilience of cross-border biodiversity.

Memphrémagog Nature Foundation – Goodwin Conservation   

Project Accomplishments: 

• Strategic Land Protection in a Key Ecological Corridor:
  Secured the protection of the Goodwin property (81.8 ha) west of Magog, forming a vital ecological link between Mont-Orford National Park, Mont Chagnon, and Lake Memphremagog within the Appalachian Corridor.
• Use of Voluntary Conservation Tools:
  Combined a donation (44.4 ha) and a below-market-value sale (37.4 ha) to establish permanent legal protection through conservation agreements, safeguarding both agricultural and developable lands from real estate pressure.
• Strengthened Regional Biodiversity and Connectivity:
  The project contributes directly to the Appalachian Corridor conservation strategy, enhancing a ≥10 km² habitat core for species at risk and reinforcing long-term ecological resilience in the Lake Memphremagog watershed.

Nova Scotia Nature Trust – Blance Peninsula   

Project Accomplishments:

• Secured One of Nova Scotia’s Largest Undeveloped Coastal Properties:
  Protected 638 hectares (17 parcels) encompassing 10 km of pristine coastline and diverse ecosystems — forests, bogs, barrens, wetlands, and barachois — in an area with only 5% of the province’s coast currently protected.
• Advanced National and Regional Conservation Priorities:
  Strengthened ecological connectivity within the Southwest Nova Biosphere Reserve and Atlantic Flyway, safeguarding critical habitat for migratory birds and species at risk, and contributing to Canada’s 30×30 conservation target.
• Prevented Coastal Development and Ensured Long-Term Stewardship:
  Eliminated major development threats by securing the land under Nova Scotia Nature Trust ownership, ensuring perpetual protection for biodiversity, climate resilience, and public access for research, recreation, and nature education.

Mississippi Madawaska Land Trust – Chatson Woods   

Project Accomplishments:

• Significant Expansion of Protected Lands:
  Secured the 114.1 ha Chatson property, increasing the Rose Hill Nature Reserve by 78% to 259 ha, creating a larger continuous protected area of 926 ha when combined with adjacent Crown lands.
• High Ecological and Geological Value:
  The property features six habitat types, including wetlands, forests, and rock barrens, with Copeland Creek providing vital wildlife migration corridors and habitat for 11 confirmed species at risk within the Algonquin to Adirondack Corridor.
• Prevented Habitat Degradation and Ensured Long-Term Protection:
  Acquisition by the Mississippi Madawaska Land Trust safeguards the site from potential aggregate extraction and establishes passive management to preserve ecological integrity and cultural significance, including designated Indigenous archaeology areas.

Thunder Bay Field Naturalists Club: Pardee Nature Reserve   

Project Accomplishments:

• Secured 161.2 ha of Ecologically Rich Land:
  Protected three adjacent properties—Patterson West, Patterson East, and Vicol—through donations and purchase, expanding conservation coverage near Devon Road Mesa Provincial Nature Reserve and linking to nearby NCC and provincial park lands.
• Enhanced Biodiversity and Habitat Connectivity:
  The properties feature diverse habitats—forests, beaver ponds, meadows, and cliffs—supporting 60 bird species, 7 mammals, and 4 species at risk (with more expected). This protection strengthens the ecological corridor south of Thunder Bay.
• Environmental Restoration and Stewardship in Action:
  Volunteers began clean-up of abandoned homesteads, debris removal, and well decommissioning, improving site conditions and ensuring long-term ecological health under Thunder Bay Field Naturalists’ stewardship.

Comox Valley Land Trust – Puntledge River   

Project Accomplishments:

• Protected a Rare 120-Year-Old Forest in the Comox Valley:
  Secured a long-term conservation agreement between Comox Valley Land Trust, Manulife Investment Management, and BC Hydro, preventing commercial logging on a 100-hectare forest that has regenerated naturally since 1903.
• Preserved Critical Habitat and Public Recreation Area:
  Safeguarded an ecologically significant forest and riparian ecosystem within the Puntledge River watershed, supporting one of B.C.’s most productive salmon runs and maintaining a popular natural park-like recreation area for public use.
• Achieved Major Progress Toward Full Protection:
  Successfully protected 62% of the Timber Reservation to date and initiated efforts to conserve the remaining 38%, ensuring permanent protection of a high-biodiversity site within the K’omoks Estuary Important Bird Area.

Southern Alberta Land Trust Society – Ransom   

Project Accomplishments:

• Secured Protection of 709 ha of Native Grasslands:
  Established a conservation easement on a large ranch in Alberta’s Foothills Fescue Natural Subregion, safeguarding native and tame grasslands, coulee riparian areas, and critical wildlife corridors within a heavily converted agricultural landscape.
• Habitat for Species at Risk and Biodiversity Hotspot:
  Documented key species at risk, including ferruginous hawks (nesting pair with fledglings) and sharp-tailed grouse (confirmed lek with 34 individuals), reinforcing the property’s regional and continental importance for grassland bird conservation.
• Prevented High-Risk Land Conversion:
  Protected ecologically significant lands from cultivation pressures, addressing a high “conversion risk” threshold and supporting private land conservation in a subregion where only 1.25% of grasslands are provincially protected and 88% are privately owned.