With support from Ontario’s Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR), the Invasive Phragmites Control Fund is seeking proposals for grants to support groups or organizations to implement Phragmites prevention and control activities in Ontario.
The purpose of the Invasive Phragmites Control Fund is to support local on-the-ground action on Phragmites and amplify and expand control activities into a provincial scale, coordinated Phragmites program.
The Fund will support Phragmites projects that range from $2,500 to $25,000, with exceptional (e.g. multi-partner, landscape-scale collaborations) projects up to $50,000.
The Invasive Phragmites Control Fund is coordinated by the Invasive Species Centre, through the Ontario Phragmites Action (OPA) program. OPA is an exciting new effort to enhance a coordinated response to invasive Phragmites across Ontario. The program has been made possible thanks to an important new investment from Ontario’s Ministry of Natural Resources and is implemented by the Invasive Species Centre, Nature Conservancy of Canada and other key partners.
Creating a collaborative approach
The OPA program seeks to build a more collaborative approach to addressing invasive Phragmites across Ontario. We aim to bring the momentum and lessons learned from Ontario’s Phragmites leaders to other parts of the province to advance our regional and provincial approach to Canada’s “worst” invasive plant.
To do this OPA continues to support the development of multi-partner groups we refer to as Phragmites Management Area Working Groups (PMAWG). These are collaborative tables that involve municipalities, Indigenous communities, conservation authorities, not-for-profit groups and many others who have an interest and role in reducing the impacts of invasive Phragmites in their communities. OPA aims to continue to grow the number of PMAWGs over time and continues to support these groups with access to key resources to grow their collaborative action on Phragmites. OPA also recognizes that it will take time to grow collaborative action through the establishment of new PMAWGs in many parts of the province and wishes to continue to support existing Phragmites champions through the Invasive Phragmites Control Fund.
IPCF applicants who are interested in joining a PMAWG in their area, or perhaps starting a PMAWG in their community, are asked to contract an OPA Regional Coordinator for more information.
OPA Regional Coordinators;
OPA Region | Coordinator | Contact Info |
Central | Terry Rees | |
Northern | Derissa Vincentini | |
Eastern | Matt Bolding | |
Southern | Kyle Borrowman |
See past Invasive Phragmites Control Fund recipients here.
About the Fund
Invasive Phragmites Control Fund Objectives
The Invasive Phragmites Control Fund will support collaborative action in Ontario to:
- Map and develop integrated collaborative plans to prevent and control invasive Phragmites at scale (e.g., watersheds, municipalities, regions etc.) and consider post-management restoration to prevent re-establishment, and/or
- Amplify and expand Phragmites control implementation, and/or
- Address the leading edge and rapid spread of Phragmites, and/or
- Increase collaboration and coordination, volunteer, and landowner participation & capacity
Funding Priority Activities
Funding for multiple categories may be requested in one application.
- Phragmites Mapping, Monitoring and Planning (e.g. mapping surveys, developing integrated plans for prevention, control and considering post-management restoration to prevent re-establishment, employing a regional approach to planning, consulting fees, budgets, partner engagement, landowner engagement, equipment etc.)
- Phragmites Control Implementation (e.g. follow integrated pest management approach, prevention, spading, physical and mechanical removal, chemical removal, prescribed burns, cutting, rolling, biocontrol, equipment)
- Phragmites Innovation (e.g. advancing the use of innovative prevention and control techniques available for use in Ontario
- Addressing Pathways of Introduction and Spread Action-oriented projects led by industry or sector-based organizations that reduce the risk of invasive phragmites entering or spreading via human-mediated pathways
Funding Priority Areas
One of the goals of the Invasive Phragmites Control Fund is to support coordinated, province-wide actions to advance landscape-level management and protect Ontario’s natural environment, economy and society from its negative impacts.
