The Beneficial Management Practices (BMP) category Biodiversity provides funding for activities such as improved on-farm pesticide storage (0801.2), habitat structures and enhancements (2204), stackyard fencing (2209) and pest information collection and monitoring (1602).

To learn more about the BMP program, other BMP categories, program eligibility criteria, and/or notifications & obligations, please visit the BMP page.

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Resources & FAQ

Category Details

Cost-Share Ratio Maximum Funding Project Length
50% Up to $25,000 140 days from Project Approval or by January 31, 2027, whichever is first.

Application Open: February 11, 2026
Submission Open: March 4, 2026, at 9 am
Application Close: Ongoing until funding is fully subscribed

A portion of BMP Program funding is provided by CleanBC and is reserved for Biodiversity activities that demonstrate a significant and measurable reduction in greenhouse gas emissions or an increase in carbon sequestration. These eligible activities (or practice codes) are marked with a 🌱  symbol. If funding is limited, projects eligible for CleanBC funding may be prioritized over projects that are not.

For some activities, a plan, technical assessment or engineered design is required. You can independently attain the required plan/assessment/design or check for funding opportunities via BMP: Planning, Technical Assessments and Engineered Designs (P&D) category. The prerequisite must be completed prior to applying for the activity below. To learn more about the requirements for professionals to complete a plan/assessment/design and/or to find a qualified professional, visit our Qualified Professionals page.

Improving pesticide storage structures.

Eligible costs:

  • Construction of new pesticide storage structure
  • Adding concrete, non-permeable floor, sill, or curb to contain spills
  • Adding solid metal shelves to restrict the absorption of spilled pesticides
  • Improving lighting

Ineligible costs:

  • Locks, vents, and signage (legally required)

Alteration to pesticide application equipment, including alteration of closed transfer systems for pesticides. Application must describe how the altered equipment provides an improved or incremental benefit.

Eligible costs:

  • Alterations to sprayers.
  • Alterations to non-sprayer type pest management equipment such as a flamer and mechanical weed controls
  • Alteration of closed transfer systems for pesticides

Ineligible costs:

  • Projects meant to control non-wildlife pest species that are commonly found on farms and ranches in BC

Purchase of new pesticide application equipment, including installation of closed transfer systems for pesticides. Application must describe how the new equipment provides an improved or incremental benefit.Purchase of new pesticide application equipment, including installation of closed transfer systems for pesticides. Application must describe how the new equipment provides an improved or incremental benefit.

Eligible costs:

  • New sprayers.
  • Purchase of alternative, non-sprayer type pest management equipment such as flamers and mechanical weed controls
  • Installation of closed transfer systems for pesticides

Ineligible costs:

  • Projects meant to control non-wildlife pest species that are commonly found on farms and ranches in BC

Purchase of mowing equipment to reduce pesticide use. Application must describe how the new equipment provides an improved or incremental benefit.

Eligible costs:

  • Rotary or flail mowers, in row mowers and tillers that have side discharge or swinging arms that are designed to reduce pesticide use and target grass clipping management.

Ineligible costs:

  • Projects meant to control non-wildlife pest species that are commonly found on farms and ranches in BC.

Eligible costs:

  • Equipment and materials such as prediction, trapping devices, sampling equipment (i.e. pheromone traps and digital tools) and remote sensors (i.e. multispectral cameras and chlorophyll meters specific to pest monitoring).

Ineligible costs:

  • Contractor services for pest information collection and monitoring, and standard pest monitoring / collecting equipment common and well understood to the industry (i.e. sweep nets and magnifiers).
  • Equipment to mount remote sensors, such as unmanned aircraft systems (i.e. drones).

The desired outcome of the shelterbelt or buffer establishment must be identified in the plan and reflected in the proposed design and species mix.

Eligible costs:

  • Tree materials only for planting around fields and buildings
  • Staking to support young trees from winter damage
  • Buffers can be single or multi-row
  • Maintenance for the year after the planting year can be included as part of the project proposal but is subject to the availability of funding in the following program year
  • Renovations or supplemental plantings

Required documents:

  • Vegetative Buffer Plan (BMP: P&D activity code 3401)
    • Only needed if located in Vancouver Island, the Okanagan and Similkameen Valleys, Thompson- Nicola, Fraser Valley and Metro Vancouver areas.

