At a glance – Evaluation of the Habitat Conservation and Protection Program -Ecological Gifts Program
August 2025
1. Program Overview
The Ecological Gifts Program (EGP) was established in 1995. Its objective is to enable landowners, in Canada, who own ecologically sensitive land to participate in the nature protection process and thus leave a legacy for future generations. Specifically, the EGP supports potential donors and recipients in completing land transactions that are recognized as ecological gifts under section 207.3(1) of the Income Tax Act (ITA) of Canada.
An ecological gift is a donation of ecologically sensitive land, or an eligible interest or right in land, to a qualified recipient, that has been certified by the federal Minister of the Environment and Climate Change (ECC) or a delegated certification authority. Subsequently, recipients become responsible for donated lands and ensure that their biodiversity and environmental heritage are conserved in perpetuity. Over the evaluated period, ECCC spent $7.3 M to support EGP administration and operations.
The EGP is coordinated by a secretariat located in the National Capital Region and delivered in the provinces through five regional offices of ECCC’s Canadian Wildlife Service. More information on the program and its process can be found in the Canadian Ecological Gifts Program Handbook.
2. Scope
The Ecological Gifts Program evaluation covers the 6-year period from 2018-2019 to 2023-2024. The evaluation focusses on the following themes:
- Relevance and alignment
- Design
- Delivery
- Effectiveness and performance targets
- Efficiency
3. Methodology
A variety of sources were used, including:
File review: More than 80 elements, including work plans, reports, research papers, news releases, surveys, backgrounders, written input from external partners, and literature reviews.
Data analysis: More than 10,000 program administration and financial data points.
Interviews: With program administrators and officials (5), donors and recipients (22), and an Appraisal Review Panel member (1).
Case study: Focusing on outcome potential measurement.
4. Findings
4.1. Relevance and alignment
The Ecological Gifts Program supports conservation on private lands in southern Canada and is aligned with ECCC’s mandate to conserve nature. However, the program was established in 1995, and its design and delivery have not been recently revised to improve its contribution to Canada’s current conservation targets.
4.2. Design
Overall, program design is sound. Recipients are essential delivery partners who drive the achievement of conservation outcomes. The ecological gift valuation process ensures careful stewardship of public resources, but this is not without drawbacks. The Ecological Gifts Program was not designed for digital service delivery and could draw from best practices in this area to improve recipient experience and be in line with federal government service and digital policy.
4.3. Delivery
Current delivery of the Ecological Gifts Program presents a challenge for applicants. Long timelines, uncertain outcomes, and lack of predictability disincentivize repeated or increased participation in the program. The gift valuation process is the most challenging step for recipients, especially for small, volunteer-run organizations. Indigenous communities and organizations who wish to become recipients of an ecological gift face distinct barriers, as these land transactions raise complex legal issues.
4.4. Effectiveness and performance targets
Over the evaluated period, appraisal reviews were successful in avoiding the determination of gift values which do not reflect a fair market valuation. The program completed 516 ecological gifts thereby conserving 57,907 hectares, with the largest 20 gifts accounting for 55 percent of the total area secured for conservation. Ecological gifts were safeguarded effectively across the portfolio. Output and outcome performance targets were met. However, target-setting could be revised to increase program contribution to departmental targets for area-based conservation.
4.5. Efficiency
The value of properties secured for conservation through the Ecological Gift Program is more than four times larger (410%) than total Government of Canada investments. Compared to the reference period, the average number of completed gifts per year and the average area secured per year both increased over the evaluated period. Combined with stable resource levels, these increases demonstrate improved cost-effectiveness in program delivery.
5. Recommendations
Recommendation 1: The Assistant Deputy Minister of the Canadian Wildlife Service should consider a review of the delivery process of the Ecological Gifts Program to align with the Policy on Service and Digital. This will allow the Program to better meet client needs for timeliness, predictability, and transparency which are necessary to enhance the Program’s conservation outcomes.
Recommendation 2: The Assistant Deputy Minister of the Canadian Wildlife Service should revise program administration guidelines to include communication materiel and client guidelines to inform, enable, and support Indigenous organizations and communities interested in becoming recipients of ecological gifts.
6. Management Action Plan
Recommendation 1: The Assistant Deputy Minister of the CWS agrees with the recommendation
Action 1: Develop a 10-year Strategic Plan (2026-2036)
| Deliverable | Timeline | Responsible |
|---|---|---|
| Development of a 10-year Ecological Gifts Program Strategic Plan. | January 31, 2026 | Director General, Protected Areas Directorate |
Action 2: Review the Ecological Gifts Program processes.
| Deliverable | Timeline | Responsible |
|---|---|---|
| The Assistant Deputy Minister of the CWS agrees with the recommendation. | June 30, 2026 | Director General, Protected Areas Directorate |
| Ecological Gifts Program Processes Review: Report presenting options and recommendations. | March 31, 2027 | Director General, Protected Areas Directorate |
Action 3: Assess the feasibility of transitioning to a digital service delivery model.
| Deliverable | Timeline | Responsible |
|---|---|---|
| Meeting minutes / correspondence with the Business Applications and Solutions Directorate. | September 30, 2026 | Director General, Protected Areas Directorate |
Recommendation 2: The Assistant Deputy Minister of the CWS agrees that information to support Indigenous organizations and communities interested in becoming recipients of ecological gifts should be made available as part of the program’s communication material.
Action 1: Provide information for Indigenous organizations interested in becoming recipients of ecological gifts.
| Deliverable | Timeline | Responsible |
|---|---|---|
| Updated Ecological Gifts Program website. | March 31, 2026 | Director General, Protected Areas Directorate |
Action 2: Support Indigenous communities interested in becoming land trusts through a contribution agreement with a national non-governmental organization, subject to available funding.
| Deliverable | Timeline | Responsible |
|---|---|---|
| Contribution agreement signed. | March 31, 2027 | Director General, Protected Areas Directorate |