2BT Capacity building applicant guide

In 2019, the Government of Canada committed to supporting the planting an additional two billion new trees over 10 years, up to 2031, as part of a broader approach to nature-based climate solutions with the goal of achieving significant carbon sequestration. The 2 Billion Tree (2BT) program, a financial assistance program of the Government of Canada, is currently accepting proposals.

For proposals that include tree planting:

• If you are an Indigenous government/organization/community and you are interested in applying for tree planting and capacity building projects through the Indigenous Funding Stream, please refer to the “Indigenous Funding Stream Applicant Guide”.
• If you are an organization, including for-profit organizations, non-profit organizations interested in tree planting projects, please refer to the “Tree Planting Applicant Guide”.

Like all funding under the 2BT program, no funding will be provided for tree planting and any related activities that are legally required following commercial activity or as a condition for impact assessment approval.

The focus of activities under any proposal for Capacity Building should primarily be related to:

• capacity building to encourage and facilitate involvement in planning and undertaking tree planting, including knowledge building and transfer, training and outreach
• capacity building related to management, protection and monitoring of trees and forests, including knowledge building and transfer, training and outreach
• planting and management of trees and forests as part of capacity building

The maximum amount payable through the Capacity Building stream is $150,000 per fiscal year, until March 31^st, 2031. Please note that submitting a proposal does not guarantee that Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) will enter into a funding agreement with an applicant.

Please note that, under this call for proposals, it is anticipated that proponents of proposals that are accepted and funded may not be allowed to seek eligibility of their project in any existing or future carbon offset credit program.

2.1 Eligible recipients

You can apply to the Capacity Building Stream if you are:

• a not-for-profit organization (legally incorporated and registered in Canada), such as a charitable organization, volunteer organization, community, professional, industry or other association, land conservation organization, or non-government organization

2.2 Eligible activities and costs

Eligible activities include:

• Capacity building to encourage and facilitate involvement in planning and undertaking tree planting, including knowledge building and transfer, training and outreach
• Capacity building related to management, protection and monitoring of trees and forests, including institutional capacity, knowledge building and transfer, training and outreach
• Planting and management of trees and forests as part of capacity building

Eligible activities would not cover any such costs where the planting, management and monitoring is legally required following commercial activity or as a condition for impact assessment approval.

Eligible expenditures are those directly related to implementing the proposed project. Eligible expenditures for program funding would include:

• salaries and benefits, and employee recruitment and training
• professional, technical, and capacity building services
• community and landowner engagement
• translation, production, printing, publication and distribution, and media services
• contractors, such as for tree planting and silviculture
• materials and supplies, such as seeds and trees for planting
• transportation
• facilities
• machinery and equipment
• travel expenses, including accommodation and venue expenses
• honoraria and ceremonial costs where Indigenous recipients or Indigenous partners are involved
• overhead expenditures, provided that they are directly related essential to the conduct of the project, up to 15% of eligible expenditures

Projects submitted under this stream:

• will be limited to two years and may not exceed $150,000 of grant funding per year.
• will not have a minimum tree planting requirement, nor will they be required to plant trees at all. Some activities funded under this stream may pertain to other parts of the supply chain, such as tools to assist with strategic planning for urban or community forests, training on planting techniques, or health/monitoring of tree survivability.
• will need to demonstrate that the funded activities will directly support future 2BT planting activities.

2.2.1 Guidance on habitat restoration

Within the context of the 2BT program, habitat restoration refers to the process of assisting the recovery of a forested ecosystem that has been degraded, damaged, or destroyed to benefit wildlife species (adapted from Society for Ecological Restoration 2004). The vision for habitat restoration projects under 2BT is to create or maintain high quality habitat in a well-connected landscape where wild species can carry out their life processes. Habitat restoration applications are considered to be projects that target: (1) single or multiple species that will directly benefit from tree planting, and/or (2) specific habitat to be restored. Target species can include:

1. Federal species at risk (SAR): Species which are listed under Schedule 1 of the Species at Risk Act (SARA; S.C. 2002, c. 29),
2. Migratory birds (not at risk): Bird species which are not listed under SARA, but are included under the Migratory Birds Convention Act, 1994 (S.C. 1994, c. 22), or
3. Other species of conservation interest (SCI)
   • Species of importance to Indigenous rights holders,
   • Species which have been assessed by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC), but have not yet been listed under SARA,
   • Provincial/territorial priority species not included in (1) or (2), or
   • Other species of conservation concern that may benefit (e.g., species in steep decline, not yet listed).

