Application to Conduct Research
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 Data and reports provided to the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks will not be published.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. 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.