Mon, 25 Apr 2022

We Are Looking For A New HCTF Board Member

The Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation (HCTF) is looking for an experienced, dedicated, and knowledgeable individual with expertise in fish and wildlife management to join our Board of Directors. The Board is looking to broaden its collective experience by including Indigenous perspectives, increasing Board diversity and fisheries knowledge.

HCTF is a non-profit foundation administering a broad range of conservation funds and granting programs that benefit fish, wildlife, and their habitats in BC. HCTF has a long history of supporting important fish and wildlife projects in all regions of British Columbia. Since 1981, HCTF has invested over $206 million in over three thousand projects. Conservation surcharges on angling, hunting, trapping, and guide outfitting licences provide the primary source of revenue with additional funding sources including government contributions, court awards, and donations.

We are looking for a board member to be part of our Board of Directors to:

  • Establish strategic objectives and a performance management framework;
  • Establish priorities, consistent with the Trust’s purposes, to approve funding grants;
  • Ensuring accountability and that appropriate controls are in place regarding administrative, financial, and scientific/technical performance of the Trust;
  • Review funding opportunities, policy changes, and other opportunities that will further the objectives of the Trust;
  • When possible, promote Foundation and Trust activities at stakeholder events, media outlets, and other communications venues.

The HCTF Board of Directors is comprised of members appointed by the Minister overseeing the Wildlife Act, the British Columbia Wildlife Federation, the Guide Outfitters Association of British Columbia, the British Columbia Trappers Association, and up to seven additional ‘At-Large’ members. A Board member’s term of office is up to 3 years.

Full Job Description

Please submit a resume and cover letter to Dan Buffett (HCTF CEO) by 4:30 pm on June 6, for further inquiries, contact Dan Buffett by email at: dan.buffett@hctf.ca or by phone at: 250-940-9788

Mon, 25 Apr 2022

Wildlife and Fish Conservation Across British Columbia Receives $8.7 Million in Funding

This year, HCTF awarded $8.7 million in funding for over 150 individual conservation projects throughout British Columbia by supporting conservation groups, government, Indigenous Nations, and local communities to implement these projects.

2022-23 HCTF Project List

The Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation (HCTF) is a non-profit, charitable organization dedicated to funding conservation projects that protect B.C.’s wildlife, freshwater fish, and the habitats they need to survive and thrive. Funding and support for these projects across the province come from a wide variety of sources including public groups such as the British Columbia Wildlife Federation (BCWF), partner organizations like the Forest Enhancement Society of BC, provincial government contributions, court fines, and endowments. A significant source of this funding comes from the conservation surcharge paid by B.C.’s anglers, hunters, trappers, and guide outfitters with the purchase of their respective licenses.

Project #0-466: BC Wild Sheep Conservation and Movi Control Program

While HCTF manages funds and administers many grants programs, HCTF’s CEO Dan Buffett remarks that “it is in collaboration with our partners that HCTF can generate funding and deliver projects that are key to conserving British Columbia’s fish, wildlife and their habitats”. Since 1981, HCTF has approved over $206 million on over 3550 conservation projects. Some of the projects funded this year include:

A habitat restoration project and an associated study funded for $346,000, which aims to enhance Moose forage, habitat, population in North-Central BC. Monitoring the short-term success and effectiveness of the forage enhancement techniques will inform habitat enhancement practices and moose conservation strategies going forward.

The Simpcw First Nation received $290,000 in funding for caribou habitat restoration through the naturalization of deactivated roads and vegetation planting within the overwintering range of the Well Grey South caribou herd. This habitat restoration will provide cover and reduce the impact of predator species and human activities on caribou.

$220,000 in funding was provided to Ducks Unlimited Canada to facilitate the Wetland Conservation Partnership Program. This program will restore and enhance wetland, river, and grassland habitats across the province. This will include rebuilding infrastructure supporting the 184 Mile and Mayook Marshes, benefiting freshwater fish, waterfowl, and other aquatic species in central British Columbia.

Project #2-754: At-Risk Birds of Prey Conservation on the South Coast

Project #2-754: At-Risk Birds of Prey Conservation on the South Coast

“We are proud to partner with HCTF and local experts on the ground throughout British Columbia to improve wildlife habitat,” said Steve Kozuki, executive director of FESBC. “HCTF combines wildlife biology expertise with their excellent management of funds to deliver outstanding benefits for wildlife. With all the pressures on the land base, the good work HCTF does is more important than ever.”

Project 1-694: Gold River Steelhead Stock Decline Investigations

Project 1-694: Gold River Steelhead Stock Decline Investigations

To see the complete list of HCTF-funded projects or explore the conservation work being done near you, view the 2022-23 Approved Project List.


For More Information:

Craig Doucette, Communications Officer
Direct: 250 940 3012 | Toll-free: 1 800 387 9853 ext. 212
craig.doucette@hctf.ca


HCTF Quick Facts

It is the mission of HCTF to improve the conservation outcomes of B.C.’s fish and wildlife, and the habitats in which they live. We make a difference by funding conservation projects and by educating and engaging the public about B.C.’s natural assets. 2021 marks HCTF’s 40th anniversary of helping conservation groups and individuals secure funding for conservation projects and providing education to the general public about B.C.’s important natural assets. Since 1981, HCTF has provided over $206 million in grants for 3,550 conservation projects across B.C.

