With support from Ontario’s Ministry of Natural Resources, the Invasive Phragmites Control Fund is seeking proposals for grants to support groups or organizations to implement Phragmites prevention and control activities in Ontario.
The purpose of the Invasive Phragmites Control Fund is to support local on-the-ground action on Phragmites and amplify and expand control activities into a provincial scale, coordinated Phragmites program.
The Fund will support Phragmites projects that range from $2,500 to $25,000, with exceptional (e.g. multi-partner, landscape scale collaborations) projects up to $50,000.
The Invasive Phragmites Control Fund is coordinated by the Invasive Species Centre, in collaboration with the Green Shovels Collaborative, a coalition of conservation organizations including the Nature Conservancy of Canada, Ducks Unlimited Canada, Federation of Ontario Cottagers’ Associations, Ontario Invasive Plant Council, Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters and the Invasive Species Centre.
See past Invasive Phragmites Control Fund recipients here.
Overview
Key details and deadlines
Applications must be submitted electronically using the Good Grants portal by 11:59pm, Thursday, May 30, 2024. Incomplete submissions, or submissions received after the deadline will not be accepted.
All project spending must be complete by Monday February 3, 2025.
For any additional questions please contact Kendra Jolley at kjolley@invasivespeciescentre.ca
About the Program
Program Objectives
The Invasive Phragmites Control Fund will support collaborative action in Ontario to:
- Map and develop integrated collaborative plans to prevent and control invasive Phragmites at scale (e.g., watersheds, municipalities, regions etc.) and consider post-management restoration to prevent re-establishment, and/or
- Amplify and expand Phragmites control implementation, and/or
- Address the leading edge and rapid spread of Phragmites, and/or
- Increase collaboration and coordination, volunteer, and landowner participation & capacity
Funding Priorities
Funding for multiple categories may be requested in one application.
- Phragmites Mapping, Monitoring and Planning (e.g. mapping surveys, developing integrated plans for prevention, control and considering post-management restoration to prevent re-establishment, employing a regional approach to planning, consulting fees, budgets, partner engagement, landowner engagement, equipment etc.)
- Phragmites Control Implementation (e.g. follow integrated pest management approach, prevention, spading, physical and mechanical removal, chemical removal, prescribed burns, cutting, rolling, biocontrol, equipment)
- Phragmites Innovation (e.g. advancing the use of innovative prevention and control techniques available for use in Ontario
Funding Priority Areas
One of the goals of the Invasive Phragmites Control Fund is to support coordinated, province-wide actions to advance landscape-level management and protect Ontario’s natural environment, economy and society from its negative impacts.
Learn more about priority areas in the Applicant Guidelines PDF below.
Eligible Applicants
The Fund will support:
- Indigenous governments, communities or organizations
- Municipalities and Conservation Authorities
- Groups or organizations in Ontario including
- Community Collaboratives
- Non- profit and charitable organizations
The Fund is unable to support:
- Projects proposed by private individuals are not eligible for funding at this time
- Provincial or federal government agencies
- Projects outside Ontario
Applicants working on multiple projects may submit a maximum of two applications, with only one application at the maximum funding request level.
Fiscal Year 2025 Timeline
Phase | Start | End |
Request for Proposals | April 30, 2024 | May 30 |
Successful recipients notified (target date) | June | |
Agreements | June- July | |
All funds used by | February 3, 2025 | |
Final Reporting | February 3, 2025 | |
With support from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, the 2024 –2025 Invasive Phragmites Control Fund strives to support approximately 20 – 50 projects.
The Fund will support Phragmites projects that range from $2,500 to $25,000, with exceptional (e.g., multi-partner, landscape scale collaborations) projects up to $50,000. Award recipients will agree to:
- Consider an integrated approach to Phragmites management
- Review the new online Phragmites Management training modules- see https://www.greenshovels.ca/solutions-for-invasive-phragmites/
- Use Phragmites best management practices. Projects using one of the following methods will score higher in the review process:
- Phragmites BMP and Technical Bulletin: https://www.ontarioinvasiveplants.ca/invasive-plants/species/phragmites/
- Phragmites Guidebook: https://www.greenshovels.ca/solutions-for-invasive-phragmites/
- Great Lakes Commission Phragmites Adaptive Management Collaborative: https://www.greatlakesphragmites.net/pamf/
- Be responsible for understanding and obtaining any permits or approvals required, and assume any liabilities associated with their project. Please be mindful that some Phragmites management activities require permits (i.e., species at risk permits) and special permissions which may add to project times
- Carry out the project as proposed
- Provide project updates, stories, and photos to be used by the Invasive Species Centre to communicate project outcomes and raise awareness about Phragmites in Ontario
- Acknowledge funding in all materials
- Report on specific key performance indicators used to communicate project outcomes to grant funders
- Provide invoices and reports by the reporting deadlines
Virtual Information Session
Applicant guide
Please refer to the Applicant Guide before applying to the Fund. It provides additional details about completing the application form. Access the Fiscal Year 2025 guide here.
Applying for the Fund
The online application portal is now closed. Thank you to all those who applied. Stay tuned for more information!
Contact Information
For any additional questions please contact Kendra Jolley at kjolley@invasivespeciescentre.ca