Mon, 16 Sep 2024
Tags: F&W / Habitat / Stewardship / Wildlife

Restoring Black Cottonwood Forests of the Kettle River

3-year-old cottonwoods growing amongst highly competitive reed canary grass - Barb Stewart

HCTF is proud to commit over $1.3 million in funding for wildlife conservation and conservation stewardship projects in the Kootenay Boundary region this year.

Among this year’s projects in the region is a multi-year project working to conserve the rare black cottonwood forests of the Kettle River. The riparian ecosystems (which help connect land to water and provide fish habitat in B.C.) are home to several species at risk and The Granby Wilderness Society has undertaken restoration work for several years to improve habitat. This year the Society is increasing its stewardship efforts by working with landowners to identify habitat concerns and assist with additional restoration efforts: “The biggest project successes are meeting landowners that have healthy riparian areas and are good stewards. Private lands play such an important role in conservation,” said project leader Jenny Coleshill.

A site planted with rooted stock on the Kettle River north of Rock Creek – Barb Stewart

The project is being supported by the HCTF and the Forest Enhancement Society of BC (FESBC) with $30,480 in co-funding this year.

”HCTF and FESBC believe in the power of a partnership; just like the Granby Wilderness Society, local governments, and landowners who are working together to enhance riparian areas along the river,” said Dan Buffett, CEO of HCTF. “Establishing healthy riparian black cottonwood stands along the Kettle River supports our rivers as they are dynamic systems shifting between flood and drought states. A healthy riparian zone lessens flooding and drought impacts, improves water quality, and supports a more diverse and abundant population of aquatic and terrestrial species along with their habitats.”

Other HCTF-funded projects taking place in the Kootenays include:

  • $130,500 for a River Guardian program in eight Kootenay region watersheds to maintain or improve angling quality and protect our native freshwater fish populations.
  • $83,830 to enhance 112 hectares of elk winter range in the Upper Kicking Horse Canyon through thinning of immature forest to promote forage growth and allow ease of elk movement.
  • $70,150 to restore habitat on approximately 105 km of roads within the Columbia North herd of the Southern Mountain Caribou ecotype.
  • $38,222 for improving the basking log habitat for the blue-listed (Indigenous species which are vulnerable to the region) Western Painted Turtle on Erie Lake.
  • $50,000 for the 2024 Wetlands Institute in the East Kootenays, a seven-day workshop that provides practitioners with the tools and knowledge to initiate wetland stewardship projects.

2023 Wetlands Institute Restoration Design – Jamie Long

Mon, 16 Sep 2024
Tags: Acquisition / News

Protection of Vital Wildlife Corridors for Rare and At-Risk Species

Bummer's Flats Eastside Benchlands (c) Julian Zelazny

Thanks to the support of nature lovers across the province, critical Kootenay wildlife corridors have been protected, increasing connectivity for species like the grizzly bear, elk, and Lewis’s woodpecker.

In a landmark achievement for conservation, The Nature Trust of British Columbia (NTBC), a leading land conservation charity, recently announced the protection of two crucial conservation areas in the Kootenay Region: Bummers Flats – MapleCross Benchlands and Wycliffe Prairie, part of the Wycliffe Conservation Complex. This success is thanks to the unwavering support of nature lovers across the province, ensuring the protection of these vital habitats for future generations.

The Government of Canada’s investment in major nature conservation projects in B.C., through the Nature Smart Climate Solutions Fund, was pivotal in securing these new conservation areas. These investments, complemented by generous contributions from the Kootenay community and donors across B.C., Canada, and the U.S., enabled The Nature Trust of BC to raise almost $4 million to protect 874 acres (354 hectares) of habitat in the region, providing critical movement corridors for wildlife, including grizzly bears and elk. This acquisition will also contribute to supporting biodiversity and environmental processes facilitating natural carbon removal from the atmosphere.

