Fri, 10 May 2019

HCTF 2019-20 Approved Project List announced at BCWF AGM

Fort St. John, BC – The Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation (HCTF) has announced over $9 million to fund more than 170 fish and wildlife projects in BC.

The announcement was made Friday at the BC Wildlife Federation’s annual convention in Fort St. John.

HCTF CEO Brian Springinotic said the $9 million represents a record annual investment in conservation projects by the Foundation, made possible in part by a contribution from the Forest Enhancement Society of BC. However, Springinotic says the majority of project funding comes from conservation surcharges on freshwater angling, hunting, guide outfitting and trapping licenses sold in BC.

“HCTF’s funding model is unique in channeling the users’ investment back to benefit the resource,” said Springinotic. “Anglers, hunters, guide outfitters and trappers fund much of the critical conservation work taking place in BC.”

Highlights of this year’s funded projects include:

  • $250,000 to Ducks Unlimited Canada for its province-wide wetland conservation program.
  • Over $600,000 for projects to conserve white sturgeon.
  • Over $75,000 to the BC Conservation Foundation’s “Got Bats?” community outreach program delivered by local stewardship groups together with landowners to carry out a bat-count, detect and preserve bat habitat and install bat-houses.
  • $80,000 to the Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC for its province-wide “Learn to Fish” program which introduces over 25,000 youth and adults to the sport.
  • Over $95,000 to UBC Okanagan’s Department of Biology to identify the effects of wildfire on mule deer habitat selection and population growth in the Boundary Region, West Okanagan, and Bonaparte Plateau areas, and to provide management tools and recommendations to increase mule deer abundance.
  • $128,000 for fishery development and planning on the Bulkley, Kispiox and Morice Rivers, including reviews of angler effort targets and the feasibility of a lottery booking system for effective management, by the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resources and Rural Development.
  • $22,000 to the “Bring Back the Bluebirds” project of the Cowichan Valley Naturalists’ Society.

 

“These projects have been selected through a competitive technical evaluation process to ensure the best benefit for each conservation dollar,” said Springinotic. “Projects support important species for anglers and hunters as well as benefiting whole ecosystems, species-at-risk and environmental education programs across the province.”

Approved projects are led by provincial government biologists, municipalities, universities, local land trusts, and First Nations.

You can view a complete list of 2019/20 grant recipients and projects below, as well as download region-specific lists.

HCTF 2019-20 Approved Project List — All Regions

HCTF Approved Projects Vancouver Island 2019-20

HCTF Approved Projects Lower Mainland 2019-20

HCTF Approved Projects Thompson Nicola 2019-20

HCTF Approved Projects Kootenay Region 2019-20

HCTF Approved Projects Cariboo Region 2019-20

HCTF Approved Projects Skeena Region 2019-20

HCTF Approved Projects Omineca Peace Region 2019-20

HCTF Approved Projects Okanagan Region 2019-20

 

You can also view the approximate locations of projects on our approved project map.


For more information, contact:

Shannon West, Manager, Program Development, HCTF
250-940-9789
shannon.west@hctf.ca

 

 

Quick Facts:

  • The Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation (HCTF) began as an initiative of BC anglers, hunters, trappers and guide outfitters.
  • Since 1981, HCTF has provided over $180 million in grants for more than 2600 conservation projects across BC.

Click on any of the photos below to open a larger version.

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

0-476 Got Bats? B.C. Community Outreach, Conservation and Citizen Science Project, Townsend’s bat

1-538 Bring Back the Bluebirds: Georgia Depression Western Bluebird Reintroduction Project

1-538 Bring Back the Bluebirds: Georgia Depression Western Bluebird Reintroduction Project

0-406 White Sturgeon Questionnaire/Recreational Fishery Monitoring

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

7-473 Wolf predation risk to moose in north-central BC , Collared cow moose and calf

7-473 Wolf predation risk to moose in north-central BC, Hat lake wolves

Thu, 9 May 2019
Tags: Education

Congratulations HCTF Education, Cmolik Award Finalist!