Habitat restoration projects can include activities that would improve the quality of existing forest habitat, create new forest habitat, functionally connect forest habitat or a combination. Examples of tree planting activities that would be considered as habitat restoration include, but are not limited to the following:

1. Improvement of existing habitat, for example:

• Reforestation or enhancement of areas that have been impacted by natural or anthropogenic disturbances where the target species naturally occurs, or depends on, to carry out its life processes such as:
  • Within Critical Habitat identified in the target species’ Recovery Strategy
  • Riparian restoration for aquatic species on degraded landscapes following legacy industrial activities with no current legal obligation for reforestation (e.g., Salmon populations, Wood Turtle)
  • Restoration of linear features such as seismic lines in Caribou ranges, including functional habitat restoration (e.g., placing coarse woody material, constructing wooden fences)
• Creating biophysical attributes of the target species’ habitat or microhabitat such as placing coarse woody debris, topographic features (e.g., vernal pools, pit and mound), or planting tree/shrub species essential for life processes (e.g., host species, preferred nesting sites, food sources)
• Enhancing naturally suitable habitat based on historical and current occurrences
• Restoration/expansion of natural habitats for tree species (SARA listed or other SCI) such as Whitebark Pine, Limber Pine
• Improving quality of existing habitat by planting trees to increase biodiversity and resilience such as infill planting with diverse tree species in forests within protected areas
• Underplanting to increase diversity and resilience to insect outbreaks (such as underplanting red spruce in anticipation of mortality to the hemlock woolly adelgid, underplanting sugar maple in areas impacted by beech leaf mining weevil)
• Restoration within Key Biodiversity Areas where tree planting would not have adverse effects on ecosystem equilibrium
• Increase connectivity between natural areas containing critical habitat (e.g., corridors, shelterbelts) such as:
  • Afforestation on marginal agricultural lands and industrial lands to create shelterbelts or corridors to facilitate species movement
• Enhancing natural habitat features at a landscape level, such as creating a mosaic structure of young stands adjacent to old ones, which provide standing snags, nesting sites, and dens. This approach aims to increase the forest’s adaptability and resilience to climate change.
• Increasing buffer zones to reduce impacts of agriculture or urbanization, for example, by planting trees around restored ecosystems (e.g., restored wetlands) to expand buffers

2. Creating new habitat:

• Creating buffer zones to reduce impacts of agriculture or urbanization
• Creating a new habitat for expected range expansion under future climate scenarios

3. Other activities:

• Tree planting activities applicable to or consistent with activities outlined in provincial/territorial or federal species at risk recovery strategies, action plans, management plans, or other such conservation documents

Trees being planted for habitat restoration should also reflect the natural species composition of the ecosystem, ensuring biodiversity objectives are met. Applications related to assisted migration or range expansion should align with the applicable provincial or territorial policy for seed zone and seed transfer and be supported by future climate scenarios.

3.1 CFP Capacity building assessment criteria

All proposals will be screened for eligibility through an initial assessment based on the criteria detailed below. No additions to the submission will be accepted after the close of the intake period. Items that are presented in a vague or unclear manner could result in lower scoring (for example, “nearly a decade of experience” could be interpreted as “over 5 years” of experience instead of “9 years”).

When reviewing the proposal, NRCan will seek to gain a better understanding of how your proposal addresses the elements outlined below.

Capacity building assessment criteria

1. Do the expected project outcomes align with the 2BT program priorities as they relate to capacity building?
   Relevant sections of the form

• Project Information

2. Are the project activities achievable within the time frames of the project?
   Relevant sections of the form

• Project Information
• Planting Sites
• Project Tasks
• Project Budget
• Experience and Readiness

3. Is there a detailed budget for the project?
   Relevant sections of the form

• Project Budget

4. Do the expected benefits of the proposed project meet the program’s objectives and are the expected benefits realistic?
   Relevant sections of the form

• Project Information

5. Does the applicant have the capacity to deliver the project? (e.g., financial leveraging, partnerships, resources)
   Relevant sections of the form

• Project Information
• Project Budget
• Experience and Readiness

6. Is there a demonstrated need to support this project as a capacity building project that will enable continued participation in the 2BT program?
   Relevant sections of the form

• Project Information

4.1 Sign-in process

When you apply, you must log in with your GCKey or Sign-In Partner. Both of these tools allow the Government to safeguard the information you provide in your account once it is created.

GCKey: This service is provided by the Government of Canada to allow you to securely conduct online business with various governmental programs and services. The GCKey service issues you your GCKey. A GCKey is a unique credential that protects your communications with online Government programs and services.

More information is available here:

• 1-855-438-1102
• TTY 1-855-438-1103
• GCKey – FAQ

Sign-In Partner: You can sign in with your online Canadian banking information if you have an existing account with one of our Sign-In Partners. If you are selecting a Sign-In Partner, please continue to use the same one that you originally selected when your email was verified by our system.

For more information about using Sign-In Partners, please visit Cyber Authentication Frequently Asked Questions for Users.

Always use the same login option and credentials to access your application. If you use different credentials, you will be treated as a different user.

4.2 Organization registration

Once you have logged in, you will need to either register your organization as a new organization or join an existing organization. A description of each question asked at registration is included below.