These two new conservation areas are characterized by important ecosystems, including grasslands, wetlands, riparian corridors, and Douglas-fir forests. These ecosystems support numerous endangered or other at-risk species and function as significant carbon sinks. The protection of Wycliffe Prairie and Bummers Flats – MapleCross Benchlands marks an important step towards mitigating climate change and safeguarding the rich, but declining, biodiversity in B.C.

“Through collaboration with partners like The Nature Trust of British Columbia, and the support of generous donors, we are working to protect and restore the natural environment in the Kootenay Region. This includes safeguarding a crucial wildlife movement corridor and boosting the region’s capacity to capture and store carbon. The Nature Smart Climate Solutions Fund is playing a key role in helping us combat climate change and biodiversity loss while also advancing efforts to conserve 30 percent of land and water in Canada by 2030,” said The Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change.

“Thanks to the generosity of British Columbians with a deep-rooted love for our province and its incredible nature, we are able to protect Wycliffe Prairie and Bummers Flats – MapleCross Benchlands, forever. We live in the most biodiverse province in Canada, yet almost a third of the species assessed in B.C. are now at risk. Together, we are making a difference by safeguarding vital biodiversity in the Kootenays and helping to mitigate climate change.” said Dr. Jasper Lament, CEO of The Nature Trust of BC.

Wycliffe Praire (c) The Nature Trust of BC

Wycliffe Prairie is located within the unceded, traditional territory of the Ktunaxa Nation, and spans 450 acres (182 hectares). This ecologically diverse area features riparian forests along Luke Creek, wetlands, grasslands and dry, open forest habitats that are important to species such as the at-risk grizzly bear (of special concern), the endangered Lewis’s woodpecker, and the endangered American badger.

The protection of Wycliffe Prairie expands the Wycliffe Conservation Complex to over 3,500 acres (1,450 hectares), including lands managed by The Nature Trust of BC, the Province of B.C. and the Nature Conservancy of Canada. This protects habitat for many endangered or other at-risk species. Thanks to the generosity of donors, The Nature Trust of BC successfully raised over $2.5 million to protect and conserve this area for future generations.

The Wycliffe Prairie project was funded in part by the Government of Canada and was significantly bolstered by the generosity of others. The Nature Trust of BC would also like to thank the Coyne family, Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation, Kootenay Wildlife Heritage Fund and the Hammond Family, Rocky Mountain Naturalists, Southern Guides (Guide Outfitters Association of B.C.), Tony Paine & Susan Collacott, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Wood Brothers, Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative (Y2Y), and many others who made this project possible.

The project is part of a cross-border partnership, thanks to the North American Wetlands Conservation Act, which allows U.S. taxpayers to triple their donation through Canadian, and U.S sources, including the U.S Fish and Wildlife Service.

“The Nature Trust of BC has played a significant role in protecting habitat for migratory birds, including along the Pacific Flyway, which extends through Canada, the U.S., Mexico and South America. This project will help further this mission forward, ensuring that avian populations thrive in perpetuity.” said Dr. Jasper Lament, CEO of The Nature Trust of BC.

“We are deeply grateful for the support of our many partners and donors in helping to conserve these ecologically significant areas. It’s an exciting day and an incredible example of the power of collaboration amongst the conservation community. Together, these two projects will leave a lasting legacy for the wildlife and people of the region.” said Chris Bosman, Kootenay Conservation Land Manager, The Nature Trust of BC.

“The Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation is proud to fund The Nature Trust of BC in their acquisition of these vital areas in the Kootenay region. Both projects protect our rare wetland and grassland habitats which are critical to a significant diversity and abundance of species such as grizzly bears, birds, amphibians, and insects. These acquisitions demonstrate how partners collaboratively conserve important habitats for fish, wildlife, and people now and for the future.” said Dan Buffett, CEO of the Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation.

