• The purpose of the Important Bird Areas (IBA) Habitat Conservation Project is to identify and provide funding support for high-priority projects that contribute to the conservation of bird species and their habitats within an Important Bird Area (IBA).
• One of the main goals of the IBA program is to ensure the conservation of sites through the development and implementation of conservation plans in partnership with local stakeholders (e.g. landowners, naturalists, hunters, government agencies and municipalities, aboriginal groups, scientists, etc.) for priority IBAs. Together, the partners have developed straightforward conservation plans that stimulate local priority conservation actions at IBA sites.
• In conjunction with Nature Canada's Priority IBA Project, Wildlife Habitat Canada and Nature Canada will collaborate to fund community-based habitat conservation action on a number of key IBAs across Canada.
• Emphasis of the fund is local conservation action within an officially recognized IBA to contribute to the conservation of the birds and habitats for which the site has been identified. In 2006-2007, the goal is to fund projects in up to 10 locations. Once project locations are identified, an estimate of the number of hectares affected will be provided.

• The IBA Habitat Conservation Project will provide grants to individuals or community-based groups for high-priority IBA projects that contribute to the conservation of bird species and their habitats through the implementation of conservation plans, or priority habitat conservation actions where plans are being finalized, 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. Individuals and not-for-profit organizations are eligible for IBA Habitat Conservation Project (e.g. natural history society, university).
• The IBA Habitat Conservation Project will fund projects under the following conservation areas:
  • Implementation of conservation actions where a clear need is identified;
  • Habitat enhancement, rehabilitation or restoration projects;
  • Negotiation of easements or landowner stewardship agreements;
  • IBA landowner awareness programs.
• The IBA Habitat Conservation Project will not fund:
  • Regular activities of an organization (e.g. annual meeting);
  • Land acquisition;
  • Research and monitoring activities; or
  • Projects taking place outside of Canada.

Specific Habitat Products/Results to be Supported by WHC's Contributions
Applications will be solicited by Nature Canada through its network of provincial and local affiliates. Project applications will be reviewed by a panel drawn from the staff of Nature Canada; its BirdLife Canada partner, Bird Studies Canada; and Wildlife Habitat Canada. A completed project application form will form the basis of the assessment process.

Wildlife Habitat and/or Wildlife Achievements/Benefits
The specific conservation actions will be identified in each project proposal, with an emphasis on concrete actions to conserve and restore habitat beneficial to the species for which the individual IBA was established. Projects may include such activities as removal of invasive species, revegetation with native species, improvement of wetland condition, shoreline rehabilitation, and working with adjacent landowners.

Relevance to Habitat Planning, Decision Making and/or Management
The conservation and restoration of habitat in Important Bird Areas is a direct contribution to the goals of the North American Bird Conservation Initiative. Individual projects will provide information to local decision makers and decision making processes, depending on the specific locations chosen.

Project Location
Various locations across Canada but all within designated Important Bird Areas (see www.ibacanada.com). For 2006, there will be an emphasis on IBAs in western Canada, with at least 70% of available funding from WHC being allocated to projects in Manitoba to British Columbia, and the three territories. Projects in eastern Canada would be focused in the "Top 10" Priority IBAs in the east.

• Fraser River Estuary (Boundary Bay, Roberts Bank Sturgeon Bank) IBA (British Columbia)
• Eastern Cape Sable Island IBA (Nova Scotia)
• Wood River Watershed (Saskatchewan)
• Norfolk Forest Complex IBA (Ontario)
• Beaverhill Lake IBA (Alberta)
• Big Lake IBA (Alberta)
• Comox Valley IBA (British Columbia)
• Squamish River Area IBA (British Columbia)
• Whitewater Lake IBA (Manitoba)

Project Contact
For more information on this project, please contact Julie Gelfand, President, Nature Canada.