The polls have closed. Check out the results, below.

Welcome to Big Wild Bucks! Last year's contest was such a success, we decided to host it a second year. The Big Wild is once again offering $10,000 worth of grants to three worthy Canadian conservation projects. We've selected five finalists--environmental groups from across the country working to conserve Canadian wild spaces--and we need your help doling out the dough.

Read about each conservation project and choose the one you'd like to see funded. The project with the most votes receives $5000. The second place group receives $3000, and the third place group receives $2000. Incidentally, you can also view this page in French. Voting closes on Friday, November 4th, at 23:59 PM.

Scroll down to read more about the five finalists.

OceanGybe: Marine Debris Education

Over the past four years, the OceanGybe Expedition has sailed around the world, documenting ocean pollution and beach debris due to plastic and other detritus. Our crew has sailed roughly 70,000 ocean kilometres, visited almost 30 different countries, crossed three oceans, and presented our conservation message to over 15,000 students in 15 countries. Now we’re back home in British Columbia, Canada and we see that our coastlines are just as polluted as the coastlines in other countries around the world. With the support of Big Wild Bucks, we want to visit schools, universities and public gatherings across BC to educate people about plastics in our oceans and rivers. Our hope is to inspire others to turn the tide on disposable plastics. To find out more about OceanGybe, visit OceanGybe.com.

Newfoundland and Labrador Environmental Network: Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan

Newfoundland and Labrador have an amazing and diverse natural environment that includes extensive wetlands, boreal forest, arctic alpine regions, and what was once (and hopefully will be again) one of the richest fishing grounds in the Atlantic. We’ve learned the hard way that over-exploitation of the planet’s resources undermines our sustainable communities. With help from Big Wild Bucks, we would work to build and promote a Provincial Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan, including the establishment of a province-wide network of terrestrial and marine protected areas. This would be our blueprint, or ‘greenprint’ if you will, toward a sustainable Newfoundland and Labrador. To find out more about the Newfoundland and Labrador Environment Network, visit nlen.ca. (Photo courtesy Vicky Taylor-Hood.) 

Ottawa Riverkeeper: Sewage Prevention in the Ottawa River

Ottawa Riverkeeper is a grassroots charity working to protect your rights to swim, drink and fish in Canadian rivers and lakes. We work collaboratively to inspire action, to encourage responsible decision-making, to hold polluters accountable and to recommend alternative practices and policies to safeguard the Ottawa River and its tributaries. With help from Big Wild Bucks, we will strengthen our campaign to reduce the amount of untreated sewage flowing into the Ottawa River from the National Capital Region. To learn more about the Ottawa Riverkeeper, visit OttawaRiverkeeper.com.

Nature-Action Québec: Monteregian Hills Preservation

The goal of Nature-Action Québec is to involve people in the conservation and enhancement of the natural areas around Montreal, Quebec. Maintaining these areas is essential to Quebec’s quality of life. With help from Big Wild Bucks, we will connect communities and promote the protection of 53 hectares of wild space located on two Monteregian Hills: mont Rougemont and mont Yamaska. These two spaces are invaluable jewels that belong to the St. Lawrence plains. They are exceptional sources of biodiversity and we hope Canadians across the country support their protection. To learn more about Nature-Action Québec, visit nature-action.qc.ca. (Photo courtesy Claude Duchaîne)

Sunshine Coast Conservation Association: Habitat Area Nomination Project

The mission of the SCCA is biodiversity protection within a 2 millon hectare area of Coastal British Columbia. This area is just a ferry ride away from Vancouver and we have a history of unlikely successes under our belt. This particular project involves protection for an old growth dependent sea bird, the Marbled Murrelet, and special management for region’s major salmon rivers. We work with businesses, schools, courts, government chambers, and the public wherever biodiversity issues may arise. Your support will help us travel and communicate more effectively during this project. To learn more about the Sunshine Coast Conservation Association, visit thescca.ca/.