Bummer’s Flats Eastside Benchlands (c) The Nature Trust of BC

Bummers Flats – MapleCross Benchlands, covering 424 acres (171 hectares), is primarily comprised of dry, open forest and grassland situated above the Kootenay River floodplain. Located in the unceded and traditional territory of the Ktunaxa Nation, this area offers connectivity for species like elk, grizzly bear, mule deer, and white-tailed deer. It also provides critical habitat for the federally endangered American badger, and supports diverse plant species, birds, amphibians, and reptiles.

This new conservation area expands the existing Bummers Flats Conservation Complex to 4,930 acres (1,995 hectares), which includes other conservation areas managed by The Nature Trust of BC, the Province, and Ducks Unlimited Canada. This project also succeeds in establishing a cross-valley connectivity corridor that spans from upland habitat west of the Kootenay River, across the river floodplain and up into benchlands at the foot of the Rocky Mountains.

The Nature Trust of BC successfully raised just under $1.4 million to protect and conserve this land. The van der Velden family, who sold the conservation area to The Nature Trust of BC, also donated to the fundraising campaign in honour of Aart, their late father and husband.

“I am deeply thankful that this beautiful land has been protected by The Nature Trust of BC. This land was incredibly important to my husband, Aart, who loved nature his entire life. We moved from Holland to Canada in 1983 and we have always loved the incredible scenery and wildlife in Canada. This land is close to a highway, so we were always concerned the area would be developed one day and that our community would lose its beauty. We see the conservation of this land as a legacy to Aart who would have been thrilled to see this area flourish for generations to come.” said Gerrie van der Velden, previous owner and seller of Bummers Flats Eastside Benchlands.

This project was funded in part by the Government of Canada. The Nature Trust of BC would also like to thank Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation, MapleCross, Nature’s Way, and Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative (Y2Y) for their generous contributions to this project.

“MapleCross is thrilled to support the acquisition of Bummers Flats – MapleCross Benchlands by The Nature Trust of BC. We are particularly interested in the ecological significance of this project in the Rocky Mountains, as it is located in a corridor essential for the natural movement of wildlife. And, of course, we were intrigued by the origin of the name! We look forward to our continued partnership with The Nature Trust of BC and to sharing its ongoing commitment towards protecting ecologically vulnerable ecosystems in B.C.” said Dr. Isobel Ralston and Dr. Jan Oudenes, MapleCross.

“Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative applauds The Nature Trust of BC’s commitment to conserving landscapes in the Kootenay region for biodiversity and wildlife connectivity. The value of the wildlife habitat within the Wycliffe Prairie and Bummers Flats – MapleCross Benchlands properties is important both locally and on a larger scale. These now-protected lands will help to ensure wildlife’s essential movement between the Rocky Mountain and Purcell ecosystems in B.C. — and across the continentally significant Yellowstone to Yukon region. Because of partners like The Nature Trust BC and the dedicated landowners they work with, we can ensure these important landscapes remain intact and connected, forever.” said Jordan Reeves, Director of Landscape Connectivity, Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative.

The conservation of Wycliffe Prairie and Bummers Flats – MapleCross Benchlands is an important milestone towards the long-term protection of B.C.’s biodiversity and addressing the twin crises of biodiversity loss and climate change. Thanks to the generosity of donors across the province, this land will be conserved and stewarded in perpetuity.

Mon, 9 Sep 2024
Tags: F&W / News / Wildlife

Owl Habitat Suitability in Post-Fire Forests

An owl spotted during the study - photo by Marcus Cosentino

HCTF is proud to support 178 fish and wildlife conservation and conservation stewardship projects across B.C. this year, with more than $1.5M in funding allocated to projects in the Thompson Okanagan region.

Among this year’s projects in the region is a two-year study of how wildfires of different ages affect the distribution of owls in the Okanagan Valley. “Owls help regulate prey populations and are culturally significant to local Indigenous communities. They are threatened by wildfire, which removes forest features needed for breeding and hunting,” says project leader Karen Hodges of the University of British Columbia Okanagan. MSc student Steffani Singh is surveying which owl species are present in post-fire forests and determining where owl nests are and what the owls are eating in these burned landscapes. The project will thus inform the management about what features of burned forests are essential for owls, leading to better habitat conservation. The project is being supported by the HCTF and the Forest Enhancement Society of BC (FESBC), with $66,401 in funding this year.

