Wed, 15 Mar 2023

Preliminary Approved Project List 2023-24

A preliminary list of HCTF approved projects for 2023-24 is now available.

Preliminary Approved Project List 2023-24

Projects included on this preliminary list have been approved in principle but may have reduced budgets or funding conditions. All applicants will receive official notification emails including HCTF Board and technical committee comments. For approved projects, these emails will include the grant amount and funding conditions (if applicable). Please note that HCTF staff cannot provide further information to you before the Notifications are issued.

Proponents of approved projects will receive a Conditional Grant Agreement. Please be aware that until both you and HCTF have reviewed, accepted and signed the Conditional Grant Agreement, there is no confirmation of funding and no legal commitment in place.

Congratulations to all successful proponents! To those applicants who were not funded this time, thank you for your interest. The next opportunity to apply for an HCTF Enhancement and Restoration, Stewardship or Caribou Habitat Restoration Grant will be Fall of 2023 (Deadline: Friday November 3, 2023).

How are Grant Applications Reviewed?

Each proposal undergoes a multi-level, objective technical review prior to final Board decisions. For more information on what reviewers look for when evaluating a proposal, see our Grant Apply page.

Wed, 22 Feb 2023

2023 Habitat Acquisition Grant Applications Now Open!

Perserverance Creek by Sara Kepner

The Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation (HCTF) is now accepting applications for the Habitat Acquisition Grant. Applications must be submitted through HCTF’s online application system by 4:30pm on Monday, April 17, 2023 (PST).

Each year, the Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation provides approximately $500,000 in Habitat Acquisition grants to help fund acquisition projects that secure and manage conservation properties in British Columbia. One such project is Project Perseverance a 90.5-hectare (224 acre) watershed and habitat protection project near the Village of Cumberland on Vancouver Island. This property was secured in 2020 via the purchase of privately owned forest lands and now protects an ecologically rich habitat corridor that is home to a host of species including Western toads, Little Brown bats, and Roosevelt elk. The waterways support Coho salmon as well as Rainbow and Cutthroat Trout. Project Perseverance is now part of the Cumberland Community Forest Park, a 225-hectare park which includes three other areas purchased and protected by the Cumberland Community Forest Society since 2006. These areas are all protected through a Section 219 Conservation Covenant. To find out more visit www.cumberlandforest.com.

For 2023, HCTF will continue to prioritize acquisition applications that seek to increase conservation outcomes for fish, wildlife, and their habitats, provide access for a variety of uses such as hunting, fishing, and non-motorized recreation and fit one or more of the following criteria:

  • Contribute to the conservation of wetland or grassland habitats.
  • Increase connectivity to adjacent protected lands or important habitats to further build complexes of intact habitat.
  • Contribute to the conservation of habitats near urban settings to increase opportunities to connect people to nature.
  • Demonstrate resiliency to climate change and/or address stressors linked to climate change impacts.

Apply Here

Learn More

Please visit our FAQ Page to find useful tips and guidance for the online Survey Apply system. Please note that HCTF cannot accept applications submitted by email.

For questions related to the Habitat Acquisition Grant, please contact Barb von Sacken at bvonsacken@hctf.ca or 250-940-3013.

 

Announcing Together for Wildlife Scholarships!

HCTF in partnership with the First Nations-B.C. Wildlife & Habitat Conservation Forum and the Province of British Columbia are excited to announce the launch of the Together for Wildlife Scholarship program!

In 2020, the Province of British Columbia initiated a new provincial strategy called Together for Wildlife (T4W) which includes additional funding, proactive objectives, and improved data and knowledge, all supported by new policies, strong partnerships, and dedicated resources. The T4W strategy commits to 5 goals and 24 actions to achieve the following vision: “Wildlife and their habitats thrive, are resilient, and support and enrich the lives of all British Columbians”. Under the T4W Goal 2 – Data, information, and knowledge drive better decisions, Action 5 identifies improving support for scientific research, building stronger partnerships within research communities, and sharing results with British Columbian’s as key priorities.

To achieve this outcome, T4W is now offering up to ten $20,000 academic scholarships to Master’s and PhD candidates undertaking research that will support a positive impact on stewardship, management, policy, or decision making of wildlife in BC. These scholarships also aim to support reconciliation and collaboration, diversity of perspectives and building community capacity among Indigenous communities and rural areas of BC. We encourage Indigenous students to apply because of the perspectives they contribute through diversity, inclusion, and community capacity building.

The scholarships intend to support wildlife and wildlife habitat stewardship and management research in the following areas:

• Reconciliation & Collaboration
• Terrestrial Ecosystems
• Stewardship & Management (of terrestrial ecosystems, wildlife, and wildlife habitat)
• Wildlife & Wildlife Habitat

Applications must align with the goals of the Together for Wildlife strategy. Applicants must also engage and communicate results with respective communities impacted. For a more detailed description please visit the scholarship overview.

We encourage all eligible candidates to apply for the Together for Wildlife Scholarship program by May 15, 2023.

Through the Together for Wildlife Scholarships, we can work towards a future where wildlife and their habitats thrive, are resilient, and support and enrich the lives of all British Columbians!

