The Caribou Habitat Restoration Fund (CHRF) is managed by the Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation for the purpose of restoring high-value habitat for caribou in BC using functional and ecological restoration methods. The CHRF is made possible by contributions from the Province of BC and Environment and Climate Change Canada.
The Caribou Habitat Restoration Fund (CHRF) supports projects that help reduce caribou mortality in the short-term by functionally restoring linear features, such as roads and seismic lines, and secondly by restoring linear features to their adjacent intact habitat types through ecological restoration.
We encourage all Project Leaders to read the CHRF FAQs before beginning their application.
Any individual or organization capable of restoring habitat for caribou in British Columbia. To maximize the benefits for caribou using the funds available, the Province of BC has identified priority herds and developed guidelines for selecting restoration areas and activities that will benefit these herds.
Click the link below for a list of activities that are both eligible and not eligible for CHRF funding. Activities that do not fall under these categories are subject to further review. Please consult with HCTF directly to discuss potential project activities other than those listed at CHRF@hctf.ca.
CHRF Eligible and Ineligible Activities List
There is no upper limit to the amount of money an application can request, however, keep in mind that HCTF’s goal is to allocate this money to habitat restoration projects that, in aggregate, will provide the maximum benefit to caribou. Priority will be given to projects that secure significant partner contributions (cash and in-kind). We encourage applicants to target a 0.5 to 1 funding match.
Refer to the 2023 CHRF Report Overview to get a better sense of projects that have been funded in previous years.
CHRF Seed Grants are available to assist in the development of a full technically sound proposal (up to $10,000). See the CHRF Seed tab for more information.
There is also the separate funding stream of Capacity Grants which support capacity development to initiate actions to benefit caribou habitat conservation (up to $25,000). See the Capacity Grants Overview page for more information.
The CHRF accepts applications for projects up to 3 years in duration (or 1 or 2 years). For multi-year projects funds will be released in installments and the submission of a Progress Update will be required each year so HCTF staff and the technical review committee can assess that the project is on track.
HCTF operates on a standard fiscal year, running from 1 April – 31 March. For example, a proposal submitted on November 1, 2024 would request funding to support project activities to take place between 1 April, 2025 and 31 March, 2026.
Proponent: Project led by Shuswap First Nation.
Region: This project is located in the Kootenay region approx. 160 km north of Revelstoke.
Description: The Shuswap Band’s Caribou Restoration Project is a multi-year initiative, spanning from 2024 to 2027, focused on restoring approximately 105 km of roads within the habitat of the Columbia North Southern Mountain Caribou herd.
Status: This New project is in year 1 of 3.
Amount: Approved for $70,150 of CHRF funding.
Proponent: Project led by Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship.
Region: Skeena (60km south of Burns Lake, British Columbia in the Chelsalie migration corridor, south of Ootsa Lake).
Description: This project will benefit the Tweedsmuir–Entiako caribou herd by using functional and ecological restoration techniques to restore 80+ km of road and of fire guard linear features in high-value, low-elevation winter range with the goal of increasing intact caribou habitat and reducing predator-prey interactions through decreasing predator and human access.
Status: This Continuing project is in year 5 of 5.
Amount: Approved for $89,181 of CHRF funding.
Proponent: Project led by Canfor.
Region: Skeena (The Whitesail Priority Restoration Area is approximately 122 km South of Smithers).
Description: This project will functionally and ecologically restore ~ 86 km of roads to reduce predator and human access within the Whitesail Priority Restoration Area for the Tweedsmuir-Entiako caribou herd, decreasing road density from 1.3 km/km2 to 0.08 km/km2 and creating 7176 ha of near-contiguous low elevation summer habitat from the shoreline of Whitesail Reach to intact no-harvest areas.
Status: This Continuing project is in year 4 of 5.
Amount: Approved for $53,680 of CHRF funding.
Proponent: Project led by Nîkanêse Wah tzee Stewardship Society.
Region: Omineca/Peace (The Peck Creek-Upper Carbon Road restoration site is located 54 kilometers west of Chetwynd, BC, and is within zone B3 of the Caribou Partnership Agreement).
Description: This project has applied functional and ecological restoration treatments on roads that will help contribute to 1,481 hectares of intact habitat within the Klinse-Za herd range.
