Land Trusts Conservation Fund (LTCF)

In 2019, the Canadian federal government approved of a $1.4 B Nature Fund to meet their goals of:

  • Protecting at least 17% of terrestrial areas and inland water by 2020.
  • Enhancing the integrity and connectivity of Canada’s protected and conserved areas network.
  • Establishing new Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas (IPCAs) to support Indigenous engagement in conservation.

As part of its Nature Legacy Initiative, the Government of Canada is investing $100 million over four years in the Natural Heritage Conservation Program (NHCP), from April 1, 2019, to March 31, 2023.

The NHCP is a public-private partnership designed to advance privately protected areas in some of the country’s most cherished landscapes. More specifically, the NHCP aims to achieve the following objectives:

  • to contribute to the achievement of the terrestrial and inland water elements of Target 1 of Canada’s 2020 Biodiversity Goals and Targets;
  • to contribute to the protection of habitat for the recovery of Species at Risk Act (SARA) listed species at risk and the prevention of other species from becoming listed under SARA.

The Nature Conservancy of Canada, Ducks Unlimited Canada, Wildlife Habitat Canada and community and regional land trusts represented by the Canadian Land Trusts Working Group are working together under the NHCP to support these goals, with a commitment to protect an additional 200,000 hectares (494,210 acres) of habitat for species at risk.

Under the program, $20M has been allocated to the Land Trusts Conservation Fund (LTCF) over 4 years (2019-2023) to support Canada’s community and regional land trusts in securing private lands and private interest in lands. Wildlife Habitat Canada is providing grant administration services for the LTCF.

Under the Land Trusts Conservation Fund, OLTA, RMN and LTABC are working collectively to provide capacity building services to support the land trust community.

For up-to-date information regarding the Land Trusts Conservation Fund program, please visit the WHC website.