The Habitat Stewardship Program for Species at Risk (HSP), established in 2000, provides funding for Canadian projects that contribute directly to recovery objectives and population goals of species at risk. Environment and Climate Change Canada administers HSP funds for terrestrial stewardship projects, while Fisheries and Oceans Canada is responsible for aquatic species at risk.

Program Objectives:

• Support habitat projects that benefit species at risk
• Enable Canadians to become actively involved in stewardship projects for species at risk, resulting in tangible and measurable conservation benefits
• Improve scientific, sociological and economic understanding of the role of stewardship as a conservation tool

Eligible Species:

• Species listed on Schedule 1 of the Species at Risk Act (SARA), except those listed as extirpated
• Species designated by Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) as endangered, threatened, or special concern but not listed on Schedule 1 of SARA

Projects must demonstrate how they contribute directly to recovery objectives and population goals of target species. At least 80% of program funds must be allocated to projects targeting species listed on Schedule 1 of SARA.

Eligible Activities:

• Habitat protection and securement
• Habitat improvement
• Species and habitat threat abatement
• Conservation planning
• Surveys, inventories and monitoring
• Outreach and education
• Project evaluation

Priorities for 2026-2027:

Program reviews funding priorities annually to align with Government of Canada priorities. Regional priorities vary by area.

Atlantic Region Priority Species (Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, PEI, Newfoundland and Labrador):

• Piping Plover melodus subspecies: Actions to address threats and reduce the impact of human activities and disturbance in beach habitats.
• Roseate Tern: Actions to reduce predation, mitigate human disturbance and improve nesting success at breeding colonies.
• Bank Swallow: Actions to address threats and reduce the impact of human activities and disturbance in nesting and other habitats.
• At Risk Reptile species, e.g. Wood Turtle, Eastern Ribbonsnake: Actions to address threats to adult reptiles and reduce the impact of human activities and disturbance in multiple habitats.
• At Risk Limestone Barrens species, e.g. Fernald’s Braya: Actions to address threats and reduce the impact of human activities and disturbance.
• At Risk Atlantic Coastal Plain Flora species, e.g. Pink Coreopsis, Tall Beakrush: Actions to address threats and reduce the impact of human activities and disturbance.
• At Risk Lichen species, e.g. Boreal Felt Lichen, Atlantic population, Wrinkled Shingle Lichen: Actions to address threats and reduce the impact of human activities and disturbance on a landscape scale.

*Note: For Atlantic region, only projects targeting these priorities will be considered; all others will be screened out.