Tue, 14 Jul 2020

HCTF Announces 2020-21 List of Approved Conservation Projects Across BC

The Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation (HCTF) is proud to announce $9.2 million in funding for more than 180 individual wildlife, freshwater fish, and habitat conservation projects across British Columbia this year.

HCTF’s CEO Dan Buffett is pleased to report that the 2020/21 grant season has set a record for the Foundation’s highest annual investment and reflects the contributions and hard work of many British Columbians that fund and implement these projects. To date, HCTF has funded almost 3,000 conservation projects and granted over $189 million in funds across the length and breadth of this ecologically diverse province.

“Funding all these projects is no small feat,” said Buffett. “But it is thanks to the diversity of funding from our core contributors (hunters, anglers, trappers and guides), court awards, provincial government contributions and endowments, and our partners such as the Forest Enhancement Society of BC (FESBC).”

HCTF supports a variety of conservation projects across the province. Some highlights from this year’s list of approved projects include (accompanying photos below):

  • $25,000 for Roosevelt Elk recovery on Vancouver Island and relocation efforts throughout the west coast.
  • $90,000 to investigate habitat requirement for Goshawks in Southern Coastal BC.
  • $150,000 for the Kootenay Region River Guardian Program, designed to improve the quality of angling and protect native sport fish populations.
  • $100,000 for research into Mule deer response wildfire and habitat change in the Okanagan.
  • $60,000 in support of the the Kilnse-Zaa/Scott caribou herd maternal penning project in the south Peace region.
  • $70,000 for research into moose population trends and calving rates in the Cariboo and Thompson regions.

FESBC 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.”

Each project funded through HCTF is reviewed by a multi-level, objective technical review process prior to final Board review and decision. HCTF’s Board of Directors ensures that species important to BC anglers and hunters are supported but also place a great deal of importance on conserving biodiversity-rich ecosystems, habitat for many fish and wildlife species including species-at-risk and investing in environmental education across the province.

To see the complete list of HCTF funded projects or explore the conservation work being done near you view the 2020-21 Approved Project List or our 2020-21 Project Map.

Download Regional Copies of News Release

Photos

(Additional images available upon request)

1-599 West Coast Roosevelt Elk Augmentation and Recovery Project

2-641 Goshawk diet and foraging requirements across habitat types in South Coastal BC

4-444 Kootenay Region River Guardian Program

7-436 Enhancing caribou survival within the Klinse-Za/Scott herds, Caribou in the maternal pen

Field research on mule deer in Southern BC (Project 8-408)

8-408 Mule deer response to wildfire and habitat change in southern British Columbia

0-541 Determining factors affecting moose population change: assessing calving and survival rates

0-539 Increasing Fisher Habitat Stewardship in the Forest Sector

0-476 Got Bats? B.C. Community Outreach, Conservation and Citizen Science Project, setting up bat box

Contact Information

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

Forest Enhancement Society of BC
Aleece Laird, Communications Liaison
Direct: 250 574 0221
communications@fesbc.ca

HCTF Quick Facts

It is the mission of the Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation (HCTF) to improve the conservation outcomes of BC’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 BC’s natural assets.

  • Since 1981, HCTF has provided over $189 million in grants for almost 3,000 conservation projects across BC.
  • HCTF began as an initiative by BC anglers, hunters, trappers, and guide outfitters.

FESBC Quick Facts

In February 2016, the B.C. Government announced the formation of FESBC with initial funding of $85 million and a five-member Board of Directors to oversee the establishment of the Society and the delivery of its purposes. An additional $150 million was announced in early 2017.

  • The purposes of FESBC are to advance environmental and resource stewardship of BC’s forests by: 1) preventing and mitigating the impact of wildfires; 2) improving damaged or low value forests; 3) improving habitat for wildlife; 4) supporting the use of fibre from damaged and low value forests; and 5) treating forests to improve the management of greenhouse gases.
  • As of January 30, 2020, FESBC has supported 250 projects valued at $233 million, in partnership with the Province of BC and the Government of Canada.

Wed, 11 Mar 2020

2020-21 Preliminary List of Approved Projects

Field research on mule deer in Southern BC (Project 8-408)

A preliminary list of HCTF approved projects for 2020-21 is now available.

Download the 2020-21 Preliminary Approved Projects List

Projects included on this preliminary list have been approved in principle but may have reduced budgets or funding conditions. Over the next few weeks, 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).