Name: The legal name is the official name of the organization, business or government used at the time of establishment, registration or incorporation. This may be different from the organization’s operating name (for example, Legal Name 123456 Northern Ltd., operating publicly as ABC Moving Services).

Description: Please provide a description of your organization or business, including its mandate and vision as it relates to the 2BT program.

Type: please select the type of organization you are registering. This information is important for determining whether the applicant is an eligible recipient. Please note that individual landowners, provincial and territorial governments, federal government departments and crown corporations are not eligible under this funding stream of the 2BT program. Provincial and territorial governments should submit their proposals directly to their NRCan 2BT provincial/territorial contact.

A drop down of choices:

• Federal government or one of their agencies: includes government departments or their agencies
• Provincial government or one of their agencies: includes government departments or their agencies
• Territorial government or one of their agencies: includes government departments or their agencies
• Municipal or local government or one of their agencies: includes local forms of government with elected authorities (for example, mayor and councillors)
• Indigenous government, organization or business: Indigenous nations entities (as self-defined entities representing nation-based collectives—could be linked by cultural or linguistic background, geographical area or historical treaty lines), nation member communities or member organizations on behalf of nation entities, Section 35 rights-bearing Métis entities, national and regional Indigenous organizations, self-governing Indigenous governments, Indigenous-owned or -operated businesses, other Indigenous organizations.
• Conservation authority: Charitable or non-profit river valley or watershed management agencies, created by provincial legislation or regulations, that deliver services and programs to protect and manage impacts on water and other natural resources in partnership with all levels of government, landowners and many other organizations.
• Educational or research institution: Includes organizations such as schools/school boards, universities, community colleges, CEGEPs.
• For-profit: Includes registered businesses such as incorporated companies, partnerships, corporations, or co-operatives.
• Non-profit: Includes registered organizations such as tree planting charities, community associations and organizations, and industry or sector associations.
• Private Donor(s)
• Volunteer(s)
• Other: If you do not fit into any of the above categories.

Type Other: Please provide additional information if you selected ‘other’ as your organization type.

Size: Please indicate the size range within which your organization falls in terms of the number of people employed by your organization. A drop down of choices: 0 to 99, 100 to 499, 500 or more.

For part-time employees, please provide a count based on Full Time Equivalent (FTE) positions. For example, if you have 10 part-time employees who regularly work half of the time that a full-time employee works, the part-time employees would count as 5 full-time employees (10 part-time employees x 0.5 = 5 FTEs). For seasonal employees, please consider the average for the year, using the same method just outlined.

Website: Please provide the URL for your organization’s website if one is available.

Street, City, Province, Postal Code, Country: Please provide the mailing address, for your organization that is applying to the 2BT program.

4.3 How to invite others to join your organization

Find your Unique Organization Code (UOC)

After registering your organization on the 2BT portal, you will receive a confirmation email with a Unique Organization Code. If you cannot find your code, please contact us.

Invite a user to your organization account

Share the UOC with your team and invite them to join your organization on the 2BT portal.

Email template to invite users

Use the following template to share instructions on how to use the UOC to join an organization account:

You are invited to join our organization on the 2 Billion Trees (2BT) portal.

1. Go to: https://2billion-trees-2milliards-arbres.canada.ca/
2. Register or login to the 2 Billion Trees portal by using your GCKey or Sign in Partner account.
3. Register as a new user for the 2BT program and you will receive a confirmation email.
4. After clicking on the confirmation link, you will be redirected to the 2BT portal. Then you will have the option to register a new organization or join an existing organization.
5. Enter the following Unique Organization Code (UOC) to join our organization.

4.4 Preparing your application

When preparing your application, please consider the following:

• You must complete the application sections in order when completing the form online. You will not be able to advance to the next section until you have completed the previous one. If you would like to see all questions ahead of time, please download the Working Copy of the Capacity Building Grant Application Form, located on the Support page in the 2BT portal.
• The text boxes on the online application form have character limits. If you are copying and pasting information into your application, please review the input to confirm that all of your text was accepted.
• Changing the language of the online application form will cause a loss of data. Please choose your preferred language before you start filling in the form.
• Please remember to save your work often. The system saves your work at the end of each section when you press “next”. You have two options to return to a partially complete application:
  • The Save for Later button on each page provides a link to navigate back to where you left your application. You will need to login, and then paste the link in your browser to resume your work. This link saves partially completed sections of work.
  • The Most Recent Saved Application link found on your Home Page will take you to the next step of the application which you have not completed. If the previous step was only partially completed and “next” was not pressed, the data in that section will need to be re-entered.
• If you have any questions, please email: 2btrees-2garbres@NRCan-rncan.gc.ca

It is the responsibility of the applicant to complete all sections of our form as accurately and completely as possible. The main sections of the form are:

• 1.0 Application Type
• 2.0 Applicant Role
• 3.0 Project Information
• 4.0 Planting Sites
• 5.0 Project Tasks
• 6.0 Experience and Readiness
• 7.0 Project Budget
• 8.0 Project Budget Summary
• 9.0 Diversity and Inclusion
• 10.0 Final Review
• 11.0 Certification and Attestation
• 12.0 File Upload
• 13.0 Application Submitted

A description of each section is included below to assist in completing the application form. The numbered segments within each section correspond to the numbering in the application form. It is recommended that you save your work often while preparing your application form for submission to the 2BT program.