HCTF Education Cmolik Prize Finalists

Congratulations to HCTF Education for being named a finalist for the Cmolik Prize for the Enhancement of Pub­lic Education in BC. The prize recognizes recipients who have developed and implemented an invention, innova­tion, concept, process or procedure that enhances educa­tional practice in the British Columbia K-12 public school system.

 

“On behalf of the entire environmental learning community of educators who help the program to thrive and grow, we are very honoured,” says Kerrie Mortin, HCTF Education Program manager. “Our belief is that every student in BC should be able to learn and experience BC’s great outdoor classroom.”

HCTF Education helps to meet the needs and challenges faced by schools and teachers to implement environ­mental learning in the classroom. This includes providing field trip (GO Grants) and conservation high school grants (LEAP), school programs (Wild Schools and Environmental Exchange Box), access to a network of environmental educators (WildBC Facilitators), and educational resources. HCTF Edu­cation programs and support network continue to be a catalyst and voice for environmental educational initiatives that support changes across the diverse geographies and cultures of BC.

To learn more, visit hctfeducation.ca

Thu, 4 Apr 2019
Tags: PCAF

PCAF is Keeping Up with the Curlews of BC’s Skookumchuck Prairie

HCTF’s Public Conservation Assistance Fund provides small grants to organizations and individuals who need financial help to implement a conservation project. PCAF funded projects focus on hands-on, community-based initiatives with a high volunteer component.
In the case of the Long Billed Curlew Habitat Project, volunteers were involved in surveying habitat for the mating birds, followed by nest finding and monitoring. With their help, researchers have been able to learn about curlew migration, following individuals as far south as California’s Imperial Valley.

Read more about the project in this article, originally published in BirdWatch Canada.

Tue, 2 Apr 2019

PCAF Grant Deadline reminder

The Public Conservation Assistance Fund provides small grants to organizations and individuals who need financial help to implement a conservation project. Since 1974, the Province of BC and the Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation provide approximately $150,000 each year to help implement on-the-ground conservation work, with a particular focus on hands-on, community-based, and public awareness initiatives.

May 16, 2019 at 4:30pm PST is the application deadline.

For more info, visit PCAF Grants

Tue, 2 Apr 2019
Tags: Acquisition

Morrison Headwaters Nature Preserve

Members of the Comox Valley Land Trust and the Comox Valley Regional District cut the ribbon to signal a partnership to protect the Morrison Headwaters Nature Preserve. Fifth from left: HCTF Evaluation Program Manager, Karen Barry. Photo supplied

HCTF welcomes the newly announced Morrison Headwaters Nature Preserve, a joint project of The Comox Valley Land Trust (CVLT) and the Comox Valley Regional District (CVRD).

HCTF is pleased to be a major funder towards this biologically rich area.Read more about the land acquisition and its unique resident, the Morrison Creek lamprey.

https://www.comoxvalleyrecord.com/news/comox-valley-regional-district-land-trust-form-partnership-to-protect-morrison-headwaters-nature-preserve/

Mon, 1 Apr 2019
Tags: Stewardship

HAT Trains Habitat Ambassadors on South Vancouver Island

Wildwood Group

South Vancouver Island has the highest species diversity in the province, yet protected lands are small and fragmented. Therefore private residents, representing over 80% of the landholders in this region, play an integral role in supporting habitat and wildlife. Habitat Acquisition Trust (HAT) has been engaging with residents through the HCTF-funded Wildwood Creek Wetland Stewardship Project to establish a network of skilled and knowledgeable Habitat Ambassadors.

Engagement activities have included workshops like “Creating Frog Friendly Spaces with Native Plants” aimed toward landowners with creeks or wetland areas on their properties. The 5-hour workshop included plant identification of common riparian invasive plants, restoration techniques, wildlife identification, and the hands-on planting of over 100 native plants.

Visit http://hat.bc.ca for information on future workshops and other events.