COMMUNITY ACTION FUND Application Guidelines 2005–2006 Submitting your proposal What is the IBA Community Action Fund? Funding Priorities Eligibility Evaluation Process 2003-2004 IBA Community Action Fund Calendar List of Eligible IBA Sites in Canada What is the IBA Community Action Fund? The purpose of the Important Bird Areas Community Action Fund is to provide funding support for high-priority projects that contribute to the conservation of bird species and their habitats within an Important Bird Area. Emphasis of the fund is local conservation action. All projects must be conducted within an officially recognized Important Bird Area, and/or contribute to the conservation of the birds and habitats for which the site has been identified. For a complete list of eligible IBA sites click here Maximum annual grant is $5000.00. A 1:1 match is required, which may be cash, in-kind (eg. materials and/or volunteer time), or a combination of both. Matching funds must be in place prior to the disbursement of the first installment. Also, documentation verifying the 1:1 match (letters of commitment from supporters) must be forwarded to Nature Canada prior to the disbursement of the first installment. All applications will be subject to external review. Application deadline for 2005-2006 funding cycle is January 14th, 2005. While multi-year projects may be approved in principle, funding is awarded on an annual basis. Proponents must submit a final report and reapply for grants in subsequent years. Requests for application guidelines and additional information should be directed to: IBA Outreach Coordinator, Nature Canada, 85 Albert St., Suite 900, Ottawa, ON K1P 6A4 Phone: 613-562-3447 Fax: 613-562-3371 Funding Priorities The IBA Community Action Fund provides grants to individuals or groups for high-priority IBA projects that contribute to the conservation of bird species and their habitats within an IBA. To be eligible for funding, the project area must be an officially recognized Important Bird Area, as identified by Nature Canada and Bird Studies Canada. Priority will be given to IBA projects that: are of high priority for the IBA (as determined by the conservation planning); contribute to the conservation of the birds and habitats for which the site has been identified; lead to concrete results; are community-based (involves and benefits the local community); involve activities identified during a management or conservation planning process. Eligibility Individuals and not-for-profit organizations are eligible for IBA Community Action Fund grants (eg. natural history society, university). The IBA Community Action Fund will fund projects under the following four areas: Conservation implementation of conservation actions where a clear need is identified; habitat enhancement, rehabilitation or restoration projects. Education education programs designed to increase public awareness of an Important Bird Area and its importance to bird conservation; IBA landowner awareness programs. Research applied research on bird conservation (priority will be given to projects focusing on the bird species for which the IBA is important); local monitoring programs. Local Monitoring Programs The IBA Community Action Fund will not fund: regular activities of an organization (eg. annual meeting); land acquisition; projects taking place outside of Canada. While IBA Community Action Fund prefers not to fund the salaries and benefits of full-time employees of the applicant organization, the IBA Community Action Fund will consider proposals that clearly indicate that work cannot be done solely by volunteers. The salaries and benefits of seasonal employees (eg. summer students) are eligible for funding. Evaluation Process All applications are reviewed by IBA program staff and forwarded to an external IBA Community Action Fund review committee. The committee is comprised of four individuals with expertise in conservation biology, volunteer-based conservation and research activities, and ornithology. Committee members are also selected to represent a cross-section of Canada’s geographical regions. Proposals will be evaluated on the basis of the following criteria: relevance to bird conservation priorities within the IBA; degree of community support for and participation in the project; the conservation benefits to bird species and/or the habitats upon which they depend.   2005-2006 IBA Community Action Fund Calendar   Call for Proposals October, 2004 Proposal Deadline January 14th, 2005 Grants Announced April 18th, 2005 Projects Begin April, 2005 Submitting Your Proposal TOP © 2004 IBA CANADA