The Ontario government is committing more than $235,000 in new funding to university-led research aimed at protecting the province’s natural resources, bolstering fisheries management and supporting sustainable forestry, as it continues to position environmental stewardship as a pillar of long-term economic and community resilience.
Announced Thursday by the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, the funding will be delivered through Collaborative Research Agreements supporting seven projects at universities across the province. The investment brings Ontario’s total funding for active collaborative research projects to more than $3 million, reflecting a broader strategy to safeguard the lands, waters and wildlife that underpin multiple sectors of the provincial economy.
“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.”
The funding will be distributed over the next two to four years, with the largest share going to Trent University, which will receive $122,000 for three projects. Those initiatives include developing a new aquatic stress index, examining the impacts of wildland fire on boreal lake fish communities, and conducting genetic analysis of Lake Superior brook trout populations. The research is intended to improve scientific tools used by policymakers and resource managers as climate pressures and ecological stressors intensify.
University of Windsor will receive $50,000 to support a project focused on sustainable fisheries and ecosystem resilience, particularly in response to challenges such as aquatic invasive species and a changing climate. Fisheries remain an important economic driver in Ontario, supporting North America’s largest freshwater commercial fishery and contributing more than $230 million annually to the provincial economy.
Additional funding will support more targeted ecological and forestry research across northern and eastern Ontario. Laurentian University will receive $36,000 to study small mammals in Algonquin Provincial Park, including research into the impacts of coronaviruses on wildlife population health. Lakehead University will receive $15,000 to examine black spruce biodiversity, research intended to inform sustainable forest management practices aligned with Ontario’s Forest Sector Strategy.
The University of Ottawa will also receive $15,000 to further develop advanced modelling tools designed to assess future climate and disturbance impacts on boreal forests. The work is expected to support both sustainable forestry planning and broader biodiversity strategies as the province adapts to long-term environmental change.
The announcement underscores the province’s emphasis on linking academic research with practical policy and industry outcomes. “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.”
The new projects build on 20 active collaborative research initiatives currently underway at universities across Ontario. Provincial officials say continued investments in science-based research, habitat protection and partnerships with academic institutions are essential as Ontario confronts growing pressures from invasive species, habitat loss and climate-related disruptions.
“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,” said Todd McCarthy, Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks.
Ontario is home to more than 30,000 known plant and animal species spread across over one million square kilometres, including 250,000 lakes that contain roughly one-fifth of the world’s fresh water. With biodiversity supporting billions of dollars in ecosystem services and thousands of jobs, the province says investments in research are not only environmental priorities but also long-term economic safeguards for communities across Ontario.
