Newfoundland and Labrador Murre Conservation Fund
Project Eligibility Application Form
Murre hunting is a traditional activity and a part of the cultural heritage of Newfoundland and Labrador.
However, after Newfoundland joined Canada in 1949, there were issues related to the legality of the harvest
under Canadian law and the harvest continued but in an unregulated manner. During the 1970’s and the 1980’s, it
became apparent to resource users and the Environment Canada’s Canadian Wildlife Service that the Murre
harvest was unsustainable and efforts to regulate the harvest commenced in the early 1990’s under special
authorities of the Migratory Bird Convention Act. It was not until the Parksville Protocol of 1997 when the
Migratory Bird Convention Act was amended with the United States that the Murre hunt in Newfoundland was
regulated for conservation purposes as with other migratory game birds in Canada.
The regulations permit only hunters from Newfoundland and Labrador to harvest Murres in Canada and only
within the provincial boundaries. In the 2001 hunting season, Murre hunters, like all other Migratory Game Bird
hunters, were required to purchase a Migratory Game Bird Hunting Permit. The permit, which includes the
Habitat Conservation Stamp, is a direct way for all hunters to contribute funds to assist towards conserving
populations of migratory game birds, including Murres. Wildlife Habitat Canada is the organization, under an
agreement with Environment Canada, which receives the funds from the Habitat Conservation Stamp purchases.
It was agreed that that the Habitat Conservation Stamp funds from murre hunters would be used by Wildlife
Habitat Canada to support murre conservation activities within Newfoundland and Labrador. To dispense these
funds, the Murre Conservation Fund was created and is currently managed by Wildlife Habitat Canada and Bird
Studies Canada (Newfoundland) in consultation with the Canadian Wildlife Service and the Wildlife Division of
the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador. All of the above organizations are involved in the assessment of
project proposals received and in forwarding recommendations to the Wildlife Habitat Canada Board for
decisions. Grants for approved projects are administrated through Bird Studies Canada(Newfoundland).
The Murre Conservation Fund encourages the conservation of Murres as functioning components of ecosystems,
and recognizes their contribution toward the biological diversity of native species and habitats in Newfoundland
and Labrador. The priorities of the Murre Conservation Fund are to fund projects that support conservation and
management of Murre populations and their habitat, and to provide funding for projects that introduce the people
of Newfoundland and Labrador to the conservation, management and the sustainable harvest of Murres. This
may include assessments of Murre breeding populations, productivity, survival, harvests and other mortality
factors, as well as projects that focus on long term conservation of high quality habitat, particularly that which is
vulnerable.
Priorities and Guidelines of the Murre Conservation Fund
Purpose:
In recognition of the fact that the purchase of the Canadian Wildlife Habitat Conservation Stamp by Murre
hunters is the primary source of funding for the Murre Conservation Fund contribution program, within its
available budget, the Murre Conservation Fund will primarily support projects involving the participation of
multiple partners that:

Assess Murre breeding populations, productivity, survival, harvests and other mortality factors.

Facilitate Murre Hunting Stewardship and Wildlife Conservation to ensure that the Murre
or
populations are sustained.
or
 Support Murre habitat conservation activities and events.
Wildlife Habitat Canada Murre Conservation Fund Grant Funding Application Form for 2011/2012
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While the Murre Conservation Fund recognizes the importance of projects involving non-waterfowl species,
species at risk, and fish habitat conservation, restoration and enhancement, these types of projects are not eligible
for Murre Conservation Fund grant funding consideration.
Other considerations that will be taken into account by the Murre Conservation Fund’s Steering Committee
when reviewing grant funding applications include:
o
o
o
o
Whether projects clearly demonstrate relevance to the Murre populations in Newfoundland and Labrador
over a broad range of time;
Based on projects involving the support of multiple partners, the Newfoundland and Labrador Murre
Conservation Fund can only contribute up to a maximum of 50% of the total project cost;
Assurance that no single project will exceed 20% of the total available Newfoundland and Labrador
Murre Conservation grant funding in a given year; and
Assurance that projects should be substantially complete by the end of the fiscal year in which they are
approved (e.g. Newfoundland and Labrador Murre Conservation Fund cannot commit grant funding
support to multi-year projects).
Who Can Apply
Individuals, private, public and non-profit organizations, Joint venture and co-operative projects that involve
private organizations, groups, individuals, educational institutions and other government agencies.
Application Process for Review, Evaluation and Approval
Process for Submitting an Application:
1. Applicants seeking funds from the Newfoundland and Labrador Murre Conservation Fund shall submit
their request by email on a formal application form;
2. Outline the goals and objectives you would like to achieve with the proposed project; and
3. Identify the degree of importance and feasibility of the project as it relates to the guiding principles established
for the Newfoundland and Labrador Murre Conservation Fund.
Prioritizing Criteria:
1. Well defined goals, and SMART objectives (Specific Measurable Achievable Realistic and Time-bound);
2. Demonstrate a collaborative, coordinated partnership approach;
3. Projects based in Newfoundland and Labrador will receive priority over projects located beyond
Newfoundland and Labrador’s borders;
4. Demonstrate commitment to increasing the awareness of responsible hunting and its relationship to wildlife
conservation to ensure that murre populations are sustained;
5. Dedicated to sustaining hunting stewardship (hunting laws and regulations; hunter responsibilities;
identification, biology, management of and hunting techniques and the hunter's role in wildlife
conservation) for future generations;
6. The nature and the background of the applicant(s); and
7. The degree of importance and sustainability of the project as it relates to the guiding principles established for
the Newfoundland and Labrador Murre Conservation Fund.
Process for Approval:
1. Applications are approved each year on January 31.
2. The Newfoundland and Labrador Murre Conservation Fund Steering Committee reviews the applications and
recommendations are provided to the Wildlife Habitat Canada Board of Directors for approval.
3. Approval letters are forwarded to the successful applicants along with the “Grant Acceptance Agreement.”
Applicants must agree to the terms and conditions for funding, sign the Agreement and return to Wildlife
Habitat Canada.
Wildlife Habitat Canada Murre Conservation Fund Grant Funding Application Form for 2011/2012
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(FOR WHC USE ONLY)
Grant Number:
Province:
Date Received:
Funding Requested:
Total Budget:
Newfoundland and Labrador Murre Conservation Fund
GRANT FUNDING APPLICATION FORM FOR 2011/2012
for the following types of projects:



Facilitation of Hunting Heritage and Wildlife Conservation
Murre Monitoring, Surveys and Inventory Work
Support Murre habitat conservation activities and events
The electronic version (in Microsoft Word) of this completed Newfoundland and Labrador Murre Conservation Fund
Application Form should be submitted to Bird Studies Canada c/o Bruce Turner, bturner@nl.rogers.com by
November 30, 2010.
Please note that the complete submission should be no more than 8 pages in length.
1.0
APPLICANT INFORMATION
Organization Name [recipient of grant cheque]:
Applicant Name:
Title:
Address:
Telephone Number:
Email Address:
2.0
PROJECT INFORMATION
2.1 Project Title:
Wildlife Habitat Canada Murre Conservation Fund Grant Funding Application Form for 2011/2012
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2.2 Project Description:
a) Purpose (e.g. How does the project contribute to the Facilitation of Hunting Heritage and Wildlife
Conservation and/or Murre Monitoring, Survey and Inventory Work and/or Support Murre habitat conservation
activities and events?)
b) Goals and Objectives
c) Activities and Timelines (Please specify: the activities to be carried out towards achieving the goals and
objectives; when the activities will be undertaken; and if this is a one-year or multi-year project)
d) Partners and Their Roles (Please specify each partner and the partner’s involvement in the project)
Project Partner
Partner’s Role(s)/Activity(ies) in the Project
e) Description of Location (Please specify the municipality/county, landscape type and size (in hectares) where
the project will be carried out)
f) Specific Products/Results to be Supported by Newfoundland and Labrador Murre Conservation Fund‘s
Contribution (e.g. Numbers and hectares of habitat conserved/restored/enhanced/acquired/secured; numbers of
landowners engaged, etc.)
g) What are the benefits to Murres, associated species, and other wildlife?
(e.g. Numbers and types of Murres, associated species, and other wildlife that will benefit from the project)
Wildlife Habitat Canada Murre Conservation Fund Grant Funding Application Form for 2011/2012
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h) Relevance to Planning, Decision Making and/or Management
(e.g. What are the project’s direct and indirect influences on habitat conservation, land and water planning,
habitat management and use, etc.? What groups, agencies, individuals, governments, industries, etc. will benefit
from the project and how?)
i) Communications (e.g. To whom, how, and when will the project achievements and benefits be
communicated? How and when will the partners’ contributions to the project be acknowledged?)
3.0
FINANCIAL SUMMARY
Project Budget for 2011/2012
Supporting Partners
(all potential sources of
contributions to the
project, including
the Newfoundland and
Labrador Murre
Conservation Fund,
must be individually
identified)
Project Activity(ies)
and/or Expenditure
Item(s) Supported
Anticipated
Cash
Contributions
($)
Confirmed
Cash
Contributions1
($)
In-Kind or
Voluntary
Contributions
($)
Newfoundland and Labrador
Murre Conservation Fund
N/A
SUB-TOTALS
TOTAL PROJECT BUDGET
1
Please note that all confirmed cash contributions to the project must be documented in a letter signed by the
supporting partner and accompany the submission of this Grant Funding Application Form.
4.0
MAP (Please include a map of the project location)
Wildlife Habitat Canada Murre Conservation Fund Grant Funding Application Form for 2011/2012
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