View of an area post-wildfire – photo by Nikita Karitsky

Dan Buffett, CEO of HCTF, said, “Over the last seven years, FESBC contributed over $4.5M to HCTF to fund wildlife projects in our forests. Our partnership enables project leaders such as UBCO to assess the impact of wildfires on wildlife and develop guidance on how to better manage forests for wildlife. Projects such as Dr. Hodge’s work on owls, along with many other wildlife projects, will continue to fill our knowledge gaps to improve habitat for wildlife.”

Learn more: listen to an interview with project lead Steffani Singh here.

Other HCTF-funded projects taking place in Thompson Okanagan include:

  • $22,730 to measure how changes in Douglas-fir forests affect mule deer habitat and how to better support the mule deer population in the Bald Mountain range west of Summerland (co-funded by FESBC).
  • $295,500 to rebuild the Mission Creek Spawning Channel intake, ensuring spawning migration access and higher survival rates for juvenile kokanee.
  • $62,750 to restore habitat on approximately 23 km of roads within the Caribou North and Groundhog caribou herds’ range.
  • $93,615 to install a resistivity counter in the Upper Shuswap River to monitor Bull trout migration and provide spawning and movement patterns.
  • $24,906 to build capacity for and understanding of environmental and wildlife initiatives in the Nlaka’pamux Homeland.
Fri, 6 Sep 2024
Tags: News / Wildlife

How Prescribed Fire is Helping Enhance Stone’s Sheep Habitat in B.C.

Implementation of a prescribed burn for Stone’s sheep habitat - Ridgeline Wildlife Enhancement

In the remote, rugged, Northeastern terrain of B.C., nearly half of the world’s Stone’s sheep habitat can be found. These sheep and the ecosystem surrounding them have been supported through careful forest management practices since the 1970s. One such practice, jointly funded in recent years by HCTF and the Forest Enhancement Society of BC (FESBC), is prescribed fire.

In May 2022, approximately 160 hectares of Stone’s sheep winter habitat were treated with prescribed fire. This initiative targeted four specific slopes (hillsides), utilizing aerial ignition techniques (dropping fire from helicopters) to reduce woody vegetation, enhance forage quality, and improve predator detection capabilities for the sheep. This treatment was part of a broader objective to restore and maintain habitat not only for Stone’s sheep but, in future project years, also for bighorn sheep, which inhabit the southernmost extent of the region.

“Prescribed fire is a long-standing management practice to restore important foraging habitats for wild sheep and many other species such as moose, elk and mule deer. HCTF is proud to co-fund this work with FESBC so that our project leader can complete this critical work to benefit Stone’s sheep in the Peace Region,” remarks Dan Buffett, CEO of HCTF. “It’s a great project involving a wide variety of partners generating benefits well beyond wildlife to improve the broader forest ecosystem and create a better patchwork of grasslands and different aged forest stands over the landscape.” Viewed from above, the patches appear to be irregular in size, shape, and distribution. This is what natural landscapes often look like when fire is allowed.

In May 2024, before the summer season of wildfires experienced throughout the province, Ridgeline Wildlife Enhancement Inc., on behalf of the Wild Sheep Society of BC, worked on the project to undertake two prescribed burns. They successfully enhanced over 600 hectares or 1,400 acres of Stone’s sheep habitat using prescribed burning treatments. The resulting post-burn habitat will improve forage (food for sheep) quality and reduce dense shrub cover (so the sheep can see predators from a distance).

