Science & Research

We are currently experiencing technical issues with submissions of applications. While we are resolving these issues, please use this form/document to submit your research application.

Please submit the completed application form to PAScience@ontario.ca with the subject line: “Application to Conduct Research – FIRSTNAME LASTNAME”.

If you require any further support with accessibility or have questions about the application, please contact PAScience@ontario.ca

General Conditions

The principal investigator and/or their field persons must contact the designated contact (listed in the table above) at least 10 days prior to the requested visit to each provincial park and/or conservation reserve to conduct the authorized research.
The Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP), including Ontario Parks, reserves the right to suspend, cancel, restrict the scope, or impose additional terms and conditions at any time during the research project.
It is the responsibility of the principal investigator to secure and maintain in good standing any other required authorizations and permits prior to initiating field research.
The principal investigator is responsible for all members of their field research team. All related field persons must also observe all conditions of this authorization.
Research authorization cannot be transferred to a third party without the prior written consent of MECP.
The principal investigator and/or their field persons are not authorized to construct any facility, building or other devices unless as specifically authorized in the Project Specific Conditions above or other formal agreement with the MECP.
For all provincial parks and conservation reserves, it is advised that Indigenous (First Nations, Métis Nation of Ontario, and Inuit) communities who have treaty rights in the geography of the provincial parks or conservation reserves be notified of your research. Opportunities for collaboration, partnerships and information sharing are encouraged. The following link provides information on Canada’s Indigenous communities: https://geo.aadnc-aandc.gc.ca/cippn-fnpim/index-eng.html. For questions about which communities should be contacted, the researcher is advised to ask the Ontario Parks contacts listed above. If the communities identify any concerns, the researcher will inform the Ontario Parks contacts listed above.

While conducting research the principal investigator and field persons will:

Be in possession of a valid authorization letter before the field work begins and carry a legible copy while conducting research in the provincial park(s) and/or conservation reserve(s).
Conduct the research activities in a manner that protects the health and safety of researchers, other visitors, and Ontario Parks staff. If there are any questions regarding health and safety concerns, please contact the designated Ontario Parks contact to discuss the project prior to beginning field work.
To prevent the introduction and spread of aquatic or terrestrial alien/invasive species and pathogens, clean all equipment (e.g., vehicles, boats, sampling gear, etc.) and personal gear prior to entering and leaving the provincial park(s) and conservation reserve(s).

a. When conducting terrestrial work - remove mud, seeds/vegetation from clothing and equipment in an area where plant seeds or parts aren’t likely to spread to a new area.
b. When conducting aquatic work - drain standing water before leaving the shores of the waterbody and remove mud, vegetation, mussels, and other natural material from your equipment, and wipe the equipment down or allow the equipment to dry in the sun.

Species-specific information and best practices are available at the Ontario Invasive Plant Council (http://www.ontarioinvasiveplants.ca.php56-30.ord1-1.websitetestlink.com/resources/technical-documents/) and Invading Species Awareness Programs (http://www.invadingspecies.com/clean-boats-clean-tournaments-2/) websites, and should be followed as is practical for the work being conducted.

Leave no garbage or other materials on site and take care to avoid any impacts to natural or cultural values.
Label all field markers and equipment with the principal investigator’s name and title of the research project.
Remove all field markers (e.g., flagging tape) and equipment at the end of the project.
Fill and restore all sample pits, excavations, and holes (e.g., soil augers) to as natural a state as possible.
Not be accompanied by domestic animals (e.g., dogs). Any exceptions must be discussed with the designated contact prior to arrival at each provincial park or conservation reserve.

Collection Conditions

The collection of any cultural or natural materials other than what is described in the research authorization letter is prohibited in provincial parks and conservation reserves. If there is a discovery of human remains, burials, or significant cultural heritage resources during your work in the provincial park or conservation reserve, work in that location is to stop and the relevant contact(s) listed in the table above is/are to be notified immediately.
All location information will be collected in NAD83 UTM or WGS84.

Reporting Requirements

Incidental injury or death of wildlife will be reported to the relevant contact(s) listed in the table above for further direction within 48 hours and prior to continuing project activities.
A digital copy of all raw or summary data collected from the project to date, must be submitted to pascience@ontario.ca by December 31 of each year of the authorized research.
After project completion, a digital copy of all final research reports and data will be submitted to pascience@ontario.ca (March 31st of the year following research authorization is the typical reporting requirement). Researchers are encouraged to provide Ontario Parks staff with the opportunity for input on future publications.
Please consider using iNaturalist to capture anecdotal sightings of plants and wildlife while working in parks. Your sightings will automatically be added to the park project. Join the Natural Heritage Information Centre's iNaturalist project for rare species: https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/nhic-rare-species-of-ontario. To protect species information, we recommend that you only share rare species locations with the NHIC’s project.
If not submitted to the NHIC iNaturalist project, Species at Risk data will be submitted to the Natural Heritage Information Centre, MNRF, Peterborough, in formats specified by NHIC (https://www.ontario.ca/page/report-rare-species-animals-and-plants) by December 31 of each year of authorization with a copy to pascience@ontario.ca. Species at Risk data must be kept confidential and must not be communicated with persons outside the Natural Heritage Information Centre.