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Science & Research

Application to Conduct Research - Extension

Thank you for considering conducting research within Ontario’s system of provincial parks and conservation reserves.

Please be aware that some projects may require additional evaluation time than others. If the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks requires additional time to review the proposed project, a ministry representative will be in contact with you.

Under the Provincial Parks and Conservation Reserves Act, written authorization is required for any investigation, assessment, inventory, monitoring or studies of natural, cultural, archaeological, social, recreational, economic, management and/or other features and characteristics of provincial parks and conservation reserves that involve fieldwork, specimen collection and/or have the potential to disturb resources, visitors or staff. Ontario's policy on conducting research in provincial parks and conservation reserves can be found here.

Completing and submitting this form is how you seek authorization to conduct research under the Provincial Parks and Conservation Reserves Act. This approval does not represent approval under any other legislation or regulations that may apply. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that all other permissions, approvals, and authorizations are acquired before proceeding with their research activities. Examples include Licence to Collect Fish under the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act, permits under the Endangered Species Act, etc.

Personal information submitted on this form is collected under the authority of the Provincial Parks and Conservation Reserves Act and will be used for administrative purposes. Data and reports provided to the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks will not be published. The Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks reserves the right to use data and reports resulting from the research project for internal inventory, monitoring and resource management purposes. If you have questions about the collection of personal information, data, or questions about doing research in provincial parks or conservation reserves before applying for authorization, please complete this contact form.

Please complete all sections of this application form with enough detail to allow for a complete review of your proposed project. If a section does not apply, please enter N/A. A period of two months is generally required for review and approval of your application; if we need to request additional information, authorization for your proposed research activities may be delayed.

Check to see a list of standard conditions applied to approved research authorizations. Additional conditions may be applied through the application review process as a result of site-specific considerations. Ontario Parks reserves the right to restrict the scope of the project and limit access within provincial parks and conservation reserves.

Section 1 - Extension Details

Are there any major changes to the previously authorized research project? If yes, a new research authorization application must be submitted. Examples of major changes can include changes to methodology or research protocol(s), provincial parks and/or conservation reserves, primary research goals, etc.

Note: The research ID is provided to the applicant when a new application is submitted and appears on the approved research authorization letter. This ID number is unique to the project and is to be used when applying for an extension. If a research ID number was not provided to you previously, enter N/A.

(as it appears on the previous research authorization letter)

Note: Research authorization extensions can only be granted twice, with each extension for a maximum of two years.

Is there any other information about the research extension that you would like to provide (e.g. changes to field staff, removal of a provincial park or conservation reserve from the project, etc)?

Reporting requirements are outlined in the Research Authorization Policy for Provincial Parks and Conservation Reserves. Generally, at minimum:

Researchers are required to submit an annual report following each field season. The annual report is to be submitted by December 31st of each year of the research authorization and must include

  • A copy of all field data collected
  • A report on the activities conducted
  • A maximum one-page plain language summary of the results
  • Any methodological changes (if applicable)
  • The expected field schedule for the coming field season (if applicable)

All data from previous years must be submitted before approval for an extension will be issued to the applicant, including new graduate students/assistants working under the lead principle investigator.

If you were unable to provide annual reports by the dates outlined on the research authorization letter, please provide an explanation.

Researchers are required to submit copies of any final reports or publications arising from the research by the date stated in the authorization letter. The standard deadline for final reports is March 31 of the year following the final year of authorization. If circumstances change during the research project that prevent submission of reports by the dates indicated on the authorization letter, please contact the Protected Areas Science Administrator by completing this contact form.

Note: Approved research authorization extensions will result in a modification of reporting conditions related to final reporting outlined in the current research authorization letter. Interim reporting of raw data is still required.

Section 2 - Other Permits or Licenses

If your project includes additional authorizations outside of the Provincial Parks and Conservation Reserves Act (e.g. Wildlife Scientific Collectors Application, Licence to Collect Fish, Endangered Species Act permit, Animal Care Protocol, etc.), will these also be valid for the duration of your requested extension?.

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We respect your privacy. Your personal information is collected under the authority of the Provincial Parks and Conservation Reserves Act, 2006. Personally identifiable information will not be sold or otherwise transferred to unaffiliated third parties.

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