“The funds provided by HCTF and FESBC result in a direct, on-the-ground, immediate benefit to Stone’s sheep and their habitat,” explained Alicia Woods, a wildlife biologist with Ridgeline Wildlife Enhancement. “Within 10 days post-burn, new vegetation was visible on-site, and by eight weeks post-burn, the site was beginning to revegetate with new forage. We often see sheep move into a burned area within a few weeks to graze on the new growth. Funding for prescribed burning projects also contributes to landscape-level ecosystem restoration, reducing fuel loads, and includes benefits to other species that rely on sub-alpine grasslands.”

During and 6 weeks after a burn, seeing the return of the forage – Ridgeline Wildlife Enhancement

While the primary objective focused on strategically removing of brush and old vegetation to promote the growth of new, nutrient-rich vegetation, Woods emphasized the prescribed burns’ dual benefits, both for habitat management and as a proactive measure against uncontrolled wildfires. “By reducing the fuel load through controlled burns, we not only helped improve habitat quality but also helped mitigate the risk of severe wildfires,” she said.

An interesting objective of this project is that Woods’ team also focuses on studying and researching the impact of prescribed burns on sheep health and their habitat.

“In addition to the on-the-ground habitat benefits, funding contributed by HCTF and FESBC support a research component of the project that includes an assessment of wildlife and vegetation response to prescribed burns. In partnership with the University of Northern British Columbia, PhD students will further investigate how the habitat treated with fire may affect Stone’s sheep health. In a region that supports 50 per cent of the global population of Stone’s sheep, the enhancement of sheep habitat through this prescribed burn program has substantial benefits to this iconic species,” said Woods.

A novel aspect of the project focuses on the indirect assessment of sheep health by analyzing pellet samples for stress hormones and nutritional status indicators. This method offers a non-invasive way to gauge the potential health benefits of the burns to the sheep.

A Stone sheep returning to a site post-burn – Ridgeline Wildlife Enhancement

“As professional foresters making forest management decisions, we are often asked to manage multiple resources and values. The partnership between HCTF and FESBC provides funds to help research, investigate and find solutions in an ever-changing forest landscape on forest stewardship, specifically focused on wildlife and associated ecosystems and habitats,” said Tyler Field, Registered Forest Professional, operations manager with FESBC. “This year, for example, we are jointly funding several long-term projects that look at the effects of wildfire on certain wildlife species, which could help forest professionals make decisions in the future on using fire as a forest management tool in cultural and prescribed burns.”

While in the past couple of years, the project leaders have seen success, they have faced several challenges to get to this point:

  1. The logistics of such an extensive project, especially for reaching remote areas, are extremely difficult. For example, one helicopter trip to the more remote study areas costs roughly $6,000, and the project team needs to visit the sites for monitoring at least four times a year. That is why, apart from the HCTF and FESBC support, the project has additional support from the Wild Sheep Society of BC, Wild Sheep Foundation, North Peace Rod & Gun Club, and the University of Northern BC.
  2. Obtaining necessary government permits is a lengthy and complex process Woods shared, often taking years to navigate through bureaucratic layers. The project has submitted 25 burn permit applications and notably secured 14 burn permits, of which they have already treated six areas.
  3. Even after burn permits are secured, it isn’t as straightforward as implementing the burns. “Spring prescribed burns occur in a narrow window that happens sometime between when the slopes become snow-free and before the site greens up. Sometimes, this window can be as narrow as one week,” explained Woods. The narrow window for suitable burning conditions requires precise timing and flexibility, and the unpredictable weather patterns of recent years and increasing dry periods due to climate change have complicated scheduling and increased the risk of unintended fire escapes from the target burn area.
  4. For Woods, it is important for the public to be aware of the differences between wildfires and prescribed burns and learn why these burns are essential for maintaining ecological balance. “Prescribed burns are done in a very controlled fashion. There are very specific targets with very specific objectives. How we do it, and the conditions we do it under, are also carefully chosen,” said Woods. “The devastation of wildfires we see on the news is not how a prescribed burn site looks; after a prescribed burn the site flourishes with new vegetation.”

Woods also wants people to understand that controlled burns have always been an integral part of Indigenous practices and culture.