Ineligible costs:

  • Establishment of trees or shrubs that are intended for harvesting for economic benefit within 15 years, such as fruit orchards, Christmas trees, ornamental nursery stock
  • Block or plantation-style plantings
  • Buffer and shelterbelt renovation costs incurred after the establishment or the purchase and relocation of established trees
  • Landscape quality or landscaping-type plantings
  • Breaking and reseeding of existing native forages
  • Costs for planting cover or companion crops
  • Seed containing noxious or prohibited weeds as listed in The Weed Control Act

Supporting the purchase, construction and installation of species-specific habitat structures and enhancements to natural habitat for wildlife and species at risk. These include, but are not limited to:

  • Bat houses and/or bat roosts
  • Specialized nest boxes for birds (e.g. barn owl, barn swallow, prothonotary warbler)
  • Winter bird roosts
  • Turtle sunning platforms
  • Snake hibernacula (overwintering sites)
  • Turtle nesting sites
  • Protective structures (i.e. cattle guards) to prevent nest relocation.

Eligible costs:

  • Flushing bars on haying/silage-cutting equipment to reduce wildlife mortality.

Ineligible costs:

  • Equipment or components directly related to cutting or harvesting of forage.

Eligible costs:

  • Pollinator strips or other perennial cover for pollinator habitat
  • Pollinator nesting sites to support pollinators and plant species at risk
  • Pollinator habitat for other biodiversity purposes in fields
  • Field margins of existing cropland (area planted with high value plants that pollinators like)

Required documents:

Ineligible costs:

  • On-going maintenance
  • Costs associated with acquiring/planting invasive plant species
  • Payments associated with opportunity costs for land taken out of production
  • Landscape quality or landscaping-type plantings
  • Commercial fruit trees, Christmas trees, ornamentals, afforestation, woodlot establishment and reforestation

Project must follow the BC Agricultural Fencing Handbook regulations for project design and implementation.

Eligible costs:

  • Stackyard fencing to protect harvested feeds, forage and silage stored by farmers and ranchers from wildlife
  • Permanent fencing inclusive of all costs, including in-kind labour
  • Portable electric fencing, set-ups, including solar battery chargers, battery and initial line and post purchases
  • Monitoring and management equipment

Ineligible costs:

  • Perimeter fencing
  • Pasture seeding and establishment costs
  • Pasture renovation
  • Repair and maintenance of existing riparian erosion control or riparian pasture management systems and equipment (e.g., can’t be used to repair existing fence)

Eligible costs:

  • Precision farming applications that reduce the application and overlap of pesticides and/or improve the rate and placement of application (herbicides, insecticides, fungicides, etc.)
  • GPS guidance systems and installation
  • Online field mapping equipment
  • Online input application control systems guided by high-resolution electronic field maps and GPS

Ineligible items:

  • Any precision farming applications in areas where field size and distribution, ditch layout and/or lay of land prevent significant utility from the use of GPS–guided equipment
  • Annual subscription fees
  • Pesticide inputs

This category is open to applications that address projects or situations identified in an EFP but not represented by any other Biodiversity Projects.

Applications will be accepted on a proposal driven basis and will be reviewed by a technical expert and/or staff at the Ministry of Agriculture and Food.

Required documents:

  • Applicable planning, engineering or technical design must accompany application.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligible Applicants

Applicants must have:

  1. A valid Environmental Farm Plan (EFP)
    • Applicants applying for the Extreme Weather Preparedness category and associated plans and designs are not required to have an EFP.
    • EFPs are valid if they are less than 5 years old and reflect the current farm or ranch operation.
      • Please renew your EFP if it is more than 5 years old, or if there have been changes made to the farm/ranch that could have impact on environmental risk.
  1. Farm Status. Be a primary production agriculture business whose primary purpose is the production and sale of agricultural products and must be a BC registered business entity (including sole proprietor, partnership, corporations, cooperatives, Indigenous economic development corporations, and band-owned businesses).
  2. Premises ID, if livestock is raised.
  3. GST and CRA business number. Participants must be a taxable entity (e.g., individual, corporation, or trust), limited partnership, commune, cooperative with GST & business number, or First Nation Band.
  4. Main farmstead located in BC and file farm income tax (form T2042 or T1273) under the Income Tax Act in BC.
    • Licensed Aquaculture producers, vertical farm producers, and Federally licensed Cannabis or Hemp producers are exempt from meeting farm tax income requirements, however:
      • Aquaculture operations will have to provide their valid aquaculture license number.
      • Vertical farm producers must provide documentation demonstrating their farm businesses have achieved the minimum Farm Class Status Equivalent annual gross revenues for the sale of ‘agricultural products’ in the year prior to their application.
      • Cannabis or Hemp producers must provide proof of either their standard-cultivators, or industrial hemp license as issued by Health Canada under the Cannabis Act or Industrial Hemp Regulations. The personal production of medicinal cannabis is not eligible for this program.
  1. Complete the prerequisite activity(s), if required.
    • Some BMP activities require assessments, plans, or engineered designs that must be completed prior. Proof of completion must be submitted at the time of application.
      • Concurrent planning/design projects and on-farm equipment/infrastructure projects may be allowed in some cases where projects are not dependent on the final plan or design for the equipment/infrastructure activity or may be waived at the discretion of IAF on a case-by-case basis.

Important Details

  • Project activities should not commence prior to approval of the application; retroactive costs are not eligible.
  • A per-farm lifetime funding cap of $100,000 has been established for the duration of the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP) period, which runs from April 1, 2025, to March 31, 2028. This cap applies across all BMP categories unless otherwise specified.
  • A portion of BMP Program funding is provided by CleanBC and is reserved for select activities that demonstrate a significant and measurable reduction in greenhouse gas emissions or an increase in carbon sequestration. These eligible activities (or practice codes) are marked with a symbol. If funding is limited, projects eligible for CleanBC funding may be prioritized over projects that are not.
  • Applicants can only apply for each BMP activity (i.e., Practice Code) once per fiscal year. Example: Applicants may not apply to install a new irrigation system (Practice Code 1804) twice in one year.
  • Stacking funds from other government programs is permitted so long as the funding received from all government sources does not exceed 100% of project costs.
  • IAF has the authority to deny an application if there is evidence of misrepresentation of pertinent information.
  • The program policy sets a percentage maximum amount of government funds that can be used towards the total project costs. For the Sustainable CAP, this has been set at 100% of the total eligible costs of the BMP Project.
  • In-Kind costs are eligible in specific circumstances.

Ineligible Activities and Expenses

Unless specified in a BMP Practice Code, the following costs are ineligible:

  • GST
  • Fertilizer, seed, and crop protection products
  • Fees are permits, approvals, or legal activities
  • Typical farm equipment and related accessories or attachments (including tractors, skid steers, and trailers)
  • Costs of ongoing activities
  • Maintenance or repair costs
  • Financing charges, loan interest payments, bank fees
  • Maintenance or extended warranties on equipment, electronics, or technology purchases
  • New building construction, including sheds, barns, or storage (for products or by-products), unless specified under a BMP activity.
  • Expenses incurred before approval or expenses after the project completion date, unless consent is received from the program.
  • Monthly or annual subscription fees (e.g., satellite, cellular, or internet uplinks for data transmission) or monthly or annual rental fees for equipment (e.g., orchard heaters)
  • Costs associated with removing and disposing of old equipment (e.g., renting a crane to remove a decommissioned wind machine)
  • In-kind costs for the Planning, Technical Assessments and Engineered Designs category or the Extreme Weather Preparedness category.

How to Apply

Accessing the IAF Client Portal

To apply to the program, you must first create an IAF Client Portal account and register your organization by navigating to the IAF Client Portal and selecting “Create an account now.” Once you confirm you are a BC-based business/farm/individual, you will then need to Set up your Account and Register your Organization.

If you have applied to IAF-delivered program in the last few years you can skip this step!