Status: This Continuing project is in year 5 of 5.
Amount: Approved for $33,338 of CHRF funding.
*Funding Conditions apply.
Proponent: Project led by Nîkanêse Wah tzee Stewardship Society.
Region: Omineca/Peace (The 3800 Road, 4000 Road, and proposed expansion area in the Callazon-Clearwater Valley are located approximately 45 km northeast of Mackenzie, BC and within zone B3 of the Caribou Partnership Agreement).
Description: This project will use functional and ecological restoration techniques to add an additional 2,358ha to intact areas of habitat within the Klinse-Za herd range.
Status: This Continuing project is in year 4 of 5.
Amount: Approved for $183,906 of CHRF funding.
Proponent: Project led by Chu Cho Environmental.
Region: This project is in the Omineca/Peace region. The Swannell River Valley is located approximately 190 kilometers northwest of Mackenzie, BC, and 55 kilometers southwest of Tsay Keh Dene, BC.
Description: This project aims to annually restore 10 kilometers of roads in the Swannell River Valley, an area identified as containing low elevation core habitat for the Chase Caribou, with the goal of reducing predator movement.
Status: This New project is in year 1 of 3.
Amount: Approved for $213,087 of CHRF funding.
*Funding Conditions apply.
The Caribou Habitat Restoration Grant is is now closed.
Thank you to everyone who submitted an application.
CHRF funding is specifically for projects actively restoring caribou habitat in BC. If you are seeking funding for another type of caribou project, please see our Fish & Wildlife grant page or email grants@hctf.ca for clarification.
The CHRF now accepts applications for projects lasting up to 3 years, replacing the previous 5-year continuous granting cycle. Applicants can choose grant durations of 1, 2, or 3 years and must provide detailed information for all proposed years, including objectives, activities, measures of success, and timelines.
Approved multi-year projects will require submission of annual grant reports in the Spring and Progress Updates each Fall. Additional requirements will be specified in the Conditional Grant Agreement (CGA) for successful applicants.
New projects should use the updated application forms, while continuing projects can utilize the original forms. For budgeting, there are two versions of the “CHRF Activity & Budget Detail Spreadsheet.” New projects will use a multi-tab spreadsheet detailing each year, while continuing projects will stick with the original single-year spreadsheet.
Previously approved projects under the original model will be grandfathered until completion or until their projected duration ends. Former applicants with continuing projects may still apply for new projects under the updated model, with the review process and evaluation criteria remaining unchanged from previous years.
As part of the CHRF application process (see “Resource” tab), applicants must discuss their project with the BC government caribou biologist for the region where the project will take place. These individuals will be able to (1) confirm whether caribou restoration plans are available within the region to further inform proposals, and (2) to confirm the caribou, predator and other region-specific information. A map image showing the regions in BC (utilized below) can be found here: BC LEH Regional Map.
Region | Government Biologist Name | Phone | |
North East | Scott Schilds | scott.schilds@gov.bc.ca | 250-261-2054 |
Skeena | Mark Wong | Mark.Wong@gov.bc.ca | 250-876-7106 |
Omineca | Barb Anderson | Barbara.Anderson@gov.bc.ca | 778-693-3202 |
Kootenays | Lee Williams | Lee.Williams@gov.bc.ca | 250-312-7265 |
Thompson-Okanagan | Lee Williams | Lee.Williams@gov.bc.ca | 250-312-7265 |
Cariboo-Chilcotin | Rachel Stapleton | Rachel.Stapleton@gov.bc.ca | 250-302-3507 |
Please Note: If you plan to conduct a habitat restoration project for the Quintette herd please contact the regional biologist in the North East for readily available resources related to treatment prescriptions.
The Province of BC requires a coordinated and strategic approach to restoring caribou habitat and has identified high and medium-priority herd ranges for caribou habitat restoration. Applicants are required to focus on these high or medium priority herd ranges to maximize benefits to caribou and caribou habitat.
In determining high and medium priorities for restoration, the Province considers the following factors: designatable unit, federal and BC listing, herd status, level of industrial exploration and development, other recovery actions already occurring within the range (e.g. habitat protection), existing government direction (e.g., existing strategic or tactical plan that identifies restoration as a priority).