Overview Sample Application Apply Now HCTF’s Scholarship Program

Fri, 2 Dec 2022

Winners of the 2022 Conservation Lands Photo Contest

The results are in for the winners of the 2022 HCTF Conservation Lands Photo Contest!

The 2022 Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation’s Photo Contest encouraged photographers and BC residents to get out to Conservation Lands across the Province to enjoy the natural beauty British Columbia has to offer.

1st Prize: Karen Wipond Award

2nd Prize

3rd Prize

Honourable Mention

Conservation Lands

The winning photographs were taken within the boundaries of provincially administered Conservation Lands in the province of British Columbia (see map below). While HCTF encourages photographers and all nature-minded individuals to explore BC’s Conservation Lands we recommend that you research the Conservation Land you intend to visit beforehand, obey all safety requirements, public access best practices, and ethical guidelines when taking pictures of wildlife (for recommended ethical wildlife photography see the Audubon Society’s Guide). Conservation Lands are protected and managed for the purposes of conserving important habitat and ecosystem functions, and it is important that visitors do their part to maintain these sites for generations to come.

The primary purpose of conservation lands is to conserve and manage important habitat for the benefit of regionally or internationally significant fish and wildlife species. This includes habitat that is vital for:

  • Sensitive, vulnerable, or at-risk species.
  • Critical species life-cycle phases such as spawning, rearing, nesting, or winter feeding.
  • Species migration routes or other movement corridors.
  • Supporting unusually high species productivity or diversity.

Conservation lands often concurrently provide for a range of opportunities for public access, including day hiking, hunting and fishing, wildlife viewing, scientific research and education, and traditional activities of First Nations.

Map of BC Conservation Lands

Tue, 1 Nov 2022

FESBC & HCTF Accomplishments Update

Replanting Whitebark Pine saplings along a subalpine ridge in the Skeena Region (photo by Sybille Haeussler)

Today sees the release of an Accomplishment Update reviewing the successes of a 5-year partnership between the Forest Enhancement Society of British Columbia (FESBC) and the Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation (HCTF). Since 2017, these two organizations have been working together to improve wildlife and fish habitat through the funding of vital conservation work.

FESBC & HCTF Accomplishments Update

The partnership funds projects ranging from wildlife research, habitat restoration and community engagement, with a focus on improving British Columbia’s forest ecosystems across every corner of British Columbia. HCTF brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise in identifying and cultivating impactful conservation work, combined with FESBC’s clear vision for improving forest wildlife habitat and ability to facilitate engagement with BC’s forestry community and the accomplishments of this partnership have been a great success for both organizations. Collaborative efforts between organizations, governments, and all British Columbians with a passion for nature are our best chance to improve, restore and maintain the natural resources that make this province great.

“FESBC and HCTF’s partnership delivers on-the-ground projects improving wildlife stewardship and habitat conservation throughout the province.” Says the Honourable Katrine Conroy, British Columbia’s Minister of Forests. “Through increased collaboration, their work is aligned fully with our Together for Wildlife strategy turning data and knowledge into action and results.”

From an initial pledge of $5 Million in 2017, the partnership has leveraged more than $8 Million dollars toward 105 individual conservation projects across the province. With many more success stories detailed in FESBC’s Fall 2022 Accomplishments Update and more funding earmarked for 2023 and beyond the partnership between FESBC and HCTF will continue to be a force for good in the sphere of wildlife and conservation funding.

About FESBC: the purposes of FESBC are to advance environmental and resource stewardship of B.C.’s forests by: preventing and mitigating the impact of wildfires; improving damaged or low-value forests; improving habitat for wildlife; supporting the use of fibre from damaged and low-value forests; and treating forests to improve the management of greenhouse gases. As of March 2022, FESBC has supported 263 projects valued at $238 million, in partnership with the governments of B.C. and Canada. FESBC would like to gratefully acknowledge the financial support of the Province of British Columbia through the Ministry of Forests.

Wed, 19 Oct 2022

Career Opportunity: Indigenous Inclusion Coordinator

Passionate about conservation? We are – come join us!

We are a non-profit foundation investing in habitat conservation and restoration projects across BC with an opening for a full-time Indigenous Inclusion Coordinator. We are seeking an individual who is energetic, self-directed, and has a positive approach to their career, their work, and their colleagues.

The Indigenous Inclusion Coordinator is part of the Biology and Evaluation Team and reports to the Wildlife Program Manager. This individual identifies opportunities for shared success and collaboration with Indigenous Peoples across HCTF’s many different granting programs and participates in meaningful engagement with Indigenous Peoples. The initial focus will be improving accessibility and inclusion within the Caribou Habitat Restoration Fund program, but the position will expand to other programs and initiatives. Travel will be required within BC and applicants outside of Victoria are encouraged to apply, as remote placement is possible.

HCTF encourages qualified Indigenous applicants to apply because of the perspectives they would contribute to the position (please self-identify in the cover letter).

Application Closing Date: November 18th (close Friday at 4:30pm)

Salary: Union position, with a classification of Grid 21 with a compensation range of $64,113 to $72,947 (BCGEU Grid)

Job Type: Regular, full time

Full Job Description

 

To apply, please email a cover letter and CV describing how you meet the required qualifications to careers@hctf.ca. All applicants must be legally eligible to work in Canada.