This is the information needed for your account:

  • Name
  • Job Title
  • Phone Number
  • Email

This is the information needed for your organization to be validated:

  • Legal Organization Name (either Federal or BC)
  • Operating Name (if different from legal)
  • Organization Type (select from set options)
  • Organization Address, Email, Phone number, and website
  • Organization Registration Date (either Federal or BC)
  • Head Office Location
  • BC Registration ID (to look up your BC ID click here)
  • CRA Business Number
  • NAICS Code 6-digit (select from set options – click here for guide)
  • Primary Purpose of Operation (select from set options)
  • Sector Group (select from set options)
  • Brief Business Profile
  • Business & Signatory authentication (if applicable) – submit one of the following:
    • Preferred: BC Business Summary (Notice of Articles) listing you as an owner or director (e.g. Sample corporate summary)
    • Articles of Incorporation listing you as an owner or director
    • Shareholder summary listing you as an owner or director

IAF Client Portal emails are sent from do-not-reply.grants@fluxx.io, please save this as a contact in your email.

It can take up to two business days to validate your organization. If you haven’t received an email in 3 – 5 business days check your spam folder, then contact IAF.

Need help with IAF’s Client Portal?

We’ve created a number of tutorials and FAQs about the IAF Client Portal to help guide you in creating an account, registering your organization, starting your application, and more!

Starting your BMP Application

You can start (i.e., draft, edit & view) your application prior to submitting (see the Application Dates above). IAF encourages applicants to include only activities they are confident will be completed on time and within budget limits.

To find the application, navigate to the ‘Opportunities’ tab in IAF Client Portal and select the appropriate program. A BMP application generally consists of:

This section is where you will provide program-relevant organization information that was not collected when you registered your organization with IAF. For BMP, this includes:

  • Select the Organization Name applying for the funding (relevant if you have more than one farm)
  • Primary and Secondary Contact Information
  • Business Type
  • Farm Status
  • Premises ID (if applicable)
  • Confirm the following is accurate:
    • CRA Business Number
    • Organization Type
    • Sector Group
    • Primary Purpose
    • Organization Registration Date

As this program is funded under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, you are required to provide additional demographic information. The demographic information is collected by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food and must be done before submitting your application. To provide your demographic information:

  • Start drafting your application in the IAF Client Portal.
  • Copy your application ID (it will be provided to you at the Demographic data section of the application or see the top of your application form). You will need to put this ID into the Ministry’s form.
  • Visit the Ministry’s webpage through the link on the application and complete the form. (Note: this will open a new browser tab).
  • Once the form is complete, copy the Ministry’s confirmation number and enter it into the application form. It should look something like this AB 123456

Note: Demographic information will not be used to assess eligibility for the program.

  • Provide your EFP Workbook Number*
  • Your EFP Advisor’s Name
  • Farm Name on the EFP Statement of Completion
  • Project summary:
    • Farm breakdown by hectares
    • Brief overview of the environmental issues this project will address
    • Description of your project, steps to complete your project
    • List of materials and equipment needed
    • Contractors you plan on using
    • Start & end dates of your project – this is especially important if your project is only viable between certain dates because of weather or farm operations. IAF staff are happy to accommodate start and end dates provided they fit within the program constraints.

*An EFP is not required for Extreme Weather Preparedness category applications.

Break down your project costs into the applicable project codes. If your application has multiple activities that would fit under two or more practice codes, please include a budget summary in your project documents that outlines what quoted costs reflect your selected project codes.

Review and sign the terms and conditions for applying to an IAF-delivered program.

The following documents should be submitted with your application:

  • Mandatory
    • Property Assessment Notice (current year)
    • Legal Lease Agreement/Proof of Ownership
    • Environmental Farm Plan (EFP) Statement of Completion
      • Reminder: An EFP is not required for Extreme Weather Preparedness projects
    • Quotes for the work to be completed
  • If Applicable
    • Supporting Lease Documentation
    • Proof of water license for proposed use
    • Water license for the proposed storage volume
    • Plan, assessment and/or technical design
    • Assessment/Approval/authorization from the Dam Safety Program staff
    • Change approval to make changes in and about a stream easement
    • Maps/Sketch/Photos
Helpful Hints 

IAF recommends clicking ‘Save’ frequently as you work on your application in case of an unexpected disconnection. Once you are finished editing, click ‘Save and Close’ to minimize the editing panel and take you back to looking over your application.

