Applications now open for community projects that protect and restore local natural habitats and greenspaces
The Ontario government is making almost $3 million available to community groups and other non-profit organizations for innovative projects to build cleaner, healthier communities such as shoreline cleanups, habitat restoration and tree planting. As part of the government’s plan to protect Ontario, the Ontario Community Environment Fund (OCEF) uses penalties paid by polluters to fund projects that protect Ontario’s land, air, and water – supporting healthy communities and strong local economies.
“We are giving local groups the resources they need to make their communities cleaner and safer places to live, work and raise their families by restoring the natural beauty of these regions for everyone to enjoy,” said Todd McCarthy, Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks. “The OCEF program is just one of the ways our government is empowering communities to protect and restore our natural heritage for generations to come.”
Applications are now open and must be submitted online by 5 p.m. (EDT) on September 24, 2025. Since 2010, the Ontario Community Environment Fund has invested more than $3.8 million from environmental penalties into 108 projects that have led to planting over 450,000 trees, shrubs and plants, restoring 52 km of shoreline and collecting 1,350 bags of litter.
Recent projects include:
- Brant County – Parks Enhancement (Paris): Brant County is planting 5,000 native trees and shrubs, protecting unique Carolinian forest ecosystems by removing invasive species, and enhancing eight kilometres of park trails near historic downtown Paris.
- Manitoulin Streams – Creek Restoration and Garbage Cleanup (Manitoulin Island): The Manitoulin Streams Improvement Association led an island-wide garbage cleanup to reduce plastic waste in local watersheds, planted 700 native trees and shrubs to restore riparian zones, enhanced a cold-water stream habitat, and installed 445 metres of fencing to keep livestock out of Grimesthorpe Creek.
- Scouts Canada – Oak Savanna Restoration (Lambton Shores): Scouts Canada removed invasive pine trees and planted native trees to protect a globally rare and environmentally significant Oak Savanna ecosystem, of which only 3 per cent remains in Ontario.
Quick Facts
- Eligible projects must demonstrate a direct environmental benefit and be located in a region where funding is available. Indigenous communities and organizations, not-for-profits, academic institutions, and municipalities are encouraged to apply.
- Applications will be evaluated through a competitive process. Successful applicants will be notified directly in early 2026.
- In 2025, over $1,602,000 of funding is available in Southwestern Ontario, over $721,000 in West Central Ontario, and over $585,000 in Northern Ontario.
- Under the Environmental Protection Act, the person or company who spills a pollutant into the environment, is legally responsible for the cleanup of the spill.
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