High-priority herds for habitat restoration projects:
Barkerville
Klinse-Za (Moberly) (see South Peace Tactical Restoration Plan)
Narraway (see South Peace Tactical Restoration Plan)
Narrow Lake
North Cariboo
Quintette (see Quintette Restoration Plan and South Peace Tactical Restoration Plan)
Scott (see South Peace Tactical Restoration Plan)
Telkwa (see Telkwa Tactical Restoration Plan)
Wells Gray North
Please Note: If you plan to conduct a habitat restoration project for the Quintette herd please contact the regional biologist for readily available resources related to treatment prescriptions.
Medium-priority herds for habitat restoration projects:
Burnt Pine (see South Peace Tactical Restoration Plan)
Calendar
Central Selkirks (Nakusp and Duncan)
Charlotte Alplands
Chase
Chinchaga
Columbia North
Graham (see South Peace Tactical Restoration Plan)
Groundhog
Hart Ranges
Itcha-Ilgachuz
Kennedy Siding
Maxhamish
Muskwa
Pink Mountain
Rainbows
Snake-Sahtahneh
Takla
Tweedsmuir – Entiako (see TEC Tactical Restoration Plan)
Wells Gray South
Westside (formally Prophet and Parker)
Wolverine
Within these herd ranges prioritize high-use* and high-value caribou areas: areas used by caribou where development has resulted in increased use of the area by primary prey and their predators (overlap with telemetry/observed caribou locations, including knowledge of habitat use patterns based on TEK or telemetry data).
*Telemetry, census, observational data, Traditional Ecological Knowledge
Applications received by the deadline will be evaluated by a technical review committee composed of caribou habitat restoration experts and the HCTF Board of Directors.
The HCTF Board of Directors will review the recommendations of the technical review committee and make final funding decisions in March. Proponents will be notified about the status of their proposals shortly thereafter.
Please read through all of the following information before beginning your application. Even if you’ve completed a CHRF application before, there are some changes to the process and forms for this cycle.
1) Ensure you’ve read and understand all of the information in the CHRF FAQs document.
2) Download the version of the 2025-26 CHRF Proposal Writing Instructions & Worksheet Word document that’s appropriate for your project.
Projects that have never received CHRF funding before should use the version for “New Projects”.
Only current projects that are completing their current cycle of CHRF funding should use the version for “Continuing Projects”.
You aren’t required to submit copies of the worksheets with your proposal and can compose your answers directly in the online form if you prefer. However, we do ask that you read all of the instructions in the Word documents as they provide additional detail to those provided in the online form.
CHRF Proposal Writing Instructions & Worksheet for NEW projects
CHRF Proposal Writing Instructions & Worksheet for CONTINUING projects
3) Download the 2025-26 CHRF Activity & Budget Detail Spreadsheet, Instructions, and Sample.
The Excel spreadsheet is where you’ll provide details on your proposed activities, their expected outcomes, and the amount of money you are requesting from HCTF. Please review the instructions and sample document before filling out this spreadsheet. You will upload the completed spreadsheet in the online application system.
CHRF Activity & Budget Detail Spreadsheet for NEW projects
CHRF Activity & Budget Detail Spreadsheet for CONTINUING projects
4) Read the Instructions for Preparing your Map, Shapefiles and Other Supporting Documents
As part of your application, you will need to submit a map and shapefile. Please download and review the instructions below.
Instructions for Maps, Shapefiles and Other Supporting Documents
5) Read our Application System FAQs for instructions on using the online application system to submit your proposal.
6) Complete and submit your application using Survey Apply.
Please note that all applications must be submitted online using Survey Apply. HCTF cannot accept applications by email.
Email grants@hctf.ca
The Caribou Habitat Restoration Grant (including Seed Grant applications) is now closed.
Thank you to everyone who submitted an application.
Eligible activities for seed grants are restricted to those necessary to prepare a full CHRF proposal. For example, hiring a contractor with expertise in restoration of caribou habitat to help gather and prepare the information for a full application, or costs for some stakeholder engagement. We suggest referring to the “CHRF Proposal Writing Instructions & Worksheet for New Projects” on the “Apply” tab of the CHRF webpage to understand what a full application requires.