Submit an application: Click ‘Save and Close’ when you are finished editing your application. Then click ‘Submit’. The ‘Submit’ button will only appear from the date and time of Submission Open to Application Close.

Book a Call

Starting on February 11, 2026, you can book a 10-minute phone consultation with an IAF staff member to discuss your BMP Biodiversity application.

Prior to booking an appointment, you must start your draft application and provide the ID number (BMP-202425-0####). This gives you and the IAF staff member a specific application to reference and provide support for during the 10-minute phone call.

Applicants are limited to one phone call appointment.

Notifications & Obligations

Upon submission, all BMP applications will be reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis (unless prioritized activities are present, see below). Applications are screened and reviewed by IAF. This review and adjudication involves:

  • Ensuring application completeness.
  • Organization/Applicant eligibility check.
  • Project alignment and eligibility check.

IAF staff will return incomplete applications to applicants via the IAF Client Portal for resubmission with missing information/clarifications requested.

Water Infrastructure Prioritization

For 2026/27 select BMP activities are prioritized for funding within the Water Infrastructure category. On the first-come, first-served basis, IAF will review and adjudicate eligible applications for the prioritized activities prior to reviewing and adjudicating the remaining activities. Pending available funding, IAF will adjudicate the remaining activities first-come, first-served.

For a list of prioritized activities, see BMP Activities above, or the Appendix for the Water Infrastructure category.

CleanBC Funding Prioritization

A portion of BMP Program funding is provided by CleanBC and is reserved for BMP activities that demonstrate a significant and measurable reduction in greenhouse gas emissions or an increase in carbon sequestration (marked with a 🌱 symbol). For 2026/27 if funding is limited (i.e. only CleanBC funding remains), projects eligible for CleanBC funding may be prioritized over projects that are not.

IAF will contact the applicant with the details of a funding decision and any associated terms and conditions by email via the IAF Client Portal.

Funding decisions for complete applications will be communicated to an applicant within 8 weeks of a complete application submission. If funding is fully committed, applications may be placed on a waitlist pending additional funding becoming available.

Funding is application and project specific. It must be used for the approved project and related expenses, and it is non-transferable.

Successful applicants must complete a project report prior to receiving funds from the program. This report must be filled out and submitted via the IAF Client Portal with all invoices to be considered for funding reimbursement. It is important the final report is submitted on time and with all required information. Expenses will be reimbursed based on submitted receipts, the approved project budget and the corresponding cost-share ratio. All reporting will be completed via the IAF Client Portal.

Reminder: Retroactive costs are not eligible with the BMP program. Receipts or invoices dated prior to project approval will be declined.

This program is funded by the Governments of Canada and British Columbia through the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership. As such, acknowledgement of funding is required when publicly communicating about a project and/or funding. To ensure appropriate acknowledgement, all communications and marketing materials, including public announcements or social media posts, must be pre-approved by the IAF Communications Team. Materials can be submitted via the IAF Client Portal.

Apply to Biodiversity

Application Open: February 11, 2026
Submission Open: March 4, 2026, at 9 am
Application Close: Ongoing until funding is fully subscribed

Subscribe to the newsletter to stay up to date on program news!

Resources

Beneficial Management Practices Program Guide

Download the Beneficial Management Practices Program Guide.

Biodiversity Appendix

Download the Beneficial Management Practices Program Biodiversity Appendix.

Need a Contractor?

IAF has assembled a list of verified contractors that are able to help execute your plan/design.

Land Owner Statement

Download the Land Owner Statement for the Beneficial Management Practices Program.

Ministry of Agriculture and Food’s Water Licenses and Approvals Guide

Visit the Ministry’s website for their water license and approval guide.

Funding Acknowledgement Requirements

Download the Funding Acknowledgement Requirements for the Beneficial Management Practices Program.

Have an Active Project?

Please visit the program’s Project Resource Hub for more information.

Have a Question?

Contact the IAF Team

Please note: the Government of BC may, from time to time, give instructions to IAF in relation to the delivery and administration of this program. IAF must and will comply with those instructions.

Funding for these programs have been provided by the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, a $3.5 billion, 5-year agreement between the federal, provincial and territorial governments. Additional funding has been provided by CleanBC. The program is delivered by the Investment Agriculture Foundation of BC (IAF).