 

Mon, 4 Apr 2022

Now Accepting PCAF Grant Applications for 2022-23

This Cassin's Vireo was banded by volunteers as part of the Bird Migration and Community Education Project, funded through PCAF (photo by Jannaca Chick).

HCTF is now accepting applications for the Public Conservation Assistance Fund (PCAF). Applications must be submitted via the Survey Apply online system before 4:30pm (PST) on Friday, May 13, 2022.

Before beginning your application on the Survey Apply system, we strongly recommend that you complete your application on the Word worksheets posted on our website. Once completed you can copy-and-paste your answers into the online form. The worksheets also provide a useful overview of the questions and information requirements.

Please visit our PCAF FAQ to find useful tips and guidance for the new Survey Apply system. To access application resources and the link to apply, visit our PCAF Apply webpage.

Questions? Please contact Lisa Wielinga for further details.

Tue, 22 Feb 2022

Now Accepting Habitat Acquisition Grant Applications

Ryan River Misty Morning by Fernando Lessa

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 April 15, 2022 (PST).

Each year, the Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation provides approximately $500,000 in Land Acquisition grants to help fund acquisition projects that secure and manage conservation properties in British Columbia. One such project was the Nature Conservancy of Canada’s Ryan River Conservation Area. This 87 hectare (214 acres) property in the Pemberton Valley was secured in 2020 and protects an ecologically important river system. The recent flooding activity across the province has demonstrated the importance of maintaining naturalized riverbanks that improve ecological resilience in these vital habitats. By conserving wetlands and forest vegetation along a 2 kilometer stretch of the Ryan River this conservation effort will help to maintain the stability of the riverbank while providing vital food and habitat for both fish and wildlife species. For proponents interested to apply for a Habitat Acquisition grant, please refer to HCTF’s updated Priority statement.

For 2022, HCTF will 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

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 Sep 2021

2021 Al Martin HCTF Conservation Fellowship Recipients Announced

The Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation and HCTF Education are excited to announce the first-ever recipients of the Al Martin HCTF Conservation Fellowship (AMCF): Kaitlyn Zinn & Carl Jefferies.

The AMCF awards $10,000 annually to two graduate students who are wishing to pursue a career in fish or wildlife management and conservation in British Columbia.

The award is named in honor of Al Martin, a lifelong conservation giant who passed away suddenly in 2019. Al had an influential career with the BC provincial government that spanned three decades in fish and wildlife management and habitat conservation. After his retirement in 2010, Al continued to be a leader in the conservation community as a Board Director with HCTF and Director of Strategic Initiatives with the BC Wildlife Federation.

More About Al

2021 Recipients:

Kaitlyn Zinn

Kaitlyn is a PhD student at UBC’s Faculty of Forestry under the supervision of Dr. Scott Hinch in the Pacific Salmon Ecology and Conservation Laboratory. AMCF funds will be used to support her research for her thesis “Effects of Recreational Catch and Release on Chinook: From Marine Environments to Spawning Grounds”. Kaitlyn’s long term goal is to be involved in salmonid conservation, contributing to the conservation of wild salmon stocks in British Columbia.

More About Kaitlyn

 

Carl Jefferies

Carl is a MSc student in the Natural Resources and Environmental Studies (NRES) program at UNBC under the supervision of Dr. Heather Bryan. AMCF funds will be used to support his proposed thesis “Towards a better understanding of moose declines in BC: Effects of climate and anthropogenic landscape change on moose body condition and physiology”. Carl’s long term goal is to contribute to the management of conservation of wildlife populations throughout BC by balancing ecological conservation with the values and priorities of stakeholders, particularly First Nations and citizen groups.

More About Carl

If you or someone you know may be interested in applying for the Al Martin HCTF Conservation Scholarship, check out the following links:

Applicant Info                                 Apply Online

 

 

Tue, 27 Jul 2021

Restricted Funding Available!

Occasionally, HCTF receives funding that is restricted to a specific location, species, or activity. The majority of our restricted funding is the result of court awards made to HCTF through creative sentencing intended to repair or compensate for environmental and ecosystem related crimes. The restricted funding can be the basis for a full project or form a small component of a larger project.

HCTF provides a list funds available, their value, and the associated conditions on our website in an effort to encourage proposals that will utilize the funding for the upcoming year’s grant intake. The current list of available restricted funding has been posted below.

2022-23 Available Court Award Funding

Region Amount HCTF Reference # Restriction
6 $ 95,000.00 30502 Fish, wildlife, and habitat initiatives in the Skeena Region, with a preference for restoration work along the Skeena River between Terrace and Prince Rupert
1 $ 8,000.00 16111-1 Sum of $8,000 to be used in its entirety for the Fiddlehead Farm area and that of Powell River, British Columbia for conservation purposes.
3 $ 6,860.00 43225 To be used for elk enhancement in the Kamloops region.
2 $ 2,505.00 2738-1 For a study on the effects of non-lethal bear management

If you are interested in submitting a proposal for any of the restricted funding, please review the Enhancement and Restoration Grants page. Note that all restricted funding applications should be submitted through our regular enhancement grant process, by November 5, 2021.

Do you have a project idea for helping to secure elk populations near Kamloops, or conserving wildlife, fish or habitat along the Skeena River? We’d love to hear from you!