Applicants can request up to $10,000 for the development of a full, technically sound proposal for a new caribou habitat restoration project. The goal of this pilot is to help groups that have identified and want to restore anthropogenic disturbances in high-value caribou habitat, but require some assistance with preparing a full proposal that meets the technical requirements of a full CHRF grant proposal.
Ineligible Activities
Seed grants are for preparation of a full CHRF proposal. They are not for small habitat restoration projects. As such, any on-the-ground restoration or monitoring work is ineligible for seed funding. You can request funding for these activities by submitting a full CHRF application: see the “Apply” tab of the CHRF webpage for details.
Please note that the following activities are ineligible for funding in either seed or full CHRF proposals:
Step 1: Download the 2025-26 CHRF Instructions and Worksheet for Seed projects.
You aren’t required to submit copies of the worksheets with your proposal and can compose your answers directly in the online form if you prefer. However, we do ask that you read all of the instructions in the Word documents as they provide additional detail to those provided in the online form.
Step 2: Download and complete the 2025-26 CHRF Seed Grant Budget Detail Spreadsheet
The Excel spreadsheet is where you’ll provide details on your proposed activities for 2022-23 and the amount of money you are requesting from HCTF (up to a max of $10,000 for seed). Please review the instructions on the second tab in the budget workbook on how to fill out the partnership funding section before filling out the budget spreadsheet. You will upload the completed spreadsheet in the online application system.
CHRF Seed Grant Budget Spreadsheet
Step 3: Read the Instructions for Preparing your Map or Other Supporting Documents
As part of your application, you will need to submit a map and shapefile. Please download and review the instructions below.
Instructions for Maps and Other Supporting Documents
Step 4: Read our Application System FAQs for instructions on using the online application system to submit your proposal.
Step 5: Complete and submit your application using Survey Apply.
Please note that all applications must be submitted online using Survey Apply. HCTF cannot accept applications by email.
Questions about the application process can be emailed to grants@hctf.ca.
The Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation uses conditional grant agreements to transfer monies to a proponent for an approved HCTF project. Unlike unconditional grants (which can be used for any purpose the recipient sees fit), a conditional grant is for a specific purpose and may not be used for any other project.
The conditional grant agreement is like a contract in that it is signed by both parties and contains specific conditions for spending the approved budget. The underlying basis for the agreement is the proposal submitted by the proponent and approved by HCTF, although HCTF may include additional conditions to the proposal before approving it.
While each conditional grant agreement pertains to the individual project, there are some terms and conditions common to all HCTF conditional grant agreements. Some of these include:
You can view a Sample HCTF Conditional Grant Agreement – please note that this is a general template and specific terms may vary depending on the project.
Insurance Requirements: It is the responsibility of the recipient to ensure that your organization is carrying the correct insurance to deliver the project and to budget for your insurance costs accordingly in your proposal.
Proposed project activities can begin on April 1st of the year in which they are approved. If a proposal is approved subject to funding condition, that funding condition must be met prior to commencing any work. Note that HCTF funds multi-year projects one year at a time – if you would like funding for future years of a project, you must submit a continuing application each year.
Each fiscal year’s project activities must be complete by March 31st. Grant Reports are due annually on April 15th. Please note that your project final approval is subject to you (or your organization) entering into a Conditional Grant Agreement with HCTF.
Approved non-government project leaders must submit their Conditional Grant Agreement online via Survey Apply. Follow these instructions for downloading, signing, and uploading.
Please read your Conditional Grant Agreement carefully, as HCTF has made significant changes to the agreement language this year. Ensure you obtain all internal approvals from your organization before returning the signed copy to HCTF. Questions? Please contact our Finance Officer.
Note that Provincial Government project leaders are not required to complete the Survey Apply steps above, as the Conditional Grant Agreement is signed directly with headquarters for each Ministry. Government project leaders can familiarize themselves with the requirements of the agreement at the link above and are also encouraged to request and review their specific agreement from headquarters.
Submit your Conditional Grant Agreement
The deadline for Contract Extensions and Project Change requests is February 15th. We recommend submitting these requests as early as possible to allow time for review.
For multi-year projects funds will be released in installments and the submission of a Progress Update will be required each year in the fall so HCTF staff and the technical review committee can assess that the project is on track. Progress Updates are submitted via the online system. You may use the worksheet below to draft your update.
