🍁💵 Ontario Investing More Than $235,000 in Research to Protect Natural Resources

Friday, 30 January 2026 12:00.PM

Provincial funding will support innovative science and research projects that will help protect wildlife, fisheries and natural resources

The Ontario government is investing over $235,000 through Collaborative Research Agreements to support seven innovative research projects across the province that will help protect wildlife, improve fisheries management and strengthen the forestry sector, as part of the government’s plan to protect Ontario’s natural resources and communities.

These new projects bring the government’s total investment in active Collaborative Research Agreement projects to more than $3 million as Ontario continues to take action to protect the lands, waters and wildlife families and industries depend on.

“Through this investment, we are strengthening our plan to protect Ontario’s forests, waterways and wildlife,” said Mike Harris, Minister of Natural Resources. “These research projects will help us ensure that future generations will be able to enjoy the natural resources that make our province so special, while supporting good-paying jobs and building resilient communities across Ontario.”

Funding will be provided over the next two to four years to the following universities:
• Trent University: $122,000 for three research projects involving the development of a new aquatic stress index, a study on wildland fire impacts on boreal lake fish communities and genetic analysis of Lake Superior brook trout populations.
• University of Windsor: $50,000 for a research project to support sustainable fisheries and ecosystems in response to environmental stressors such as aquatic invasive species and changing climates.
• Laurentian University: $36,000 for a project to study small mammals in Algonquin Provincial Park and explore the impact of coronaviruses on wildlife population health.
• Lakehead University: $15,000 for a project to research black spruce biodiversity and inform sustainable forestry management practices in support of Ontario’s Forest Sector Strategy.
• University of Ottawa: $15,000 for a project to further develop advanced modelling to help assess future climate and disturbance impacts on boreal forests, supporting Ontario’s sustainable forestry and biodiversity strategies.

“Ontario is proudly home to a bright sector of researchers whose discoveries are building stronger, healthier communities and environments,” said Nolan Quinn, Minister of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security. “Through this investment, our government is ensuring that our world-class universities continue to lead ground-breaking natural resource research that protects Ontario.”

These seven new projects build upon the 20 active collaborative research initiatives underway at universities across Ontario. With continued investments in science, habitat protection and collaborative research, the government is taking action to safeguard Ontario’s forests, waters and wildlife for future generations.

"Protecting Ontario’s biodiversity and natural resources means working together to support science-based solutions. Partnering with researchers across the province allows us to strengthen our understanding of ecosystems and take practical steps to protect land, water and wildlife so that Ontario’s natural environment remains healthy for generations to come."
- Todd McCarthy, Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks

Quick Facts
• Ontario is home to a wide range of ecosystems and more than 30,000 known species of plants and animals, spanning over 1 million square kilometres.
• Home to 250,000 lakes containing one fifth of the world’s fresh water, the province supports North America’s largest freshwater commercial fishery, generating over $230 million annually and employing about 1,000 people.
• Since 2018, the Ontario government has invested over $2 billion into the research sector, including support for over 1,859 research projects that drive ground-breaking discoveries and create jobs across key sectors, such as life sciences, agriculture, auto manufacturing and information technology.
• Biodiversity supports essential ecosystem services that sustain life, health and economic activity across the province, with southern Ontario’s landcover providing an estimated $50.2 billion in annual value as of 2013.
• Invasive species and habitat loss are the two biggest threats to Ontario’s ecosystems and biodiversity.

SOURCE: Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources

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