1.0 Application Type

1.01 What type of funding are you applying for? Select:

• Capacity Building Grant

1.02 Reference the Applicant Guide

• I understand that I need to reference the Applicant Guide to ensure that I properly answer all questions to be eligible for funding.

1.03 Capacity Building Requirements

• I understand that the capacity building grant stream is designed to support capacity development for future participation in one of the tree-planting streams of the 2BT program. If my project does not clearly demonstrate this, I understand that I will not be eligible for funding.

1.04 Capacity Building – Tree Planting

• My project includes tree planting. Please note: tree planting is not mandatory for projects in the capacity-building stream.

2.0 Applicant Role

2.01 What is your role? Choices:

• Primary Contact: Select if you are the person who will be the main contact for your proposal with the 2BT program. Should your proposal be successful, this person will be the main point of contact outlined in the agreement between your organization and NRCan.
• Authorized Signatory: Select if you are the person who has authority to sign binding agreements on behalf of the applicant.
• Both: Select if you are acting as both the Primary Contact and the Authorized Signatory for this proposal.

3.0 Project Information

3.01 General Information

1. Proposal Funding Stream: Select the appropriate stream for your project. Choose:
• Capacity Building Grant
2. Project Title: Provide a short, clear and concise name describing your proposed project. You can include some details on the nature of your project. For example, “Building Capacity in City/Town.” This project title will be shared publicly.
3. Project Summary: Provide a brief description of your project that will be used by the program to contextualize your project and to quickly understand what you intend to do. For example, “Wetland restoration in southern Ontario training and piloting” or “Tree planting site survey and persciption preparation in the burn scar adjacent to XXX town.” This description will be shared publicly if your proposal is successful.
4. Project Start Date: The date when the first activity of the proposed project is expected to get under way. This date must be no earlier than April 1, 2026. You can include costs incurred prior to April 1, 2026, as part of your financial or in-kind contributions towards the project. However the 2BT program will not reimburse costs incurred prior to April 1, 2026, and reimbursement is contingent on negotiating and signing a grant agreement with NRCan.
5. Project End Date: The date when all project activities supported by 2BT program funding are expected to be completed (capacity building funding cannot be later than March 31, 2028).
6. Project Description: Describe your project, and its activities. This section is key for the review panel to understand WHAT your project is doing (e.g., This project will plant # of trees over # hectares in # years. This will be completed by doing X, Y, and Z). Please avoid generality statements (e.g., Tree planting is important to fight climate change) and focus on the specific activities of your project. If your project includes Habitat Restoration, please follow the instructions in the Habitat Restoration section and include details here.

   The project will need to demonstrate that the funded activities will directly support future 2BT planting activities. Please refer to the Assessment Criteria as outlined in section 3.1 for more information.

7. Project Objective: Please provide details on WHY this project is important (e.g., The objective of this project is to conserve/ implement/ recover ‘X’ in ‘location’, in order to improve/ increase/ secure ‘Y’). Please highlight why your project fits within the 2BT program.

3.02 Land Details

1. Indigenous Lands: Please indicate if your proposed project takes place within or adjacent to Indigenous lands or traditional territory, including lands governed by a modern treaty. Your project may give rise to a duty to consult that must be addressed before proceeding. If your answer is no, but a duty to consult subsequently arises, your project may be delayed, modified or halted until the duty to consult is addressed. For additional information on the duty to consult, please go to the following websites:
• Aboriginal and Treaty Rights Information System (ATRIS): https://sidait-atris.aadnc-aandc.gc.ca/atris_online/home-accueil.aspx
• Consultation and Information Service of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada (CIRNAC): https://www.rcaanc-cirnac.gc.ca/eng/1100100014686/1609421785838#sec2
• Native Land Digital’s Territory Map: https://native-land.ca/

Please note that questions 3.02.b to 3.02.e are only required for projects that include tree planting.