Multi-Year Progress Update Worksheet
Contract Extension Request – Form
Contract extensions are intended for projects where activities in the proposal could not be completed within the original timeframe. If you also have changes to your project objectives, budget or activities please submit a Project Change request form (see above).
If you are unable to complete your project within the fiscal year of your Conditional Grant Agreement (April 1st through March 31st, unless otherwise specified), you will need to request a Contract Extension to extend your Agreement into the next fiscal. The annual deadline for contract extension requests is February 15th. An email from the Finance Officer will be sent in early January with the Contract Extension Request Form and instructions to email the completed request to reporting@hctf.ca.
Please note that even though activities and expenditures will occur in the following fiscal year, they will still be invoiced and reported on under the original Agreement. The Grant Report (see Reporting Tab) will be due when that year’s activities are complete.
In some cases, a project may have a Contract Extension concurrently with another funded year of the project. HCTF requires that expenditures and project outcomes for each grant must always be tracked, invoiced and reported on separately. That also means that any unspent funds from one grant cannot be “rolled into” the project budget for a subsequent year.
For example, a multi-year project may receive a contract extension to complete Year 1 activities concurrent to activities already approved for Year 2. Each of these proposals is considered a separate contract. Therefore, you must report for each of them separately by completing a Grant Report for each of these project years, reporting against their respective proposals. That is, you would submit a Grant Report for Year 1, reporting against the Year 1 proposal; and another Grant Report for Year 2, reporting against the Year 2 proposal, even though the Year 1 activities took two years and happened at the same time as the Year 2 activities.
The support provided by HCTF must be acknowledged in any publicity issued, printed or distributed, including signs, displays, reports, announcements, articles, press releases, or media interviews. Full information on HCTF communications guidelines and copies of the HCTF logo are available here.
Grant reports are due by April 15th. Consistent with HCTF’s operating cycle and with the end date of most conditional grant agreements, projects must be completed by March 31st.
We encourage all Project Leaders to read the Reporting FAQs before beginning their reports.
As a trust of public funds, HCTF has a number of requirements to ensure accountability and due diligence of trust funds. We have a responsibility to ensure that funds are invested in activities and projects that contribute to conservation of fish, wildlife, and habitat in BC. As a public foundation, HCTF is required to prepare annual financial statements which undergo a thorough audit process. Grant reports help ensure funds were utilized in accordance with the purposes of the trust, which is a requirement for HCTF’s audit.
Specifically, grant reports allow HCTF to evaluate:
Current grant reports for 2025-26 onward: Please note you now need to complete and submit the grant report form online (link to online system) and will need to upload the budget and activity excel spreadsheet from your original proposal with the grey reporting columns completed with this online submission. Please utilize the template above as a worksheet to cut and paste answers into the Survey Apply system, if preferred.
Outstanding grant reports from BEFORE 2025-26: Individual report budget spreadsheets are emailed directly to proponents. These spreadsheets are to be filled in and uploaded in the online system, along with the grant report form. Please email reporting@hctf.ca if you have not received an email, or have any issues with the spreadsheet.
Before beginning your online report, we strongly recommend that you complete the reporting worksheet available for download in the list below. The worksheet is intended as an added resource for you to draft your report and once completed you can copy and paste the information into the online system. Please note you are required to submit the excel budget spreadsheet as a separate attachment at the end of your online report form.
Questions? Please contact us at reporting@hctf.ca
Submission of CHRF Grant Reports is through the HCTF Survey Apply system. Please note that all reports must be completed and submitted using Survey Apply. HCTF cannot accept applications by email.
Complete Grant Report Online
Please email reporting@hctf.ca for assistance with questions not covered in the general reporting FAQs.
Technical reports detailing methods, data collected, and results analysis are required for all CHRF projects. Ideally we would like to receive the annual technical report as an attachment at the time of the grant report submission by utilizing the “additional documents” upload function. But we understand annual technical reports may take more time to complete following the March 31, 2023 field end date, and so reports can also be emailed directly to chrf@hctf.ca within a reasonable time frame following the April 15th grant report deadline.
Some projects may produce information that will be published in a peer-review journal. These articles do not constitute a final report, but are of interest to HCTF. We recognize that published journal articles take time for publication. Please send us a PDF copy of the published article or a link to the article, once it is available.
