The North American Wetlands Conservation Act
The North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA) is a U.S. Act passed by Congress in
1989 to aid in the conservation of wetland ecosystems continentally, and to provide a mechanism to support North American Waterfowl Management
Plan (NAWMP) objectives for waterfowl as well as for other wetland-related migratory species.
Funds generated under the Act must be used for wetlands conservation projects – essentially the securement, restoration, enhancement and/or
management of wetland ecosystems. Act funds can not be used for research, policy or communications activities. The Act specifies that partnerships
are a necessary and valuable mechanism for wetland conservation, and proposals submitted for funding under the Act must include a substantial
partnership component.
For more information on NAWCA, visit the Division of Bird Habitat Conservation, USFWS website at http://birdhabitat.fws.gov/NAWCA/act.htm
and http://birdhabitat.fws.gov/NAWCA/grants.htm.
Canada and NAWCA
Funds generated under the Act are made available to Canada, the U.S. and Mexico. Each country has its own process and system for developing and
submitting proposals.
In order to ensure that the needs of both Canada and the U.S. are met, a Canadian Solicitation Package was developed jointly. The Package sets out
both the required format and content for Canadian proposals, and includes supporting information. Copies are available from the North American
Wetlands Conservation Council (Canada) (NAWCC) Secretariat.
U.S. Federal NAWCA funding coming to Canada must be matched at least at a one to one ratio with U.S. non-federal dollars. These may come from
state, NGO, private or other sources. Canadians who wish to participate in the program must coordinate their fundraising activities through the
NAWMP Coordinator – International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies. (For more information, contact the NAWCC Secretariat.) In addition, Canadian proposals must include at least a
25% Canadian funding component, although a higher ratio is preferred.
In Canada, NAWCA proposals support a broad scale wetland conservation program. National, Joint Venture and provincial bodies each play a role in
the proposal process. National program priorities are set by the NABCI Canada Council based on recommendations by the NAWCC, a standing
committee of Council. Currently, core funding has been designated for implementing NAWMP; additional funds may be directed to other
wetland-based priorities. Canadian Habitat Joint Venture Boards, while having representation on Council and providing input to Council decisions,
also interpret those decisions and translate them into regionally-appropriate policies and program direction. They provide direction to the provinces
within their Joint Ventures. The provinces translate policies and program direction into on-the-ground activities. They develop 15-year and 5-year
plans that set out measurable goals for wetland securement, enhancement and management, and determine the activities that will best help them reach
these goals.
Proposals are developed at the provincial level. Proposals may be written by provincial government or partner staff, but in any case are written in
consultation with partners and delivery agencies. Partners can jointly determine what activities are of highest priority, will contribute most effectively
to provincial and Joint Venture goals, and will be practical to achieve given financial limitations. In this way, conservation efforts are based on
pre-established priorities and contribute to a comprehensive program.
Proposals must be submitted through the Canadian structure established to ensure comprehensive review. Once proposals have been written, they
are reviewed by provincial-level technical or steering committees. Provincial reviews encompass both technical and policy aspects, and in particular
they ensure the sound biological foundation of the proposal. The next level of review is the Joint Venture Boards. They provide a second level of
technical review and ensure proposals support the strategic direction developed within the Joint Venture.
Once Joint Venture Boards recommend proposals go forward, they go to the NAWCC Secretariat for a primarily technical and administrative review
to ensure that they follow the requirements set out in the Canadian Solicitation package. The Secretariat is responsible for presenting a slate of
proposals to the NABCI Canada Council for approval.
After Canadian review, the proposals are reviewed by Staff of the U.S. North American Wetlands Conservation Council, and then by the U.S. Council.
If they recommend projects go forward, they are considered for funding by the Migratory Bird Conservation Commission, a committee of the U.S.
Congress. Once projects are approved for funding, grant agreements are developed and funds can be accessed. As projects are implemented,
proposal grantees and funding partners must provide reports both to the U.S. and to Canada.
For Summaries of Approved Canadian Projects:
2006-1 NAWCA Proposals
2006-3 NAWCA Proposals
2007-1 NAWCA Proposals
2007-3 NAWCA Proposals
2008-1 NAWCA Proposals
2008-3 NAWCA Proposals
For Further Information
For further information on the NAWCA proposal process in Canada, please contact:
Secretariat NAWCC(Canada)
16th Floor, Place Vincent Massey
351 St. Joseph Boulevard
Gatineau, Quebec
K1A 0H3
Tel: (819) 934-6036
Fax: (819) 934-6017
Email: NABCI@ec.gc.ca
If you are interested in developing a proposal or becoming a partner, please contact the following:
In British Columbia, Yukon:
Coordinator, Pacific Coast Joint Venture and Canadian Intermountain Joint Venture
Canadian Wildlife Service, Environment Canada
200-401 Burrard St.
Vancouver, British Columbia
V6C 3S4
Tel: (604) 666-2241
Fax: (604) 664-4068
Email: laura.maclean@ec.gc.ca
In Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Northwest Territories, Nunavut:
Coordinator, Prairie Habitat Joint Venture
Canadian Wildlife Service, Environment Canada
4999 98th Avenue, 2nd Floor
Edmonton, Alberta
T6B 2X3
Tel: (780) 951-8652
Fax: (780) 495-2615
Email: deanna.dixon@ec.gc.ca
In Ontario, Québec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland:
Coordinator, Eastern Habitat Joint Venture
Canadian Wildlife Service, Environment Canada
17 Waterfowl Lane, P.O. Box 6227
Sackville, New Brunswick
E4L 1G6
Tel: (506) 364-5085
Fax: (506) 364-5062
Email: patricia.edwards@ec.gc.ca
