Environment Program
The Metcalf Environment Program seeks to strengthen and enhance the effectiveness of people and organizations working together to ensure the ecological health and integrity of Southern Ontario’s natural and working lands.
We believe the health of our natural and working lands is critical to the health of our communities and peoples. Whether first growth forest, family farm or working woodlot, these lands sustain essential ecological, aesthetic, economic and spiritual values that are essential to both human and natural communities. However, the Southern Ontario region is subject to increasing pressure from development including sprawl, transportation corridors, natural resource extraction and industrial production. As these pressures continue to escalate and spread, the health of our farms, fields and forests is increasingly threatened.
People and organizations in Southern Ontario are tackling head-on the tough issues surrounding human use of ecosystems and landscapes. They are generating and promoting creative policies and practices that contribute to sustainable land-use patterns. They are helping communities to think long-term and have a strong voice in decision-making. They are assisting diverse interests to find common ground. When this process is effective, conservation works not only to preserve land but also to nurture community.
Our goal is to enable these individuals and organizations to cultivate long-term solutions that benefit both land and people. We want to help them to bring greater clarity to the issues, work collectively, think broadly in pursuit of comprehensive approaches and empower communities to take a meaningful role in decisions that affect their lives.
The Environment Program will support the Foundation’s three core themes – dynamic leadership, integrated thinking, new ideas and practice (How We Work) – through two program components:
Healthy Lands Guidelines >
Leaders in the Field Internship Guidelines >
We expect the Program to evolve as we learn from both our experiences with projects on the ground and from our exploration of emerging issues. As such, we will maintain flexibility in our programs in order to respond to issues and opportunities that arise over time.
The Environment Program did not operate our Field Fellowships program in 2009 while we investigated alternate ways to support senior leaders in the field. In early 2010, the Foundation announced the launch of the new Metcalf Renewal Program that will help to make opportunities for professional renewal accessible to talented individuals with a record of achievement. See the Leadership section for more information.
Application Deadlines >
Advisory Committees >
Grants Awarded >
FAQs >
Downloads >