Aboriginal Fund for Species at Risk (AFSAR)

Who can apply

Applicant eligibility

Indigenous communities and organizations located in Canada are eligible for funding, including:

1. Indigenous not-for-profit and for-profit organizations
2. Territorially-based Indigenous groups
3. Chiefs' councils, district councils, and tribal councils
4. Traditionally appointed advisory committees
5. Indigenous corporations, partnerships, and groups
6. Indigenous research, academic, and educational institutions
7. Indigenous cultural education centres
8. Indigenous land/resource management authorities
9. Indigenous co-operatives
10. Indigenous societies, boards, and commissions
11. Other organizations (Indigenous and non-Indigenous) if mandated by one of the above eligible recipients
12. Indigenous cooperatives

Project eligibility

Eligible lands or locations

Project activities may take place on the following eligible lands or locations:

1. reserves and lands set aside for the use and benefit of Indigenous peoples under the Indian Act or under section 91 (24) of the Constitution Act of 1867
2. other lands directly controlled by Indigenous peoples (e.g. Métis Settlement lands, and land claim/treaty settlement lands)
3. lands where traditional food, social, and ceremonial activities (harvesting or other) are carried out by Indigenous peoples

Eligible species

Projects must support and promote the conservation, protection, and recovery of species at risk and their habitats. To be eligible for IPSAR funding, projects must include one or more species from:

1. Species At Risk Act (SARA) Schedule 1 species as listed in the SARA Public Registry (except those listed as extirpated)
2. COSEWIC species assessed by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) as endangered, threatened, or of special concern but have not been listed on Schedule 1 of SARA

While IPSAR funding must include a SARA or COSEWIC species, projects may include non-listed species with proposed actions that proactively prevent them from becoming a conservation concern.

Matching contribution requirements

IPSAR funding has a matching contribution requirement of a minimum of 0.20:1 from non-federal sources matching in-kind or cash contributions ($0.20 confirmed match for $1 IPSAR funding). Non-Indigenous applicants are required to obtain a minimum of 1:1 from non-federal sources matching in-kind or cash contributions ($1 confirmed match for $1 IPSAR funding). Matching contribution requirements also applies to non-Indigenous applicants applying on behalf of an Indigenous group.

The requirement for matching funds is based on obtaining funds over the duration of the project and approval is not contingent on securement of all matching funds up front. In a single year of the project the matching rate can be less than 20% of the IPSAR funding amount as long as the 20% is met by the project's completion.

Eligible match sources include band contributions, provincial agencies, non-governmental organizations, private landowners, individuals, and the applicant.

Contributions from other federal funding programs (e.g., EcoAction, Habitat Stewardship Program [HSP]) and federal funds administered by third-party non-governmental organizations) are not eligible as match.