Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks - NEW Species Conservation Program 2026-27
Sponsor
The Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP)
Program
Species Conservation Program [1]
Description
To conserve Ontario’s rich biodiversity and promote environmental stewardship, the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP) will provide annual funding through the newly created Species Conservation Program for projects that contribute to the protection and conservation of species and their habitat in Ontario.
Each year, the Species Conservation Program will support on the ground actions that preserve, rehabilitate and enhance habitats, provide public education and outreach, and make a real difference for Ontario’s species at risk. Species experts, conservation groups and other eligible organizations are encouraged to apply for funding to carry out this important work in Ontario communities.
For the 2026-2027 fiscal year, the ministry is accepting multi-year applications (spanning 1-5 years). For the purposes of the program, a “year” is considered April 1st to March 31st . All project activities must begin no earlier than April 1, 2026, and finish no later than December 31, 2030.
Please see the 2026-2027 Species Conservation Program Guidelines [2] for complete details. The guidelines outline program requirements and important details including the annual funding priorities. Applicants are asked to carefully read the guidelines before completing and submitting an application.
Indirect Costs
Indirect costs cannot exceed 10% of the total funds requested, or $20K per year (averaged across all years), whichever is less.
Deadlines
If College-level review is required, your College will communicate its earlier internal deadlines.
| Type | Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|
Internal Deadline | Please provide a PDF copy of your application and OR-5 to Research Services Office: research.services@uoguelph.ca [3]. | |
External Deadline | Applicants are responsible for submitting their applications electronically through Transfer Payment Ontario (TPON) by 3:00pm (EST) on Thursday November 27, 2025. |
How to Apply
Applications must be submitted electronically through TPON [4].
All applicants are required to create a My Ontario Account in order to register for and access TPON. Please follow the detailed steps outlined at Ontario.ca/GetFunding. It is recommended to complete these registration steps as soon as possible, as it may take up to five business days to be granted access. Once you are registered and have access, the next step is to download and complete the 2026-27 SCP Application Form (and supporting documents) and submit through TPON before the deadline.
You may submit multiple project applications; however, please ensure you create a new TPON case number and download a new application form for each project application you plan to submit.
If you have any questions or difficulties during this process, there are resources to assist at Ontario.ca/GetFunding or you may contact the TPON Customer Service Line at 416-325-3408 or 1-855-216-3090, Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (ET), or by email at TPONCC@Ontario.ca [5].