2. Habitat Restoration: Please indicate if your project will involve activities to restore habitats for species at risk or other species-of-interest and quantify what percentage of your project is habitat restoration as instructed below. Please note that if your project includes habitat restoration components your proposal will be shared with Environment and Climate Change Canada. General 2BT eligibility criteria will be applied to the evaluation of habitat restoration applications, however in order to be thoughtfully considered, proposals being submitted to the 2BT program that support habitat restoration should attempt to outline the following information in 3.01.f Project Description or as an additional file at the end:
• Quantify what percentage of your project is habitat restoration and provide a description of the expected benefits for the target species, including how the area could contribute to an increase in habitat quality, size, and connectivity
• alignment with existing species or land stewardship goals, principles, and/or guidance based on Indigenous Knowledge, best management practices, property/forest management plans, landscape-scale connectivity mapping or restoration prioritization exercises, amongst others
• when applicable, alignment with the activities identified in provincial, territorial or federal planning documents such as conservation plans, recovery strategies, action plans and management plans, conservation agreements such as Section 11 under SARA, and/or related planning processes (e.g., caribou range plans, herd plans, similar approaches to maintaining or achieving recovery and population objectives) where these exist
• it would be expected that applicants applying with habitat restoration proposals adhere to pertinent provincial, territorial and federal policies and regulations as needed
• a description of established or intended collaboration with stakeholders, Indigenous communities, and other organizations to maximize the effectiveness and sustainability of the restoration efforts
• long-term monitoring plan of restoration progress, results, and effectiveness
• consideration for the long-term sustainability and maintenance of the restored habitat

For additional information on habitat restoration, please consider using the following resources:

• Provincial guidance documents on restoration; completed restoration plans specific to the area of interest; and species-specific restoration plans
• Community Forests International’s guidance (developed in collaboration with ECCC)
  • Habitat Restoration Tree Planting: Quick Facts
  • Reforestation Infographic
• Species at Risk Act: Recovery Strategies
• Key Biodiversity Areas Canada
• Canadian Protected and Conserved Areas Database (CPCAD)
• Habitat Joint Ventures
• Bird Conservation Regions and Strategies
• Pan-Canadian Approach to Transforming Species at Risk Conservation in Canada (for priority places, priority species)
• The Government of Canada Open Government portal
  • 2015 Anthropogenic disturbance footprint within boreal caribou ranges across Canada – as interpreted from 2015 Landsat satellite imagery
  • Critical Habitat for Species at Risk National Dataset – Canada
3. Agricultural Planting: Please indicate if your project will include planting on agricultural lands, where the land will remain as agricultural land following planting. Please note that if your project includes agricultural planting components, your proposal will be shared with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.
4. Public Land: Please indicate if your proposed project will involve planting trees on Crown land or public land. If you are planning to plant on Crown land or public land, please be prepared to upload documentation showing that you have met the requirements and have received approval from the relevant federal, provincial/territorial or municipal government(s).

Please note that if your project includes planting on Crown land and or public lands, components of your proposal will be shared with the relevant federal, provincial/territorial or municipal government(s).

5. Afforestation vs Reforestation:Please indicate if your project will include afforestation, reforestation, both or neither. Afforestation refers to the establishment of forests on lands that were previously non-forested, while reforestation refers to regeneration of forests after recent losses of forest cover, for example, due to wildfires or severe insect infestations.

3.03 Project Benefits

1. Impact of Financial Support: Describe how support from the 2 Billion Trees program will contribute to your project goals and your proposed activities. Describe how this funding will support your organization/community in increasing the likelihood that you will bring forward future projects under the program.
2. Benefits to Canada or Canadians: Describe the benefits to Canadians resulting from your project. This section should include social, environmental and other benefits that would accrue to Canadians broadly as a result of undertaking this project. This could include things like cleaner air and water, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, increased forest cover, etc.
3. Benefits to Your Local Community(ies) or Organization(s): Please outline the benefits (social, environmental, economic, other) to your community or organization, including any additional partners for this project. Describe how this project will help promote future tree planting. Please include benefits like “capacity development along the tree planting supply chain,” “braiding of Indigenous Knowledge with tree planting activities,” “creating space and learning opportunities for Indigenous youth,” skills training and capacity in green jobs, etc.

3.04 Project Planning

1. Climate-Resilient Seed Sourcing: Please indicate if your project will be using seed sources of known provenance. Please describe how your project will incorporate climate change considerations when selecting seed sources/species for your project.

   In general, tree planting supported by 2BT must use native tree species with seeds sourced locally or regionally as trees adapted to local conditions are more likely to survive, grow well, and provide the greatest ecological benefit. Choice of seed sources also needs to consider that trees planted in the next decade must be able to survive and grow in the climate that may exist over the next century. Urban tree planting requires some flexibility where deliberate planning around climate-resilience informs the choice of tree species.

2. Monitoring: Provide details on how the trees will be monitored for health and survival in future years, including after your project with the 2BT program has ended. Please explain the frequency of monitoring, the qualifications of the monitors, any audit protocols you will use (if not a provincial standard, consider attaching it as an additional file). Please save this file with the name “YEAR - CFP - Organization Name - Project Name - Monitoring”, where “Organization Name” represents the lead organization proposing the project and “YEAR” is the year the application was submitted. The completed form can then be uploaded at the end of the online application.
3. Long-Term Maintenance: Please explain how your organization or business will ensure long-term maintenance of planted trees, in accordance with the principles of sustainable forest management. Please provide information on your management plan in the case of substantial tree mortality after planting. This can, and should, extend beyond the end date of your project and the end date of the 2BT program (2031). 2BT is not obligated to support applications for future replants of failed sites.
4. Long-Term Plan for Trees and Sites: The 2BT program would like to gain a better understanding of the long-term benefits attached to your proposed project. As such, please elaborate on any expected use of the trees being planted, the amount of time that you anticipate the trees remaining undisturbed (outside of natural events such as fire, drought, pest infestations, etc.), and whether or not there are any plans related to the sites that would merit raising with the 2BT program as they relate to the other co-benefits to be achieved under the 2BT program (for example, biodiversity, human well-being, economic opportunities, etc.).
5. Current Project Status: Not applicable

