Nature Smart Climate Solutions Fund

Organizations working on large-scale conservation and restoration projects often face a major hurdle: securing long-term funding that matches the scope and impact of nature-based climate work. The Nature Smart Climate Solutions Fund addresses this gap by supporting ambitious initiatives that use ecosystems themselves as a tool to fight climate change. Led by Environment and Climate Change Canada, this national program backs projects that protect, restore, and improve the management of forests, wetlands, peatlands, grasslands, and other carbon‑rich landscapes across Canada.

Designed primarily for non-profit and conservation-focused organizations, the fund supports multi-year projects with the potential to deliver meaningful greenhouse gas reductions while also strengthening biodiversity, water quality, and climate resilience. Funding support can reach into the tens of millions of dollars for large, high-impact initiatives, making it well suited to organizations tackling complex, landscape-scale challenges. Projects often combine on-the-ground restoration with improved land management practices, scientific measurement of climate outcomes, and collaboration with Indigenous communities and local partners.

Rather than short-term interventions, the Nature Smart Climate Solutions Fund is geared toward sustained results that contribute to Canada’s long-term climate and conservation goals. While application intakes are not always open, funding opportunities are released periodically as part of this long-term federal investment. For organizations considering future conservation or climate mitigation projects, understanding how this fund works could be a critical step toward turning environmental goals into fully funded action.