Proponents of approved projects will receive a Conditional Grant Agreement by mail. 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 2020 (Deadline: Friday November 6, 2020).

How are Grant Applications Reviewed?

Each proposal goes through a multi-level, objective technical review process prior to final Board decisions. Proposals are assessed by a primary reviewer and evaluated by a technical committee prior to being sent to the HCTF Board for final funding decisions. For more information on what these reviewers look for when evaluating a proposal, see https://hctf.ca/grants/enhancement-grants/#review

Mon, 23 Dec 2019
Tags: Notification

Holiday Office Hours

Please note that the HCTF office will be closed to the public between December 23rd and January 1st.

During this time we may be unable to return to phone calls and email inquires immediately. Please leave us a message and we will respond as soon as possible when we open our doors again on Thursday, January 2nd 2020.

The Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation team would like to wish you a warm and peaceful holiday season and we will see you again in the new year!

Fri, 13 Dec 2019
Tags: News / Species-At-Risk / Wildlife

COSEWIC Announces 21 Newly Assessed Species-At-Risk

Great Basin Spadefoot (courtesy of Jocelyn Garner, Karl Larsen & Roger Packham)

This past week the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) released the results of its November species assessment. In this most recent COSEWIC review, 21 unique Canadian flora and fauna were added to the national list of species at risk of extinction in categories ranging from “Special Concern” to “Endangered”. Given the unique habitats and wealth of species biodiversity in our province, the largest proportion of these species can be found right here in British Columbia.

Of the 8 newly recognized species-at-risk occurring in BC, the Western Harvest Mouse’s megalotis population, Great Basin Spadefoot toad, Slender Yoke-Moss, and 3 species of Sculpin are found nowhere else in Canada. In particular, the Slender Yoke-Moss’s entire global range is known to occupy a single square meter of limestone cliff on Haida Gwaii. While the Great Basin Spadefoot’s range extends widely into the United States but the the species is experiencing rapid habitat loss in its northern habitat due to increased human development throughout the Okanagan Valley. These decreasing populations are indicative of the wider threats facing species and habitats across British Columbia and the world. Through the Habitat Acquisition Grants program the Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation (HCTF) helps conservation organizations and communities protect and maintain vulnerable habitats throughout BC. Securing important and increasingly under pressure habitat types (such as wetlands & grasslands) is an important first step in giving species-at-risk and the ecosystems they occupy the opportunity to recover.

This newest list of assessed species is notable for the abundance of smaller, less well studied species. Although we typically hear about more charismatic species such as caribou and other large mammals it is important to recognize that British Columbia (much like the rest of the planet) is experiencing general biodiversity loss among all species. When developing conservation projects and planning habitat protection efforts it is important to remember that each species in a habitat has an important role to play within the larger ecosystem. Loss of biodiversity in any given ecosystem can significantly impact that habitat’s ability to resist threats and impacts of climate change.

For more information on the efforts being taken to conserve BC’s unique and diverse ecosystems, as well as tips on how you can get involved in efforts to conserve habitats and species in your own backyard stay tuned to the HCTF’s blog at https://hctf.ca/blog/.

Mon, 18 Nov 2019
Tags: Staff

Meet Our New Communications Officer

Craig Doucette joins the Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation team in the role of communications officer and will be keeping you up to date on current events at HCTF and within the wider BC fish, wildlife and habitat conservation community.

Craig has a background in science communication, project engagement and ecosystem conservation. He completed his Bachelor of Science degree at the University of Guelph with a major in Wildlife Biology and Conservation before moving to study ecosystem management for his graduate diploma. Craig has a wealth of experience working with not-for-profit conservation organizations across Canada and brings to HCTF keen research skills and a passion for wildlife science. Welcome Craig!

Fri, 15 Nov 2019

Announcing the 2019 HCTF Photo Contest Winners!

The results are in for the winners of the 2019 HCTF Photo Contest!

This year’s HCTF photo contest was split into 3 separate photography categories; BC Wildlife or Freshwater Fish, BC Landscape, and People in Nature. We received hundreds of entries showcasing the province’s most spectacular fish and wildlife species, picturesque locations and British Columbians themselves connecting with nature right here at home. We would like to thank everyone who submitted a photo to this year’s contest and congratulate our 2019 HCTF photo contest winners!

Category: BC Wildlife and Freshwater Fish

Category: BC Landscapes

Category: People in Nature