4.0 Planting Sites

The program expects you to reasonably know sites in advance and how many trees, and which species, you plan to plant. While some project inputs may not be resolved (for example, specific sites may not be confirmed), you must be able to demonstrate these inputs are available in your application that you have a process to secure the appropriate land for planting. For some organizations, planting sites may be known many years in advance, which is also perfectly reasonable from the standpoint of the 2BT program.

Please provide site details for each contiguous planting area. If an exact planting location is not known, please use your best estimate of the region, nearest municipality or community to the site. You should be able to identify the majority of your planting sites by the time the agreement is signed with NRCan.

If you have a large number of sites, you may choose to enter this information using the planting sites upload template. The Excel sheet is available to download from this section of the online application or from the Support Page. Please save this form with the name “YEAR - GNT - Organization Name– Planting Sites”, where “Organization Name” represents the lead organization proposing the project and “YEAR” represents the year in which you applied (e.g. 2024). You will be asked to upload the completed form at the end of the online application.

4.01 Total Number of Sites

From the Excel sheet, enter the total number of sites that will be planted. If this number differs from the total number calculated in the Excel sheet, we will defer to the information in the Excel sheet.

4.02 Total Number of Trees to Be Planted

From the Excel sheet, enter the total number of trees that will be planted. If this number differs from the total number calculated in the Excel sheet, we will defer to the information in the Excel sheet.

4.03 Total Number of Hectares to Be Planted

From the Excel sheet, enter the total number of hectares that will be planted. If this number differs from the total number calculated in the Excel sheet, we will defer to the information in the Excel sheet.

4.04 Name of Planting Site

This could be an internal name or as simple as “Site 1.”

4.05 Province or Territory

A drop-down of choices is provided.

4.06 Location Type:

A drop-down list of choices is provided: urban, suburban, rural, remote, unknown.

4.07 Latitude

Please provide the latitude in decimal degrees for the location of this site using the approximate centre point of the site. To find the latitude and longitude, use Google Maps to find your site and right click on the centre point. You will then be able to click on the latitude and longitude and copy these into the application form. For sites in Canada, the latitude will be a positive number between 42 and 83 and the longitude should be a negative number between -53 and -141. If you have difficulty with this process, please contact the program for assistance.

4.08 Longitude

Please provide the longitude in decimal degrees for the location of this site using the approximate centre point of the site. To find the latitude and longitude, please refer to the instructions provided for question “4.07 – Latitude” above. If the site is not known, please use your best estimate of the longitude of the region within the province/territory.

4.09 Number of Trees to Be Planted

Estimated number of trees to be planted at this site over the course of the year.

4.10 Number of Hectares to Be Planted

Estimated number of hectares to be planted at this site over the course of the year.

4.11 Site Preparation

Describe the site preparation activities that you expect to undertake for the site. You can include a description of the site conditions of this location, including current cover and any soil information.

4.12 Size of Stock to Be Planted

A drop-down list of choices is provided: Cutting, Seedling, Potted, Large/Caliper, Urban Mix. If urban mix is selected, please include details of this mix when describing what species are being planted.

4.13 Species

Describe the tree species planned for planting at this site over the course of the year. Please indicate the percentages of each species type.

4.14 Cost Per Site

Approximate cost to plant at this site. The total cost of all sites should add up (roughly) to your total budget and include all expense categories.

4.15 Anticipated Lifespan of Trees

Please select how long the planted trees are expected to live at this site. A drop down of choices: 0 to 30 years, 31 to 59 years, 60 to 79 years, 80 years or longer, Permanent without legal protection, Permanent with legal protection, Unknown.

4.16 Start Date of Planting

Please enter the day, year and month.

4.17 End Date of Planting

Please enter the day, year and month. This date must be within the same calendar year as the start date. If you are planting at a site for multiple years you will need to create a new entry for each year.

5.0 Project Tasks

In the following section, please break down your project activities into high-level tasks that are expected to be completed as part of the project. Please limit the number of tasks to no more than 10. (Most project proposals have 4 to 6 tasks.)