The Fund will:
- Encourage projects from Indigenous communities and groups
- Accept proposals from across Ontario
- Additional review points will be given to projects that support key program objectives and:
- Are submitted in coordination with an active Phragmites Management Area working group or similar group that coordinates Phragmites mapping and control
- Occur within Great Lakes coastal wetlands (see Appendix C)
Eligible Applicants
The Fund will support:
- Indigenous governments, communities or organizations
- Municipalities and Conservation Authorities
- Groups or organizations in Ontario including
- Community Collaboratives
- Non- profit and charitable organizations
The Fund is unable to support:
- Projects proposed to occur on lands owned by private individuals for personal use only
- Provincial or federal government agencies
- Projects outside Ontario
Applicants working on multiple projects may submit a maximum of two applications, with only one application at the maximum funding request level.
Award Terms
The Fund will support Phragmites projects that range from $2,500 to $50,000
Award recipients will agree to:
- Consider an integrated approach to Phragmites management
- Use Phragmites best management practices. Projects using one of the following methods will score higher in the review process:
- Phragmites BMP: Phragmites Best Management Practices Found Here!
- Phragmites Technical Bulletin: Phragmites Technical Bulletin Found Here!
- Ontario Phragmites Management Regional Plan Guidebook Found Here!
- Great Lakes Commission Phragmites Adaptive Management Collaborative: https://www.greatlakesphragmites.net/pamf/
- Be responsible for understanding and obtaining any permits or approvals required and assume any liabilities associated with their project. Please be mindful that some Phragmites management activities require permits (i.e., species at risk permits) and special permissions which may add to project times
- For lands managed by municipalities, townships, conservation authorities, or private landholders, applicants must obtain written confirmation that the proposed work is supported and permitted. This must come from the relevant landowner or managing authority.
- For work on Indigenous lands, applicants who are not recognized representatives of the relevant governance body (e.g. First Nation’s Land and Resources Office) must provide written confirmation of support from that body. This confirmation—submitted as an email or letter—must acknowledge the proposed work and provide permission to proceed. It may come from the Land and Resources Office, the appropriate governance body, or Chief and Council, depending on the First Nation’s preference.
- Carry out the project as proposed
- Provide project updates, stories, and photos to be used by the Invasive Species Centre to communicate project outcomes and raise awareness about Phragmites in Ontario
- Acknowledge funding in all materials
- Report on specific key performance indicators used to communicate project outcomes to grant funders
- Provide invoices and reports by the reporting deadlines
Timeline
Phase | Start | End |
Request for proposals | November 17, 2025 | Extended to January 30, 2026 |
Successful recipients notified (target date) | After April 1, 2026 | |
Agreements (target date) | May – June, 2026 | |
Interim Reporting | October, 2026 | |
Final project reporting | January, 2027 | |
NOTE – All project spending must be completed by Friday, February 6, 2027.
Virtual Information Sessions
- The general information session on the Invasive Phragmites Control Fund will be held on Wednesday, December 3, 2025 at 11 a.m. EST. Register here!
- Watch the recording of the General Information Session here.
- The focused information session on developing a budget and understanding in-kind contributions, will be held on: Wednesday, December 10, 2025 at 11 a.m. EST. Register here!
- Watch the recording of the Budgets and In-Kind Support Session here.
Both webinars will be recorded and shared on the Invasive Species Centre YouTube page.
Applicant Guide
Please refer to the Applicant Guide before applying to the Fund. It provides additional details about completing the application form. Access the Fiscal Year 2027 guide here.
Access a Word Document of application questions to help prepare your submission here. Please note that all applications must be submitted through GoodGrants (linked below). Word Document submissions will not be accepted.
Applying for the Fund
Applications must be submitted electronically using the Good Grants portal by 11:59 p.m., Friday, January 30, 2026. Incomplete submissions or submissions received after the deadline will not be accepted.
To submit an application for the Invasive Phragmites Control Fund please click here.
Contact Us
For any additional questions please contact the Grants Team at grants@invasivespeciescentre.ca