Mon, 24 Apr 2023
Tags: F&W / Fish & Wildlife

$8 Million in Funding Approved for Conservation Projects Across B.C.

Project 7-540: Prescribed Burns for Wild Sheep Enhancement in Northeastern BC

The Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation today announced over $8 million that will fund 167 fish and wildlife conservation projects across B.C. 

2023-24 HCTF Project List

For over 40 years, the Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation (HCTF) has provided grants to a large network of recipients who undertake conservation projects each year. With support from HCTF, a wide range of nonprofit organizations, First Nations and Indigenous communities, Provincial ministries, and community groups implement projects that protect B.C.’s wildlife, freshwater fish, and their habitats. Since 1981, the HCTF has funded over 3,550 projects representing an investment of over $215 million for conservation in B.C.

CEO Dan Buffett is pleased with the diversity of projects as “each project undergoes a multi-step technical review process to direct funding to the best projects for fish, wildlife and their habitats.”

Project 5-310: Invasive Mussel Monitoring for the Cariboo Regional District

A significant source of funding for projects is the conservation surcharge paid by B.C.’s anglers, hunters, trappers, and guide outfitters when they purchase their respective licenses. HCTF also receives substantial funding from partner organizations like the Forest Enhancement Society of B.C. (FESBC), provincial government contributions, court awards, and endowments.

FESBC’s Executive Director Steve Kozuki is “thrilled to partner with the trusted and respected Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation to improve wildlife habitat. With their first-in-class management of funds and projects by talented and professional staff, we know that we are maximizing benefits for wildlife in British Columbia.”

This year’s approved projects include:

  • $254,809 for functional and ecological restoration of approximately 16 km of linear corridors in the Clearwater Valley, led by the Nîkanêse Wah tzee Stewardship Society.
  • $146,747 to enhance 200 km2 of moose habitat in Nazko First Nation territory including rehabilitation of 100 km of forest resource roads.
  • $130,794 to determine the migration behaviour and habitat use of juvenile white sturgeon in the Pitt River watershed of the Lower Fraser River to develop habitat protections and restoration prescriptions.
  • $92,938 for the restoration of a former sawmill site in the heart of the salmonid migratory corridor of the Puntledge and Tsolum Rivers watersheds in the Comox Valley; this will restore the forested tidal wetland and reconnect the site to the floodplain of the Courtenay River, benefiting salmon, trout, and many other wildlife species.
  • $95,940 for the enhancement of critical habitat for mule deer, white-tailed deer, and Rocky Mountain elk between Raymond and Red Canyon Creeks in the Galton Range. Efforts will focus on slashing treatments and invasive plant management.

Project 2-349: Enhancing Upland Farmland for Wildlife in the Fraser River Delta

The B.C. Wildlife Federation also received funding this year: “Funding from HCTF will help the B.C. Wildlife Federation to train a new generation of habitat stewards through our Wetlands Institute,” said Neil Fletcher, BCWF Director of Conservation Stewardship. “With the support of HCTF, we offer a seven-day boot camp to qualified British Columbians who are pursuing projects in their communities. The grant for the Water, Water, Everywhere project will enable the BCWF to strategically place wetlands designed to mimic beaver dams with ability to restore and enhance wildlife habitat and riparian areas all over B.C.,” Fletcher added. “Installing beaver dam analogues with local partners will allow us to share our skills and expand our network of conservation stewards.”

To see the complete list of HCTF funded projects or explore the conservation work being done near you, view the 2023-24 Approved Project List.

Wed, 15 Mar 2023
Tags: Caribou / Fish & Wildlife / News

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
Tags: Habitat Acquisition

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.

 

Wed, 15 Feb 2023
Tags: collaboration / Education / scholarship / t4w / together for wildlife / Wildlife

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
Tags: Conservation Lands O&M / Photography / Wildlife

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.