For each task, please:

• Provide a short description of the task, including any contractors or subcontractors involved. Where there are non-arm’s-length arrangements, such as contracting work to a subsidiary or affiliated company, you must declare these arrangements and provide supplementary information to demonstrate that the value is competitive and appropriate for the work being performed. NRCan reserves the right to reject your application or to terminate any future agreement with the 2BT program resulting from this application for failure to fully disclose these arrangements. The description of each task should begin with “Under this Task, the Proponent will:”.
• Describe the overall outputs of your activities and work.
• Identify the risk(s) associated. Where multiple risks exist for a task, number each risk and use the same numbering when describing its impact and mitigation.
• Describe the potential impact of the risk if it occurs.
• Describe your mitigation strategy for: 1) reducing the likelihood of the risk occurring, and 2) minimizing its impact if it occurs.

Do not downplay or minimize risks. The goal is to assess your organization’s ability to identify, plan for and manage risks. Comprehensive descriptions of potential risks demonstrate that you can draw on experience and that the project has been given thorough consideration.

This information will be used to create the Grant Agreement between you and NRCan if your final proposal is approved.

5.01 Task

Provide a descriptive title for each task.

5.02 Start Date of Task

Provide your best estimate regarding the month/year when you expect to start each task.

5.03 End Date of Task

Provide your best estimate regarding the month/year when you expect to complete each task.

5.04 Description

Provide a short description of the work to be completed, including any collaborators involved. Please use the format as described above (“Under this Task, the Proponent will: Provide training to community members, including youth, on tree planting techniques, by consulting with experts and Elders”).

5.05 Outputs

Provide the overall outputs that you are hoping to achieve through the activities and work. Example: The community is educated on tree planting techniques using Indigenous knowledge. Youth are educated in traditional harvesting techniques.

5.06 Risk

Identify the risk(s) associated with the task. Where multiple risks exist for a task, number the risks and use the same numbering for the impact and mitigation columns pertaining to each risk.

5.07 Impact

Describe the potential outcome of the risk if it were to occur.

5.08 Mitigation

Describe how you will reduce the likelihood of a risk occurring and how you would minimize its impact if it did occur.

6.0 Experience and readiness

Please describe how your organization’s experience and readiness can lead to the success of your proposed capacity development project/initiative. This includes your internal controls, and your organization’s capacity and experience in managing similar capacity development projects. We recognize that this funding is meant to help your organization build capacity; however, understanding your previous experience will help us understand the context of what you are proposing.

6.01 Years of Tree Planting Experience

Not applicable to the Capacity Building Grant Application.

6.02 Scale of Tree Planting Experience

Not applicable to the Capacity Building Grant Application.

6.03 Readiness

Describe your organization’s experience and readiness to successfully implement your proposed tree planting project/initiative. This section should also include your organization’s general ability to manage projects, including project management and delivery experience, teams/contracted resources management, and reporting for activities that are proposed under this project.

6.04 Prior Work

Please describe any work that has been completed in preparation for this project (for example, work plan, or business case, available seedlings and identified land, feasibility studies).

6.05 Financial Management and Capacity

Not applicable to the Capacity Building Grant Application.

7.0 Project Budget

The project budget should include all costs directly related to the proposed project.

Eligible expenditures are those necessary to support the purpose of the funding and must be directly related to the implementation and conduct of a project. Eligible expenditures must fall under the categories provided below:

• salaries and benefits, and employee recruitment and training
• management, professional, technical, capacity building and research services
• community and landowner engagement and consultation
• translation, production, printing, publication and distribution, and media services
• contractors, such as for tree planting and silviculture
• materials and supplies, such as seeds and trees for planting
• transportation
• facilities
• machinery and equipment
• travel, including accommodations, and venue expenses
• honoraria and ceremonial costs where Indigenous recipients or Indigenous partners of recipients are involved
• overhead, provided the expenditures are directly related and essential to the conduct of the project, up to 15% of eligible expenditures

Please break out your NRCan funding request by the eligible expenditure categories. If an expenditure is not listed, it may not be eligible. Please check with the program.

Please include the amounts per eligible expenditure for each year that you are applying for funding. Costs entered must be directly related to the implementation and conduct of your project under the 2BT program.

The project budget will be assessed for its reasonableness in comparison to similar projects. Should the project be approved for funding, all project costs must be incurred within the time frame specified in the agreement.

Where there are non-arm’s-length arrangements, such as contracting work to a subsidiary or affiliated company, you must declare these arrangements and provide supplementary information to demonstrate that the value is competitive and appropriate for the work being performed. NRCan reserves the right to reject your application or to terminate any future agreement with the 2BT program resulting from this application for failure to fully disclose these arrangements.

Please use the Project Budget Upload Template for this section of the online application form. This Excel sheet is available to download from this section of the online application or from the Support Page.

• Please note that the Excel sheet includes a line item for Purchase or lease of land for nurseries to grow seedlings. However, this category is not an eligible expenditure category for Capacity Building Grants (please leave it blank).

Please save this form with the name “YEAR - GNT - Organization Name - Project Budget”, where “Organization Name” represents the lead organization proposing the project and “YEAR” is the year in which you are applying (e.g. 2024). You will be asked to upload the completed form at the end of the online application.