“The support and involvement of local First Nations, such as Fort Nelson First Nation, Halfway River First Nation, Doig River First Nation, and communities in the Kaska and Kwadacha traditional areas is not just beneficial but essential. They bring a perspective that enriches our understanding and approach,” said Woods, adding, “What they tell us about burning is also what we see, which is exciting because it confirms what I see on the ground. We conduct the burns similarly to how the First Nations used to do it – during the spring when the frost is still in the ground, so the burn doesn’t harm the soils – as a tool of controlled burning for the benefit of enhancing wildlife habitat and improving the ecological balance in the area.”

The project has become a leading example of how integrating Indigenous ecological knowledge with contemporary scientific practices can lead to more effective and sustainable forest management. Next, the project plans to expand the treated areas, aiming to cover between 500 to 1,000 hectares annually across multiple study areas.

“Our goal is to establish a cycle of burns that continuously rejuvenates the habitat,” she explained. “Ideally, we’re looking to manage these lands in a way that maintains ecosystem diversity across the landscape, which will, in turn, support the wildlife the northeast is renowned for.”

Through the dedicated efforts of Woods and her team, the prescribed burning projects in Northeastern B.C. demonstrate that thoughtful, well-managed fire regimes can profoundly benefit wildlife and ecosystems.

Fri, 26 Jul 2024
Tags: Education / News / scholarship / t4w / together for wildlife

$200k in Scholarships for Wildlife Conservation & Stewardship Research

Surfbird with pinpoint transmitter - Paige Monteiro

HCTF, in partnership with the First Nations-B.C. Wildlife and Habitat Conservation Forum and the British Columbia government, announces this year’s Together for Wildlife Scholarship recipients.

The 10 scholarship recipients are master’s degree and PhD candidates conducting applied research that will make positive impacts in the areas of stewardship, management, policy, or decision-making related to wildlife and wildlife habitats in B.C.:

Landon Birch – Master’s, University of British Columbia – Okanagan
Mitchell Brunet – Doctorate, University of British Columbia – Okanagan
Tristen Brush – Master’s, University of British Columbia
Alexia Constantinou – Doctorate, University of Victoria
Westin Creyke – Master’s, University of Northern British Columbia
Siobhan Darlington – Doctorate, University of British Columbia – Okanagan
Isabel Deutsch – Master’s, University of Victoria
Paige Monteiro – Master’s, Simon Fraser University
Larisa Murdoch – Master’s, Thompson Rivers University
Megan Roxby – Master’s, Simon Fraser University

The Together for Wildlife (T4W) strategy was initiated by the B.C. government in 2020 to improve wildlife and habitat stewardship throughout the province. The T4W Scholarship Program, administered by HCTF and now in its second year, supports the strategy’s goals by improving support for scientific research, building stronger partnerships within research communities, and sharing the results of that research with British Columbians. The scholarships also aim to support reconciliation and collaboration with First Nations, encourage a diversity of perspectives on wildlife stewardship, and build capacity among Indigenous communities and rural areas of B.C. to undertake wildlife stewardship work.

“We are proud to welcome these 10 students into the community of conservation through the Together for Wildlife Scholarship Program,” said Dan Buffett, CEO of HCTF. “It is exciting to see the diversity of projects, such as research on birds, ungulates, and carnivores, to better understand the relationships within our environment, along with using technologies to improve wildlife and habitat management. As future conservation leaders in B.C., we look forward to their work with communities and contributing their knowledge to wildlife stewardship.”

“Research on wildlife is crucial for expanding our knowledge of biodiversity, habitat stewardship, and the interrelated ecosystems that allow British Columbia’s unique and diverse species to thrive,” said Nathan Cullen, Minister of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship. “The Together for Wildlife strategy, the Tripartite Framework Agreement on Nature Conservation, and the draft Biodiversity and Ecosystem Health Framework support science-based stewardship that will allow future generations to enjoy and appreciate this province’s amazing range of wildlife.”

