Conservation Exchange Pilot
Conservation in Canada
The Conservation Exchange Pilot supports business and conservation organizations as they undertake projects that help advance Canada’s conservation goals. Halting and reversing biodiversity loss by 2030 and achieving a full recovery for nature by 2050 is an ambitious goal, but one that the health, prosperity, and well-being of all Canadians depend on. Achieving this commitment will require innovation, and strong collaboration and engagement with partners across all sectors and all levels of government.
Federal, provincial, and territorial governments, Indigenous peoples, and other partners, including non-government organizations and industry organizations, have important roles to play in conserving and restoring nature, protecting biodiversity and species at risk, fighting climate change, and rebuilding a strong and sustainable economy.
Pilot overview
The Conservation Exchange Pilot, which will conclude on March 31, 2026, provides recognition to businesses for funding conservation projects in Canada. Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) is developing and testing an approach that assesses and provides recognition for the benefits of conservation projects funded by businesses and delivered by proven conservation organizations.
Businesses that fund conservation projects will receive a government-backed certificate to recognize the benefits of the conservation work they are funding, and ongoing and completed projects will be featured lower on this page. Businesses can use the certificate to demonstrate their positive environmental impact with stakeholders, including in their annual reporting. The following diagram provides an overview of the concept:
Long description
A circular graphic representation of the relationship between parties involved in a Conservation Exchange project:
At the top of the circle, the Government of Canada assesses and recognizes the benefits of a conservation project.
Arrow indicates that the Government of Canada issues a certificate to the business that funded the conservation project.
Arrow indicates money is given by a business to a proven conservation organization to implement the conservation project.
Arrow indicates that the project realizes positive benefits for nature in Canada.
The middle of the circle states the goal of the Conservation Exchange Pilot: more funding for better projects.
The pilot aims to establish a simple, effective, and voluntary way for businesses to invest in nature conservation and receive government-backed recognition for these investments. Over the course of the five-year pilot, ECCC is applying the approach to assess the benefits of up to eight conservation projects across the country.
The Conservation Exchange Pilot is encouraging businesses to invest in biodiversity conservation. The pilot is not an offsetting initiative.
Collaboration and research
ECCC is delivering the pilot in collaboration with industry associations, Indigenous leaders, conservation organizations, some provinces and territories, and conservation experts. Partners provide advice and input on the Conservation Exchange Pilot and the selection of conservation projects.
ECCC has incorporated expert advice on how Indigenous peoples can evaluate and recognize the benefits that Conservation Exchange Pilots’ projects have for them. ECCC is also exploring how the pilot can help stakeholders in the evolving world of sustainable finance learn about the biodiversity benefits of business-funded conservation projects.
Eligible organizations
Participation in the Conservation Exchange Pilot is voluntary. Any business can submit a project proposal to participate in consideration, ideally in collaboration with a conservation organization.
“Conservation organizations” are defined in the Conservation Exchange Pilot as organizations that identify biodiversity conservation as a key part of their mission and have a proven track record of successfully delivering biodiversity conservation projects. This can include provincial, territorial, and Indigenous government organizations.
Eligible activities
Any project that enhances biodiversity in Canada may be eligible to participate in the Conservation Exchange Pilot.
Application process
Interested parties may submit an application jointly, by a business and conservation organization, or individually, by a business that has yet to identify a conservation partner. During the pilot, ECCC will help to link businesses with conservation organizations.
To propose a project for the Conservation Exchange Pilot, contact the Conservation Exchange Pilot team to request an application form. Proposed projects will be assessed using criteria in the following categories:
- Indigenous engagement
- stakeholder engagement
- location
- expected conservation benefits
All applicants will receive a response that provides an overview of the assessment results. Next steps will be identified for any project being considered for the pilot.
Ongoing and completed projects
Amherst Point Salt Marsh Restoration
Province/Territory: Nova Scotia
Business funder(s): Irving Oil Ltd.
Conservation organization: Ducks Unlimited Canada
Project description:
The Amherst Point Salt Marsh restoration project will realign an existing agriculture dike to help the landscape transition from unnatural and highly modified habitats, to richer, historically-natural dynamic coastal wetlands.
Targeted project completion date: TBD
Biodiversity value (species at risk): TBD
Biodiversity value (functional groups): TBD
Date certificate granted: TBD
Biodiversity benefits assessment period: TBD
MacKenzie Creek Restoration
Province/Territory: Alberta
Business funder(s): Teck
Conservation organization: Trout Unlimited Canada
Project description:
This watershed-scale restoration project will address stream health degradation at high priority sites, improving and protecting spawning and rearing habitat for Bull Trout and Athabasca Rainbow Trout (endangered).
Targeted project completion date: TBD
Biodiversity value (species at risk): TBD
Biodiversity value (functional groups): TBD
Date certificate granted: TBD
Biodiversity benefits assessment period: TBD
Marginal Areas Program
Province/Territory: Manitoba and Saskatchewan
Business funder(s): Nutrien
Conservation organization: Ducks Unlimited Canada
Project description:
This project involves helping farmers realize biodiversity benefits, including enhanced pollination, by converting areas of marginal cropland to perennial cover.
Targeted project completion date: TBD
Biodiversity value (species at risk): TBD
Biodiversity value (functional groups): TBD
Date certificate granted: TBD
Biodiversity benefits assessment period: TBD
Upper St Mary Collaborative Stewardship Program
Province/Territory: Alberta
Business funder(s): TC Energy
Conservation organization: Trout Unlimited Canada
Project description:
This program will improve stream and riparian health in several high-priority creek systems in the southern Alberta foothills. The program involves stream rehabilitation to improve water quality and restore spawning and rearing habitat for threatened fishes including Bull Trout and Rocky Mountain Sculpin.
Targeted project completion date: TBD
Biodiversity value (species at risk): TBD
Biodiversity value (functional groups): TBD
Date certificate granted: TBD
Biodiversity benefits assessment period: TBD
Old Man on His Back Grassland Restoration for improved pollinator habitat and species at risk
Province/Territory: Saskatchewan
Business funder(s): Aviva plc
Conservation organization: Nature Conservancy of Canada
Project description:
This project aims to enhance native grassland habitat to improve pollinator habitat for birds and insects, benefiting several species at risk as part of a long-term restoration project. In addition, this project will use beneficial range management action to support bison grazing and invasive species management to reduce the spread of weeds and sustain rangeland services such as habitat for wildlife.
Targeted project completion date: TBD
Biodiversity value (species at risk): TBD
Biodiversity value (functional groups): TBD
Date certificate granted: TBD
Biodiversity benefits assessment period: TBD
Dune Restoration in the Dundurn Sandhills for species at risk
Province/Territory: Saskatchewan
Business funder(s): Aviva plc
Conservation Organization: Nature Conservancy of Canada
Project description:
This project involves conducting prescribed burns to restore native habitat for sand dune species. Sand dunes are a rare landform that provides valuable habitat to many species at risk, some of which are exclusively found in sand dune habitat.
Targeted project completion date: TBD
Biodiversity value (species at risk): TBD
Biodiversity value (functional groups): TBD
Date certificate granted: TBD
Biodiversity benefits assessment period: TBD
For more information
For more information on the pilot or the application process, please contact the Conservation Exchange Pilot team.
News
Government of Canada launches pilot to support innovative funding opportunities for conservation
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