The project budget information will be directly inserted into the Grant Agreement if your final proposal is approved.

The Project Budget Upload Template has four sections:

• Section 1. Instructions: contains instructions and a project budget summary. This section shows you the values to enter into the online application form.
• Section 2. NRCan Request: asks about the funding you are seeking from NRCan.
• Section 3. Collaborators: asks you to list the organization(s) you are collaborating with and provide some information about them.
• Section 4. Contributions: asks for each collaborating organization’s cash and in-kind contributions to the project, as well as the cash and in-kind contributions from your organization.

Section 3 of the Excel template asks for the following information about each collaborator:

After you have completed the Project Budget Upload Template, you will be asked to provide the following, which can be found in Section 1 of the Excel template:

8.0 Project Budget Summary

This section will provide a summary of the Project Budget information that you provided.

9.0 Diversity and Inclusion

Building a sustainable, inclusive, and dynamic economy helps all Canadians to prosper. Recognizing that systemic barriers remain in achieving the full participation of underrepresented, disadvantaged, or equity-seeking groups (including, but not limited to, women, Indigenous Peoples, persons with disabilities, members of visible minority/racialized groups), the information collected in this section helps the Government of Canada to identify the potential impacts of its policies, programs and services on diverse groups of people.

The information that you provide in this section is protected under the Privacy Act and will not affect your proposal.

Future calls for proposals will require medium and large enterprises to have workplace diversity and inclusion plans and to follow them. Future calls for proposals may take workplace diversity and inclusion plans into account when rating proposals.

9.01 Does your organization have a workplace diversity and inclusion plan?

Please select either ‘yes’ or ‘no’.

9.02 Does your organization’s workplace diversity and inclusion plan target one or more of the following under-represented groups?

Check all that apply.

• Indigenous Peoples
• Persons with Disabilities
• Youth
• Members of an Official Language Minority Community
• Women
• Visible Minorities
• 2SLGBTQI+

10.0 Final Review

This section will allow applicants to review most of the information that was entered into the online application for a final review. Please note that for the Planting Sites and Project Tasks sections, not all information will be shown.

11.0 Certification and Attestation

To be considered, you must read and understand the certifications. It is incumbent on all applicants who are unsure about the certifications to seek professional advice before agreeing to them.

Your online application form will be submitted to the program after completing this step. The very last step allows you to add any necessary documents to your submitted form and completes your application.

11.01 Certifications

Please select either ‘yes’ or ‘no’ for each statement.

11.02 Consent to Share

Please indicate if you give your consent for NRCan to share the non-confidential portions of your project proposal with other levels of government (federal, provincial, territorial or municipal) in the event that there is an opportunity for your organization to seek other sources of funding for the proposed project.

11.03 Exceptions to Consent to Share

If you answered “Yes with exceptions” to Consent to Share, please explain any exceptions regarding your consent for the 2BT program to share the information in your application form.

12.0 File Upload

Please upload all relevant Excel templates as well as any additional documentation that would support your application, such as:

• letters from collaborators confirming their support and commitment to the project
• documentation showing that you have met the requirements and have received the necessary approvals, if you are planning to plant on Crown land or public land
• proof of consultations if your proposed project takes place within or adjacent to Indigenous lands or traditional territory, including lands governed by a modern treaty

13.0 Application Submitted

You will see a confirmation message indicating your application has been successfully submitted to the 2 Billion Trees program.

If you would like to withdraw your application after it has been submitted, please email: 2btrees-2garbres@NRCan-rncan.gc.ca.

Funding decisions will be sent via email. You can also monitor your application’s status using the Projects Page.

A successful proposal resulting in a cost-shared agreement between the applicant and the Government of Canada will require the applicant to submit reports at regular intervals, including:

• An annual and/or final narrative report describing how the project activities contributed to achieving the 2BT program objectives.

In addition to the reporting requirements detailed above, the 2BT program will require applicants to submit a Planting Activity Form for each unique site where seedlings/trees were planted as part of the project.

Reporting requirements may be modified at any time as required by the 2BT program.

This section of the guide describes how the use and distribution of information collected through this call for proposals will comply with both the Privacy Act and the Access to Information Act.

Pursuant to the Privacy Act, the 2BT program will keep confidential any personal information that it may collect, and will not disclose or transmit said information without your written consent.

Pursuant to the Access to Information Act, the 2BT program will protect from disclosure any information of a financial, commercial, scientific or technical nature that it collects from you, provided that you treat the said information as confidential in your own establishment. If you choose to send the information or other confidential information to the program by email, the program will respond by email. Similarly, if your correspondence is carried out through regular mail, the program’s response will be in like manner. However, in all cases, the program will use email correspondence for any non-confidential matters.

For any questions pertaining to this call for proposals process, please contact us by email at 2btrees-2garbres@NRCan-rncan.gc.ca.