More information about the Together for Wildlife Scholarship Program:
https://hctf.ca/scholarship-program/ > Together for Wildlife Scholarships

More information about the Together for Wildlife strategy:
https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/environment/plants-animals-ecosystems/wildlife/together-for-wildlife

About the Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation
The Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to conserving the natural diversity of British Columbia’s wildlife habitats. HCTF works in partnership with governments, non-government organizations, and the public to ensure a sustainable future for B.C.’s wildlife and their habitats through funding conservation projects, as well as providing educational opportunities on B.C.’s freshwater fish, wildlife, and their habitats. Since 1981, HCTF has provided over $232 million in grants for over 3,800 conservation projects throughout B.C.

About Together for Wildlife
Together for Wildlife is a provincial strategy initiated by the British Columbia government in 2020 to improve wildlife and habitat stewardship throughout the province. The strategy incorporates project funding, the setting of proactive objectives, and improved data and knowledge to achieve the strategy’s vision: “Wildlife and their habitats thrive, are resilient, and support and enrich the lives of all British Columbians.”

About the First Nations-B.C. Wildlife Habitat Conservation Forum
The First Nations-B.C. Wildlife Habitat Conservation Forum provides advice and recommendations to the B.C. government to fulfill Goal 5 of the Together for Wildlife strategy: “Collaborative wildlife stewardship advances reconciliation with Indigenous governments.” The forum facilitates this goal through an ethical space process, where Indigenous and non-Indigenous governments collaboratively develop protocols framed by pre-existing treaties, other agreements, and inherent Indigenous rights.

Tue, 9 Jul 2024
Tags: Community / News / Stewardship

$650k for Conservation Stewardship Grants

2022 Wetlands Institute participants refencing North Jubilee wetland as it expands outward - BCWF

HCTF has recently approved over $650k in funding for 42 conservation stewardship projects in BC.

Included in the funding are projects under HCTF’s stewardship grant umbrella: Action, Capacity, and Community Grants.

Newly launched Action Grants support projects that directly involve people and communities to change behaviours and/or practices leading to positive and measurable conservation outcomes in British Columbia.

Projects include:

  • $50,000 for the 2024 Wetlands Institute, a 7-day workshop providing necessary tools and knowledge for practitioners to initiate wetland stewardship projects across B.C.
  • $25,000 to connect a community of rural landowners and community partners with skills and resources to improve water quality and aquatic habitats in the Langley area
  • $50,000 to support a landholder engagement program to share cultural teachings and ways of knowing about Xpey’ (cedar) and relationships with the land, and inspire a range of restoration and management actions

Capacity Grants, now in their second year, provide funding to build and strengthen the capability and capacity of organizations to successfully design and deliver conservation or restoration projects.

Projects include:

  • $20,000 to support the development of an Indigenous-led conservation and protection project on Sumas Mountain on the traditional territory of the Semá:th people
  • $24,630 to train and provide experience to Kitselas First Nation members in conducting site assessments for restoration work within the Telkwa caribou herd range
    • This project is funded by the Province of BC and Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) through the Caribou Habitat Restoration Fund (CHRF)
  • $10,000 to create an in-depth management plan to guide moose management in the Chilcotin

    Volunteers supporting the Metchosin Parks Holly Eradication Project

Community Grants, formerly the Public Conservation Assistance Fund (PCAF), provide funding to organizations and individuals who need financial help to implement a conservation project with a particular focus on volunteer involvement.

Projects include:

  • $10,000 to improve the recovery of native vegetation and enhance breeding habitat for waterfowl and songbirds on Galiano Island through planting of native species and installation of nest boxes
  • $9,700 to restore vital tidal marsh habitats in View Royal Park through eco-cultural fencing, the creation of tidal channels, and replenishing marsh banks
  • $8,120 for a “Nature is for Everyone” program welcoming those who are currently under-represented in the environment restoration movement, and encouraging families to improve habitat while connecting with nature

See the list of all 2024 HCTF-funded stewardship projects here (PDF download).