Please explore the list of available resources below to assist you with your application and effectively manage your projects.
HCTF has created CHRF Treatment Prescription Guidelines highlighting recommendations for drafting effective habitat restoration treatment prescriptions.
The Province has developed an Operational Framework for Woodland Caribou Habitat Restoration in British Columbia to provide guidance for the planning, implementation, and monitoring of caribou habitat restoration initiatives in BC. Please review this document prior to beginning an application.
HCTF has created abbreviated CHRF Monitoring Guidelines which highlights recommendations on monitoring for functional and ecological caribou habitat restoration projects.
The CHRF Detailed Project Monitoring Guidance document provides proponents with more detailed information on planning the monitoring component of a project. This document has been updated for the 2022-24 cycle, including some changes to guidance around use of remote cameras for monitoring wildlife response, so please review even if you have read previous versions of the document.
The Province has published the Wildlife Camera Metadata Protocol, Standards for Components of British Columbia’s Biodiversity No. 44., September, 2019. The objective of this wildlife camera metadata protocol is to provide guidance on the types of data that should be collected when using remote cameras (sometimes also referred to as camera traps) to detect wildlife. The over-arching goal of the protocol is to support the creation of a consistent, consolidated wildlife camera dataset across British Columbia. This protocol does not provide specific guidance on wildlife camera monitoring or research designs.
As part of the CHRF application process, applicants must discuss their project with the BC government caribou biologist for the region where the project will take place. These individuals will be able to (1) confirm whether caribou restoration plans are available within the region to further inform proposals, and (2) to confirm the caribou, predator and other region-specific information. A map image showing the regions in BC (utilized below) can be found here: BC LEH Regional Map.
Region | Government Biologist Name | Phone | ||
North East | Scott Schilds | scott.schilds@gov.bc.ca | 250-261-2054 | |
Skeena | Mark Wong | Mark.Wong@gov.bc.ca | 250-876-7106 | |
Omineca | Barb Anderson | Barbara.Anderson@gov.bc.ca | 778-693-3202 | |
Kootenays | Lee Williams |
| 250-312-7265 | |
Thompson-Okanagan | Lee Williams |
| 250-312-7265 | |
Cariboo-Chilcotin | Rachel Stapleton | Rachel.Stapleton@gov.bc.ca | 250-302-3507 |
Please Note: If you plan to conduct a habitat restoration project for the Quintette herd please contact the regional biologist in the North East for readily available resources related to treatment prescriptions.
The Province of BC requires a coordinated and strategic approach to restoring caribou habitat and has identified high and medium-priority herd ranges for caribou habitat restoration. Applicants are required to focus on these high or medium priority herd ranges to maximize benefits to caribou and caribou habitat.
In determining high and medium priorities for restoration, the Province considers the following factors: designatable unit, federal and BC listing, herd status, level of industrial exploration and development, other recovery actions already occurring within the range (e.g. habitat protection), existing government direction (e.g., existing strategic or tactical plan that identifies restoration as a priority).
High-priority herds for habitat restoration projects:
Barkerville
Klinse-Za (Moberly) (see South Peace Tactical Restoration Plan)
Narraway (see South Peace Tactical Restoration Plan)
Narrow Lake
North Cariboo
Quintette (see Quintette Restoration Plan and South Peace Tactical Restoration Plan)
Scott (see South Peace Tactical Restoration Plan)
Telkwa (see Telkwa Tactical Restoration Plan)
Wells Gray North
Please Note: If you plan to conduct a habitat restoration project for the Quintette herd please contact the regional biologist for readily available resources related to treatment prescriptions.
Medium-priority herds for habitat restoration projects:
Burnt Pine (see South Peace Tactical Restoration Plan)
Calendar
Central Selkirks (Nakusp and Duncan)
Charlotte Alplands
Chase
Chinchaga
Columbia North
Graham (see South Peace Tactical Restoration Plan)
Groundhog
Hart Ranges
Itcha-Ilgachuz
Kennedy Siding
Maxhamish
Muskwa
Pink Mountain
Rainbows
Snake-Sahtahneh
Takla
Tweedsmuir – Entiako (see TEC Tactical Restoration Plan)
Wells Gray South
Westside (formally Prophet and Parker)
Wolverine